Lyn Marven is a Lecturer in German at the University of Liverpool; she researches and translates contemporary literature, with a particular interest in Berlin. She obtained her DPhil from Oxford University, and taught there and at Manchester University, as well as living for a time in Berlin. Helen Constantine is editor of the magazine Modern Poetry in Translation and the editor and translator of Paris Tales and French Tales.

• Introduction ; 1. 'Aus dem Fenster gesehen' (Seen From the Window) ; 2. 'Ostlich um den Alexanderplatz' (East of Alexanderplatz) ; 3. excerpt from 'Spazieren in Berlin' (A Flaneur in Berlin) ; 4. 'Berlin, November 1947' ; 5. 'Berliner Stadtbahn' (Berlin S-Bahn) ; 6. 'Alltagliche Geschichte einer Berliner Strasse' (Everyday Story of a Berlin Street) ; 7. 'Berlin, Grosse Hamburger' (Grosse Hamburger Street) ; 8. 'Geburtsort Berlin' (Place of Birth: Berlin) ; 9. 'Mein Berlin' (My Berlin) ; 10. 'Sommerzeit' (Summertime) ; 11. 'Besetzer' (Squatters) ; 12. 'Rest Esplanade' (The Remains of the Hotel Esplanade) ; 13. 'Das Herz der Republik' (The Heart of the Republic) ; 14. 'Berlin ist mein Paris' (Berlin is my Paris) ; 15. 'fraktionen' (factions) ; 16. 'Stadtfuhrer Berlin' (Berlin Guide) ; 17. 'Gina Regina'

These seventeen stories traverse the effervescent city of Berlin, both past and present, in such a beguiling way - that one's compelled to not only read more, but investigate the city for real.