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With Germany in transition.
Sociopolitical essays.
Text collection 1999-2011



Released in 2013
Paperback, 286 pages, 115 x 180 mm
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The texts may be provocative, sensitive in moderation, clear in their position, but never destructive! This is how it was with the texts of François Maher Presley over the years. They have always been controversial; also good, a culture of debate is beneficial! In my opinion, it was and is clearly recognizable that the author François Maher Presley, deeply rooted in his self-image, longs for changes with constructive impulses or, at best, wants to bring them about, which is evident from numerous journalistic contributions in many fields.
Especially in times of our “fabric softener culture”, the country needs characters who from time to time put a stop to the prevailing conformism - I mean. This is of course purely subjective. Nevertheless, the counterpart is the zeitgeist, which - naturally objectively - is dominated by consumption and capital. So a piece of land can be recaptured by the intelligentsia. Many certainly still know that numerous group of artists from the 1970s who were passionate Culture of rebellionoperated and knew how to create ideas from within; what a luxury - you might think! One that we no longer want to afford today? Well, let's see: stay awake, don't just accept, recognize and name - that's how I understood the author's position and demands.
I always found the ethical attitude of the protagonist to be particularly competent, who has always categorically rejected “second-hand journalism”, someone who only takes up what others - and not necessarily well - chew again from somewhere and then to be distributed according to the color of the media. François Maher Presley was more interested in always visiting the places where the action was taking place directly in order to confront a reality that was often hidden, for which purpose he undertook numerous trips, during which he gained insight into sometimes shocking realities, which he then brought to light editorially with a lot of his own style. With all his love for its own expression, he basically always felt obliged to the deeper truth, the one that gets by without a filter in terms of content in order to be able to emerge in the first place. This was particularly successful with his texts!
Stephan Reisberg, freelance journalist
Opinions
Dear Mr. Presley,
I am reading through your collected editorials every day and page. As you know, I am still a supporter of the opinions expressed there, with minor exceptions. Your line of reasoning, which has been sustained for years, is considerable in our fickle and populist opinion-making. This relates in particular to Germany's Islamic integration problem and how to deal with it.
I have nothing to add to your correct approach to the subject of donations and the medals and honors associated with them, except that I will include you in my argument.
Greetings Erich Braun-Egidus, Hamburg
A mirror of recent history in an interesting package
Very interesting, because it was written eloquently and entertainingly, the author Francois Maher Presley illuminates the social and political events around him. This includes Hamburg, Germany and the world. The author describes the small and large life of politics and society in clear, often drastic words. Everyday things are viewed from a different perspective. The uncomfortable is addressed in big politics and made drastically clear how (petty) bourgeois it is. Finally, the author holds the mirror up to the reader himself, because it is not uncommon for one to come to the conclusion after reading the many short essays: Presley's right, I haven't seen it that way.
The texts are from the years 1999 to 2011. This is where the historical component of the book comes into play: There was a change of power at the level of the citizenry in Hamburg and in federal politics, Germany took part in wars and much more that one is no longer aware of is. So there is also a review of recent history from the past. Last but not least, the period of the essays also shows a change in the author's opinion, which enriches the book with another exciting aspect.
In short: worth reading through and through.
D. Eschrich, Hamburg
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