Mother Night Book Summary

In 'Mother Night,' Kurt Vonnegut explores the complex nature of identity through the life of Howard W. Campbell Jr., an American playwright who becomes a Nazi propagandist during World War II. As Campbell navigates the treacherous waters of morality and loyalty, he grapples with the impact of his actions on both his own conscience and the lives of those around him. The novel raises unsettling questions about the masks we wear and the roles we play in society—are we defined by our actions or our intentions? With Vonnegut's trademark wit and dark humor, readers are drawn into a narrative that is as provocative as it is thought-provoking. Can one truly escape their past, or do we all live in the shadows of our choices?

By Kurt Vonnegut

Published: 1999

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."

Book Review of Mother Night

“Vonnegut is George Orwell, Dr. Caligari and Flash Gordon compounded into one writer . . . a zany but moral mad scientist.”—Time Mother Night is a daring challenge to our moral sense. American Howard W. Campbell, Jr., a spy during World War II, is now on trial in Israel as a Nazi war criminal. But is he really guilty? In this brilliant book rife with true gallows humor, Vonnegut turns black and white into a chilling shade of gray with a verdict that will haunt us all. “A great artist.”—Cincinnati Enquirer “A shaking up in the kaleidoscope of laughter . . . Reading Vonnegut is addictive!”—Commonweal

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We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

Mother Night

By Kurt Vonnegut