The book reminded me of Saul Bellow’s Ravelstein since it’s not often that a great writer devotes an entire book to describing a brilliant friend. AltThe book reminded me of Saul Bellow’s Ravelstein since it’s not often that a great writer devotes an entire book to describing a brilliant friend. Although the narrator’s misanthropic intelligence is sometimes oppressive, I loved his original and independent view of his friend, Viennese society, and life in general. ...more
I’m increasingly fascinated by Kluge, who always offers fresh perspectives on the Nazi period. Interesting to look at the end of Nazi Germany via kaleI’m increasingly fascinated by Kluge, who always offers fresh perspectives on the Nazi period. Interesting to look at the end of Nazi Germany via kaleidoscopic stories from various corners of Germany. ...more
I teach one section of a European history survey each year and thought I’d brush up on fascist themes for the spring semester. So I first watched a prI teach one section of a European history survey each year and thought I’d brush up on fascist themes for the spring semester. So I first watched a pretty good documentary called The Meaning of Hitler, then read this classic book by Hugh Trevor-Roper. It was fairly simple and somewhat dated but very good. The introduction also gave Trevor-Roper’s overall analysis of Hitler and his cronies. I then proceeded to read Alexander Kluge’s more ambitious, and more literary, attempt to make sense of the overall collapse of Nazism, called 30 April 1945, the day Hitler died. (I’d read Jahner’s excellent book, Aftermath, not so long ago too). Soon I’ll try Susan Neiman’s Learning from the Germans. Not sure where I’m going with all this. I suppose it’s all about finding the big lessons of the fascism which I guess probably emerge most clearly in Hitler’s pathetic end and the destruction of Germany. But I’m also reading Julia Boyd’s Travelers in the Third Reich to remind myself what people who visited Germany in the run up to the war missed....more
Such a pleasure to see the great historian of the Holocaust give us his thoughts on one of the greatest Jewish authors of the twentieth century: KafkaSuch a pleasure to see the great historian of the Holocaust give us his thoughts on one of the greatest Jewish authors of the twentieth century: Kafka. The author isn’t strikingly original in the small book but certainly provides readers with close readings of some of Kafka’s key texts. The author’s analysis of sexuality in both Kafka’s life and work are particularly acute. I look forward to reading the author’s book on Proust in the near future. ...more
This was my first Peter Handke novel (and his first to be published in English) and I found it to be extraordinarily good. It’s redolent of other exisThis was my first Peter Handke novel (and his first to be published in English) and I found it to be extraordinarily good. It’s redolent of other existential novels, including those of Sartre, Camus, and Moravia, but much more fully developed on a philosophical level. It’s also far more stylistically innovative in my view. I’m guessing this is the book Heidegger would have written if he had been a novelist. Brilliant. So excited to read more of his work but the bar is set very high. ...more
As someone says in the big Lebowski, “say what you want you want about the tenants of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.� And so ClaudiAs someone says in the big Lebowski, “say what you want you want about the tenants of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.� And so Claudia Koonz brilliantly and painstakingly elucidates that twisted ethos using a wide variety of original sources. Such a wonderful book to explain how so many different institutions and disciplines and sources of authors helped to shape or reflect or perpetuate the core elements of a viciously racist ideology. I’m reading a number of books on Nazism at the moment to prepare me for a course I’m teaching. But this is one of the best I’ve encountered. ...more
I loved this introduction to Humboldt and his impact on environmentalism and nature writing. The author has a great grasp of both Humboldt’s scientifiI loved this introduction to Humboldt and his impact on environmentalism and nature writing. The author has a great grasp of both Humboldt’s scientific milieu and the succeeding scientific figures he influenced. Her discussion of Darwin is particularly strong. The author also seems to have a wonderful grasp on the American and Latin American independence movements that impacted Humboldt’s legacy. I was a little surprised by the author’s decision to leave Humboldt behind in order to discuss Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Emerson, Thoreau, and Muir at length. The detour perhaps limits one’s understanding of Humboldt as a European or global thinker. But I remained fascinated by her analyses of these important figures and can’t wait to read some of her other books....more
This was pretty great. Kafka comes across as profoundly wise and world weary. This Kafka is a Zionist. He is at war with all cliches. He’s a moralist This was pretty great. Kafka comes across as profoundly wise and world weary. This Kafka is a Zionist. He is at war with all cliches. He’s a moralist above all else. He resembles Borges. Almost everything he says is a bon mot. He’s a pessimist. He’s a radical individualist. In some ways the profundity of this book is redolent of Shostakovich’s Testimony. People debate whether Volkov didn’t craft Shostakovich’s memoir. One wonders the same about this book. But in both cases the results are brilliant. Certainly this Kafka doesn’t resemble Kafka as he appears in his love letters, or perhaps even his fiction. In the case of both memoirs the great artists also emerge as supremely powerful ethical thinkers....more
An excellent cultural history of Germany’s difficult recovery after World War. The author examines postwar literature, film, newspapers, diaries and mAn excellent cultural history of Germany’s difficult recovery after World War. The author examines postwar literature, film, newspapers, diaries and myriad other sources to examine themes of German guilt and guilt avoidance, economic disaster and recovery, political normalization, religion, exile and homecoming, family life, and much more. Highly recommended, especially for those looking to go beyond narrowly political histories of the era. ...more
The book is well-researched and well-written but I was somewhat disappointed that book doesn’t really focus on November, 2018, as the book’s title proThe book is well-researched and well-written but I was somewhat disappointed that book doesn’t really focus on November, 2018, as the book’s title promises, but rather sweepingly describes the end of the war and its concluding treaties and aftermath. Of course, many readers may appreciate the broad military, political, economic, and diplomatic context of the end of the German’s defeat and political realignment. ...more
Although Austria-Hungary deserves its fictional hero…and there’s something inherently tragic about lives that parallel an empire in free fall …and theAlthough Austria-Hungary deserves its fictional hero…and there’s something inherently tragic about lives that parallel an empire in free fall …and the decline and fall of the Hapsburg family is in and of itself worthy of our attention, neither the plot nor the satire nor the characters captured my attention. ...more
1) Toibin gives Mann’s homosexual desire its due, and in a way that makes sense for the first half of theI loved this book and here are some reasons:
1) Toibin gives Mann’s homosexual desire its due, and in a way that makes sense for the first half of the last century.
2) The book helps to explain just how hard it was to be a middle of the road (small l liberal) European during the fascist era and on into the Cold War.
3) The book isn’t just a Thomas Mann biography. It’s a biography of his whole family. Shades of Buddenbrooks.
4). The author captures the terror of fascism perfectly.
5). The author describes the Jewish experience of Thomas� wife, parents in law, and children well.
6). The complicated relation between the two Mann authors (brothers) is fascinating.
7). We get interesting location changes that help us to understand exile. The Manns move to Munich, Switzerland, New Jersey, California, and back to Switzerland.
8). We see the enormous influence of music on Mann and his family. Wagner and Schoenberg figure prominently.
9). The story features many diplomatic episodes of note.
I read this is in English but couldn’t find the English version on good reads. This is a written compilation of Hitler’s casual conversations around tI read this is in English but couldn’t find the English version on good reads. This is a written compilation of Hitler’s casual conversations around the dinner table. Contrary to some of the mythology surrounding the evil man, Hitler comes across as a well-read (if largely self-educated) man who knew a little about a lot of things. Hitler also comes across as a man with an interest in broad historical themes and some creativity in his approach to the past. Hitler’s most insane and diabolical ideas are not found in this book. Read My Struggle for that side of the man. If anything, he presents as a drunk (if also racist) uncle, teetotaler that he was. We do of course see that Hitler was enthralled with himself. There is no dialogue here, no capacity for self-examination, reflection, or doubt. ...more
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