The ironic and tragic “novel of education” by a young German writer tells about three days in the life of Inga Lomark, a GDR-trained biology and physical education teacher in a provincial gymnasium, which will soon be closed due to a lack of students. Inga firmly believes in the laws of nature, natural selection and competition as the basis for the development of society. She thinks that she knows everything about herself, her students and about life in general, but why then does her impeccable teaching career end in failure?.. “The Neck of the Giraffe” became a bestseller in Germany, was included in the long list of the German Literary Prize and received the title of the most beautiful German books 2012. Published in Russian for the first time. Translation: Olga Kozonkova