Walter Bergengruen

Hateful Infantryman A distant rifleman with grand artistic aspirations. Walter displays a constant quiet hostility towards his comrades, valuing the affections of animals above those of humans (and with a particular distaste for the Meindi people). He seems unbothered by the thought of running through gunfire, and has been seen doing so with demented verve. Walter could not be less interested in friendship or romance, and the unpleasant outsider soon makes an enemy of Elfriede. But for everyone's sakes, she and her acquaintances must try to find out whether he has any last glimmers of humanity remaining... or if all hope really is already lost.