At the time, Böhme's work was favorably compared to that of the French writer Émile Zola. An American literary review, The Bookman, described Böhme as “One of the leading novelists of the younger realistic school in Germany.” Tagebuch einer Verlorenen Tagebuch einer Verlorenen was a literary sensation. It purportedly tells the true story of Thymian, a young woman forced by circumstance into a life of prostitution. When it was first published, it was believed to be a genuine diary, and Böhme claimed only to be its editor. The book's publication and subsequent success led to speculation as to its authorship. Tagebuch einer Verlorenen was translated into 14 languages. There was such demand for the book that there were pirated versions in at least two countries. The book brought about not only a popular sequel, a controversial stage play banned in some German cities, a parody, and two silent films (one in 1918, and one in 1929) - but a score of imitators as well. Lawsuits arose around its publication, and the book, widely discussed, had some small influence on social reform in Germany. Due in part to its sensational subject matter, as well as its contested nature, the book proved extremely popular. More than 30,000 copies were sold within the first four months of publication. Less than two years later, in 1907, a deluxe edition was issued marking more than 100,000 copies in print. By 1929, more than 1,200,000 copies had been published. The book remained in circulation for more than 25 years, until deliberately being driven out of print at the beginning of the Nazi era. Later work Dida Ibsens Geschichte (1907), is a kind of sequel to Tagebuch einer Verlorenen. As Böhme states in the forward, the book was written in response to a flood of letters she received regarding the earlier book. Dida Ibsens Geschichte was made into a film of the same name in 1918. W.A.G.M.U.S. (1911) is considered by some critics to be Bohme's best work. It is the story of a department store. The novel chronicles the growth of a colossal business which crushes its smaller competitors by systematically underselling them. It was published in America, where one leading review called it “a distinctly remarkable book.” Much of Böhme's later fiction has a strong social message. Christine Immersen (1913), concerns the harsh working conditions faced by women telephone operators (then just coming onto the