The Invention of Curried Sausage is a novella by German author Uwe Timm detailing the fictionalized invention of currywurst, a popular dish of sausage in curry ketchup in Germany, as well as describing life in Hamburg in the last days of the Second World War.

Lena's agreement to tell the journalist the story of how she came to invent currywurst serves as the major plot throughout the novel.

Originally published in German in 1993 as Die Entdeckung der Currywurst, the book was translated into English by Leila Vennewitz in 1995.

After a night of drinking and talking, Lena convinces Bremer to stay and become a deserter instead of likely being killed on the front lines.

She describes to the narrator that an employee there, Holzinger, had been questioned by the Gestapo after allegedly making Nazi broadcasters sick while working in the kitchen at a Reich radio station.

The chapter begins with Lena learning that Hitler is dead and that for all intents and purposes, the war is over in Germany.

The air raid warden Lammers had committed suicide rather than face the disgrace of losing the power the Nazi regime had given him.

She is also forced to deflect suspicious questions from Lammers and Mrs. Eckleben to keep Werner safe from capture.

However, her plan fails as she gets in a fight with Bremer and eventually discloses the conclusion of the war, resulting in his departure.

Hermann Bremer: A young German naval staff officer that deserts the military rather than serve on the front lines.

Bremer continuously asks Lena for a newspaper, but she tells him that the war has not officially concluded, meaning that he could still be executed for desertion.

Additionally, Lammers searches Lena’s apartment for the fugitive when she is away, forcing Bremer to hastily hide in a storeroom.

Multiple reviewers, writing for prominent newspapers and websites, have praised Uwe Timm for his narrative abilities.

However, Prose praises Timm for showing the connection between important historical lessons and everyday items such as food.

Additionally, they state that, “Timm probes the moral ambiguity pervading daily life at a time when ordinary people struggled to survive amid chaos and ruin,”.

[5] Kathleen Hughes, writing for Booklist states, “A best-seller in Germany, this highly entertaining, powerful work will dazzle American readers,”.

[6] In their review of the novel, the Los Angeles Times commends Timm for his characterization of Lena Brucker as a splendid and spirited woman.

The Los Angeles Times concludes its review by stating, “Timm's curried sausage is a trifle sweeter than Lena's-his book was a great success in Germany-but it bites and invigorates nonetheless,”.

[7] In general, The Invention of Curried Sausage has been praised by book reviewers, websites, and newspapers since its German language release in 1993.