A new book out about Armin Meiwes explores the psyche of a disturbing criminal whose vile crime was rivaled only by the fact that his victim consented to it. Meiwes was a sexual cannibal who lived out his grotesque fantasies on a willing victim he found on the internet. The book, Interview with a Cannibal: The Secret Life of the Monster of Rotenburg
Having finished the book (see the Clews summary), I can attest that it is disturbing, gory, and very hard to put down. Curious about how the American contributor to the book viewed the case and particularly the victim, I could not pass up a recent chance to ask Pat Brown some questions about it, and she kindly replied.
Here is our Q&A.
Q. The book is a tough read, but it is hard to put down. How were you affected by the story that Gunter Stampf tells here, when you first read it?
A. Actually, when I was asked to edit this book, I was rather skeptical that I would want to be involved with such a story. I am notoriously anti-gore, anti-slasher, anti-gruesome type of movies and books. I am not a big true crime reader and I pretty much only like books that emphasize the police investigation and the victim. I told the publisher I would have to take a look at the material first before I committed to the project.
I was surprised to find I was very caught up with the story – the author does an excellent job in interviewing Armin Meiwes and brilliantly develops the landscape in which the story evolves – the history of the German town, the society in which Meiwes grows up, his family dysfunction, and the concerning issue of rising Internet sites dedicated to cannibalism and role playing such despicable acts. It was specifically this frightening increase of online violent ideology that locked me into editing the book and adding my profile and commentary at the end.
Our society, any society, needs to get the message this book includes about the danger of violent and negative ideology proliferating across the web, influencing the psyche of young people and those who are emotionally unstable in a very detrimental way.
Q. What on earth do you make of the psychology of Armin Meiwes's pitiful victim? His actions seem just as horrifying as those of Armin Meiwes.
A. I think many who heard this story were more shocked by the willingness of the victim, Bernd Brandes, to submit to being killed and eaten than by the fact Armin Meiwes wanted to commit such an ungodly act. While Meiwes shows all the signs of a deviant, a sexual psychopath, Brandes seems more to be a confused and pitiful character. It is my feeling Brandes was one of those who has lost the ability to find meaning and joy in life and continues to explore the dark side in order to uncover some emotion. Severe narcissism also plays a role which causes Brandes to be unable to reach a level of self-acceptance as his standards are always so unreasonably high that the glass is going to be half empty no matter what he experiences. By going to the ultimate level of submission and bizarreness, Brandes hopes to cross a line that is “proof of his grand existence and success” and will prove himself to be the center of everything. Not surprisingly, he isn’t all that satisfied with the results – whine, whine.
Q. I'd love to know which authors and titles you consider the best in true crime -- your personal favorites. What is the most memorable, emotionally evocative book you've ever read in the genre?
A. Well, as I said, I am not that big a true crime reader! My favorites, though, would be Trace Evidence: The Search for the I-5 Strangler
Q. Do you have any more books in the works?
A. Actually, my agent is busy at work putting together a deal right now which means readers can expect to see it out in 2010. Always seems so far away, but that is how the publishing world works.
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