One of the most important novels of our time, which has entered the post-war canon of European literature, was first published in 1959. Its protagonist is the ‘little man’ Oskar Matzerath, whose childhood coincides with the years of the rise of National Socialism. Aware of the absurdity of reality, he decides to stop growing and refuses to become an adult. His constant companion is a tin drum: by beating a rhythm on it, Oskar expresses his attitude towards his surroundings. The life in the Third Reich is shown through the ruthless, sarcastic, and at the same time insightful gaze of an observer ‘from below,’ depicting the atmosphere of a world of ordinary people that breeds indifference to the ever-growing terrible evil.