? ?????????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????. ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????,?????????? ??? ??????????.
?? ????? ????? ??????? ??????????? ?? ?? ????????,
??? ?? ?? ????? ?????????? ?? ?? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????.

? ?????????????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ????? ???? ?????????,??? ?????????? ??? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??? ????? -???? ??? ???? ??????? ??????????- ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????.

??????????? ???? ??? ????????????? ??? ???????? ?????,????????,?????? ??? ?????????? ???????????,
?????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???
?????????? ??? ???????????? ?? ???????
??????????? ?????,?????????? ??? ???????.

? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? (?????-????????-??????) ??? ?????????? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ????????,??? ????? ??? ??? ?????.
??? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????. ???? ????? ?????????? ??? ? ??????? ???.

???????? ?? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??? ???????? ??????,??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ?? ??????????,??? ??????, ??? ????????? ??? ?? ????????? ???.
??? ????????, ??? ?????,??? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????????. ????????? ??? ?????????? ????? ?? ???????????? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????.

???????? ?? ?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????. ????????? ? ????????????? ??? ? ?????????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ??????????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????.

????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ?????????.
?? ??????????? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????.

?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???? ??????, ???????, ??????? ???.???????? ??? ???? ??????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???
?. ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????,????????,????????,
??????????,??????,????????? ???
???????,?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????????????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????????.

????????,??????????? ????
????????????? ????? ??? 19?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????,??? ?????????????,??? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ??? ????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????????.

????????? ????? ??? ?????????? ??????????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????.

? ???????, ????? ????? ????
?????????-??????? ?????????? ??? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????,
???? ???????,????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ????.

?? ????????? ????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ????????????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????????? ?? ??? ???????????????? ??????????? ??? ?????????? ??? ??????????? ??? ????? ??? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? ?????????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ??????????????.

???? ????????!!
??????? ?????????!!best157 s Vit Babenco1,541 4,268

There are so many different places in the wordÂ… And there is even a special place for foolsÂ…
Â…he saw a stone wall and an arched gateway. As they drew closer, Hans sensed something odd about the thickness of the wall, as if it were a warning about how hard it would be to leave rather than to enter.
Yes, the place is the mire and the main character has got stuck there wasting his lifeÂ…
And the novel is the mire and I have bogged down in it wasting my timeÂ…
Every aesthetic, the professor declared, is founded on choice. Well, yes, of course, Herr Levin conceded, still, I am not entirely sure. My dear Professor, Sophie intervened, if I may say so, in my opinion we Germans would benefit from a touch of frivolity. As you so rightly point out, every aesthetic is doubtless based on choice. Yet, surely we may also decide on the mix, since an aesthetic is made up of concepts, abstractions, objects and anecdotes, wouldnÂ’t you agree?
The Gottlieb Salon is an inadvertent poor parody of The Serapion Brethren by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and all phony wisdom of its patrons was really capable to provoke an unintentional laugh or two.
Even if there are so many aesthetics of choice Andrés Neuman’s aesthetic isn’t among them. He is a pompous windbag dealing in platitudes, trivialities and banalities and all his hollow philosophizing has left me no wiser.
Ship of fools will never be short of sailors and passengers.106 s Jim Fonseca1,119 7,476 Read

Traveler of the Century by Andres Neuman

DNF. I didn’t finish this book although I gave it 100 pages! So I didn’t give it a rating. It’s still a good book for the right person. The book jacket calls it a “deeply intellectual novel, chock full of discussions about philosophy, history, literature, love, and translation.” That’s correct. But too much so for me. I could see this book used in a graduate seminar for a course in European History. It won Spain’s two most prestigious literary awards including the Alfaguara Prize when it was published in 2009.



There’s a plot to serve as the skeleton for the discussions. A rich young man spends his time traveling around Europe. I wasn’t sure of the time frame but it is horse and buggy days, pre-WW I after the unification of Germany, so maybe mid-nineteenth century? He comes to a small city on the Prussia-Saxony border and is enticed to stay on by two people who befriend him. He hangs out with an organ grinder who lives in a cave and the beautiful Sophia. Sophia is a “free thinker” who holds a weekly salon for a dozen-or-so men and women. The traveler starts to fall in love with Sophia but she’s engaged. So he has a short time to impress her.

Lots of discussion about Adam Smith, Saint-Simon, Napoleon and the French Revolution, borders and nationalism. Questions “Does nationalism express the collective identity of the individuals of that nation or does it repress those identities?” Good stuff but I wasn’t up for 550 pages of it.



The author was born in Argentina (1977) but his family fled the military dictatorship there, so he grew up in Spain. He has written six novels and this was his first book translated into English.

Painting of a British coach by Charles Cooper Henderson at hisour.com
The author from restlessbooks.org
academic academic-novel argentinian-authors ...more57 s Panagiotis297 122

? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???????. ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ?????, ????? ???????? ??? ????????? ???????????? ?????????. ???? ? ????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ????????????? ????????? ?? ???????. ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ??? ???????; ????? ????????? ? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ?????; ???? ?????? ? ??? ?????????? ?' ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????????? ??? ?????????????? ???????;

? ?????????? ??? ?????, ??? ?????????? ???????, ????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????. ?? ?????????? ???? ??? ?? ??????????. ? ?????? ????, ?????? ??? ??????????, ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????????????. ???? ?? ???????? ??? ?????, ?? ??????????????? ?????????? ??? ??????????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ????? ??????????? ????????, ??????? ??? ???? ? ?????????? ?? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ?????. ? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ???, ???? ??? ????????? ?? ????? ????? ??????????, ???? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ????????????????, ??????????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????????. ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ????????? ???, ???? ???? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ????? ?? ?????????????, ?? ???????? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ???????. ???????? ??? ??????????? ?? ????????, ????? ??? ????? ?? ???????????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??????????????? - ???? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ????????????? ??? ????????? ??? ??? ??????????? ??????? ???. ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????? ?????????? ??? ??? ?????? ???????. ???? ????? ?? ??? ? ???????.

???? ?????? ??? ???????????? ??? ???????? ????????? ? ?????????, ? ???????????, ?? "???" ??? ?? "?????" ?? ?????? ?????????????????. ? ???????????? ??? ?????????????, ???? ????? ??? ???????????? ?? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?????, ??????????? ???? ??????????? ??????????? ??? ??????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????????? - ? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????, ???? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???????- ???? ???????? ?? ????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ??? ??????????. ??? ?? ??????? ?????, ?? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?????????. ??????, ??????? ????????? -???? ??????? ?????- ??? ?? ?????? ??????????, ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ? ?????, ???? ????????? ?????? - ?????????? ??? ???? ??? ?????????????. ? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????????? ???????????, ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????????? ??? ?????????? ??? ????????: ????????? ??????????, ?????? ??? ???????, ???????, ????????? ??? ???? ????????, ?????????.

? ??????? ????????????? ??? ????? ???????????: ???????? ???? ??????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??? ?? ??????????? ???????? ??? ??????, ??? ???????????? ???????????, ?? ?????????? ????????. ?? ??????? ??? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ??? ????????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??? ?? ????????, ??? ???????? ??? ? ?????? ? ??????? ????????????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???, ???????? ??? ????????? ?? ???????? ??????-?????? ???? ??? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???????, ??? ???????????, ??? ?????????????, ??? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ???? ????????. ??? ???? ?????????????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ??? ???????. ????? ???? ????? ??? ????????, ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ???????, ? ????????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???????.

?? ?????? ????? ??? ??????????? ?????????, ? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?????, ?? ?????????? ??? ????? ?????????? ??????, ??? ?????? ?? ?????????? ??? ?????, ????? ?????? ????????????. ???????????.59 s Chris_P383 316

Andrés Neuman - Traveler of the Century

Wandernburg is a town that has no coordinates on the map, nor could it have any, since it's always on a constant move. At a certain point, a character says that, in order to find your way in Wandernburg, it's best to take the longest route. Wandernburg could symbolize history itself which is always on the move, always running towards an unknown destination, with us as passengers on a ride to somewhere, acting as if we know where we're headed.

Neuman, at such a young age (born in 1977), achieves a great accomplishment with his "novel of ideas". Reading Traveler of the Century is an experience which combines the atmosphere of the early 19th century with the characteristic modern South American style that Neuman knows so well how to handle. From luxurious living rooms where conversations on literature and politics take place between noble men, to dimly lit alleys where a serial rapist lurks at night waiting for his next victim, and small inn rooms where a hopeless love takes form on sheets drenched in sweat and poetry, the story rushes a gust of wind carrying a vast variety of ideas and emotions. Swept by it, the characters can only hold on to their personal histories which are as dim to the reader and each other, as the aforementioned alleys.

Traveler of the Century is a hymn to literature and the noble act of translating it. The act of making a piece of art universal, a donation to the people of the whole world, making the borders vanish under the colorful spirit of literature. In its essence, it's an ode to moving forward by turning our backs to a logic that's only accepted because it's the only one known. Translation can be the driving force behind that movement. Translation not only of books but of feelings and ideas. It's not a figure of speech; it's the only way.

Closing the book, a feeling of emptiness surged through me. The kind of emptiness one feels when something ends with a promise of a new beginning, as if holding on to half a beauty is better than the prospect of possessing the fullest of them. Such is the human nature: prone to fear of the unknown and skeptical. But just as time is sure to pass, feelings are bound to change, and the closing lines highlight this truth in the most perfect way possible.

Here's to more this!2000s 5-star-diamonds latin-american43 s Roula558 173

?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ????.??????????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ? ??????????.???????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? ?? ????????.?? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???????? , ???? ??? ????????? ????????? ? ????????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????.???? ?????????????-??? ??????? ??????- ??????, ??? ????????? ??? "?????????" ????, ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???.????????? ?????? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????????? ?? ???????? ??????????, ??????????? ??? ????????????????? ???????? ??? ?????????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ????????????? ??????????, ???? ???????????? ????????????? ?????????? ??? ????? ???? "?????????? " ??? ??? ?? ?????????????, ????? ??? ??? ?????????? ????? ??? ??????? (???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ? ????????;)??? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ????????? ??????, ???? ????????????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????.???? ???????? ??????, ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? "?????? ?????" ??? ????? ???.?? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?? ????????? ? ??????, ?? ????????? ??? must read ?????? ??? ??????.
?.?. ????? ?? 2? ?????????? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ???????(???? ?? ??????)??? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ?????.?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???.40 s jeremy1,147 275

traveler of the century is an exquisite, dazzling work of fiction. its author, andrés neuman, is a young argentinian writer, born in 1977, whose relative youth is belied by a remarkably prodigious literary output. neuman has written nearly twenty distinct works, including four novels, nine books of poetry (a tenth compiles them), four short story collections, a book of essays, and a book of aphorisms (in addition to his translations of german poet wilhelm müller). his writing has been celebrated throughout the spanish-speaking world, having attracted a number of prestigious awards, and his international renown is clearly on the ascendancy as his works find their way into ever more translations.

with the publication of granta's winter 2010 issue ("the best young spanish language novelists"), many english-speaking readers had their first introduction to andrés neuman via his short story "after helena." the late roberto bolaño offered his own high praise for neuman (well before traveler of the century had even been written), including a short piece about him ("neuman, touched by grace") in his nonfiction collection between parentheses (published in english translation in 2011). bolaño, ever the discerning critic, wrote about neuman after reading his first novel (bariloche): good readers will find something that can be found only in great literature, the kind written by real poets, a literature that dares to venture into the dark with open eyes and that keeps its eyes open no matter what. in principle, this is the most difficult test (also the most difficult exercise and stretch), and on no few occasions neuman pulls it off with frightening ease... when i come across these young writers it makes me want to cry. i don't know whether a drunk driver will run them down some night or whether all of a sudden they'll stop writing. if nothing this happens, the literature of the twenty-first century will belong to neuman and a few of his blood brothers. with traveler of the century, neuman's first book to be translated into english, it is evident that the myriad hype surrounding this young writer is indeed well-deserved.

written in granada between the spring of 2003 and the fall of 2008, traveler of the century (el viajero del siglo) was published in spanish in 2009 and was summarily awarded two of spain's most distinguished literary honors (the alfaguara prize and the national critics prize). the awards themselves place neuman in the company of a veritable who's who of latin american letters, counting as their recipients cela, vargas llosa, donoso, onetti, marias, and vila-matas, amongst others. his fourth novel, traveler of the century has already been translated into ten languages.

the novel is set in the small, fictional german town of wandernburg sometime in the early nineteenth century (presumably in the mid or late 1820s). a town where the streets are constantly rearranging themselves, "it is impossible to pinpoint the exact location of wandernburg on any map, because it has changed places all the time." wandernburg, from the german verb "wandern" (to hike, ramble, roam, or wander), is nestled between dessau and berlin in the northeastern part of the country. despite the metaphysical qualities inherent in the town's geographical layout, it would be a grave error to classify traveler of the century as containing any elements from the latin american subgenre of magical realism.

instead, neuman's lengthy novel could be best described as a postmodern work cast in nineteenth century attire, owing more to the refinement of classical fiction than to the cleverness and affectation of more modern works. neuman himself describes it thus: a "futuristic novel that happens in the past, as a science fiction rewound." traveler of the century is not set some two hundred years ago merely to capture that era's milieu, but is done so in a way so as to compare and contrast twenty-first century ideals, beliefs, and moralities against their historical counterparts.

hans, traveler of the century's itinerant protagonist, is an enigmatic adventurer and translator, intent on a brief stopover in wandernburg on his way to dessau, but soon finds himself increasingly unable to make his way onward. as hans' stay prolongs itself, he encounters and befriends a number of local residents, including a sagacious, aging, and nameless organ grinder who lives in a nearby cave with his affectionate dog franz. hans, per an invitation, begins to attend weekly conversations at the home of herr gottlieb, one of wandernburg's more esteemed households. at these salon talks, populated by a small group of about six or seven, topics as varied as european history, politics, literature, poetry, religion, art, and architecture are routinely discussed and debated into the late hours of the evening. while there, hans is introduced to herr gottlieb's daughter, sophie, a betrothed and independent young woman with whom hans later falls in love and embarks upon an ambitious translation project.

neuman's novel is colored by a number of rich subplots that are woven effortlessly into an already well-textured narrative. a series of nefarious and sinister crimes work their way into the tale, for example, and are portrayed in stunning complement to other rising action. minor characters, such as hans' new best friend (and weekly salon attendee), álvaro, figure prominently into the story and are as well-conceived and believable as both hans and sophie. nearly every aspect of traveler of the century seems carefully crafted and assiduously arranged. neuman's prose is both beautiful and engaging, lending the novel yet another characteristic that makes up its captivating essence.

traveler of the century, at heart, is both a novel of ideas and a love story. neuman explores many exigent issues throughout the book (relevant to both post-napoleonic europe and the modern world), including continental politics, national sovereignty, war, peace, economic development, immigration, poverty, nation building, empire, women's rights, labor, and revolution, as well as more literary subjects such as poetic norms, style, philosophy, fiction, and the role of the translator. that neuman was able to so expertly include these elements into the novel without straying into the didactic, rendering them essential components to the story, demonstrates the mastery with which he composed this fantastic book.

neuman's work, in all its many aspects, represents a summation of the narrative form. traveler of the century is a complete novel that allows us an opportunity to reassess the present (and the future) by looking behind us. it is truly a timeless tale, one that demonstrates a past, once contemplated through the often clarifying lens of fiction, not all that dissimilar from the contemporary. andrés neuman seems to possess a formidable talent, and traveler of the century may well presage a lengthy and accomplished literary career the s of which only come along a few times in a generation. traveler of the century, while penned by a young, spanish author born in argentina, is, nonetheless, a european novel of considerable consequence. as more of his works undoubtedly make their way into translation, andrés neuman is surely a name that will come to be uttered in the same breath of his masterful forebears.
when i was young, because i was young once you, i heard many organ grinders play, and i can assure you no two tunes ever sounded the same, even on the same instrument. that's how it is, isn't it? the less love you put into things the more they resemble one another. the same goes for stories, everyone knows them by heart, but when someone tells them with love, i don't know, they seem new.

traveler of the century was translated from the spanish by nick caistor (onetti, saramago, aira, mendoza, marsé, et al.) and lorenza garcia (françois lelord & andrea h japp).

fiction translation38 s Solistas147 115

"...???? ????????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ? ????? ???? ??????????, ?????????· ???? ????????? ??? ??????????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ????, ????????? ????????· ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ????, ????? ???????".

? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ? ????????????? ????, ?? ??? ??'?? ????? ??????????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ??? ??????????? ????????????, ?????????? ??????? ??????? ??'??? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ????????????????? ??????? ??? ???????, ? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ??????? ???. ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ? ?????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???????? ? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? 19?? ????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??? ??????? love story ??? ?? ??????? ? ?? ????????? ??? ??????????.

?? ???? ????? ??? ??????????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ??'?? ???? ?????, ??? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????????? ????????? ? ??????????. ?????, ?? ????????? ???????, ?? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ????????????? ???????? ??? ??????, ? ??????? ??? ??????????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ? ??? ?????????? ? ??'???? ?? ?????? ???? ????????????? ???????????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ?? ? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ???????????.

?? ???????, ????????????, ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????.27 s David1,512

This story opens with Hans, arriving on a cold, wind swept night in the fictional German town of Wandernburgo . The date is never mentioned but we are somewhere after the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century.

Hans takes refuge in the local inn. He wakes to the smell of a warm breakfast decides to see the town. He meets an old man who plays tunes on one of those wind up organs on wheels and accompanied by his dog Franz. Every day he meets new people and eventually meets Sophie, who is starved for literature. Hans translates poetry into German. Hans is invited to partake in weekly salons, held by Sophie's father and a small group of locals.

Chemistry happens. Sophie is also engaged to be married to Rudi, the son of a man with money and power. A good prospect for Sophie's father. A slight problem for Hans. A bigger problem for Sophie, who gets involved with Hans. Translating poetry is erotic, passionate love making. Or the other way around. Getting a little far fetched?

Perhaps but Andrés Neuman writes in the style of the classic big historic love story. Think Dr. Chivago, War and Peace and let's throw in some Jane Austen as well. The cast is huge. There are the maids and servants, the young daughter of the inn where Hans boards (and lusts after Hans), a dogmatic professor, a preachy preacher, the loving father, the clueless fiancé, a Spaniard named Alvaro (who makes the connection to the Spanish language the book was written in), plus many others.

This is the many-paged epic romance tale that covers a sweeping saga of history, European literature and life in small town Germany. The colour and feel for the times are well laid out in this book. And yet, the sexual romance of Sophie and Hans seems out of step. Sophie will marry Rudi for the money and not to embarrass her father. But her passion for literature is a big problem. Will she succumb? That is the challenge for the reader.

Confession. I first tried to read this book on a trip to Mexico but couldn't read it. Then I decided to read this on a recent trip to Germany. After seeing these small towns with the Rathaus, the kirche, the schloss and the tor, this book spoke volumes to me. I was hooked. Picking up a little German, Neuman plays with names, especially the fun filled father-son policemen team of Gluck und Gluck (Luck and Luck).

I learned a lot in this book. The poems were wonderful. The love letters priceless. The people, enjoyable. In short, this was a pleasant entertainment. Plus a welcome addition of the writer's own photos of his time in Germany. Winner of the Premio Alfaguara de novela 2009.

Not for all but a worthy book to savour for some.argentina german-austrian-swiss latin-american-lit ...more26 s Anna590 114

? ?????????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? 19?? ????? ??? ??????????? ??? ?????? ???? (???? ??????? ??????? ???) ??? ????????????, ??? ?????????? ????, ? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ??????????? ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ????????-???????-?????? ???.
?????????? ???????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ??????????? ????, ?? ?? ?????????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ???.

???? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ??????????!42 s Katia N611 823

That was a significant disappointment. IÂ’ve head this novel for a number of years, and now after reading a lot of excellent books from Latin America, i decided it was the time to pick it up. First of all IÂ’ve discovered that Neumann has left Argentina when he was 12 and now lives in Spain. I Spanish literature as well. So it did not stop me.

The novel starts when a traveller called Hans arrives in a city somewhere on the border between Prussia and Saxony. Soon we find out that the city is very enigmatic. One cannot quite remember its layout and people rarely leave the city after spending there some time there. Soon he meets a bunch of the locals and starts to frequent a salon. The novel is set in the first half of 19th of after the Napoleonic wars. Based upon all of this, i’ve assumed that it would be something vaguely in a style of The Magic Mountain - the novel of ideas and debates, but maybe a lighter version. And the first half was broadly that. However, the ideas were all far from original and the conversations were dull. Often Neumann had this tendency of listing what the characters were talking about rather than conveying the actual conversation. My son’s school calls it: “to tell instead of to show”. Below are two examples:

“Professor Mietter railed against the Council of Trent. Herr Gottlieb spoke of an understanding between the different creeds. Herr Levin referred to the influence of Semitic studies and astronomy"

“Seeing Rudi stand up with him, Her Goitleeb paused - should he go first… As Rudi in turn waited courteously… there was a moment of comical embarrassment.” - I seriously did not need to be told which moment it was. I could just about guess.

The topics of discussions were wide. But the discussions per se were either as above, or well-known KantÂ’s views on the nationality, for example.

To make it more appealing these debates were intermingled with Hans interacting with another set of characters: organ-grinder (named only in this way, living in a cave), and his friends - a factory worker and a peasant. These episodes would not be more entertaining as they always started with the organ-grinder asking everyone about their dreams which were dully reported. I do not dreams in fiction. But those were quite dull and numerous even compared with an average standard. The character of organ-grinder could be a nice diversion, but the man was relatively passive, so it was not. And i was irritated by his name as well. In Spanish he would be el Organillero, which is ok. But in English it sounds teeth grinding. (I know that it is a translation issue rather than the novel per se).


All of this was going on and on. However finally, after 300 pages, a classic love triangle has been properly established! The love between Hans and Sophie, a proto-feminist salon’s hostess, have been consummated. Obviously it was happening behind the back of Sophie’s fiancé , the local landowner. The book tone has changed a little and it has started to remind a pastiche of an early 19th century’s romantic novel with the element of picaresque. The love has sparkled in full blossom and their lovemaking was taking place between the joint translation of the european baroque and contemporary poetry. The poetry bits and conversations about translation process were mildly interesting. But the numerous erotic scenes were not all to my liking (how about a fetish by Sophie over Hans’s big toes; and talking about menstruation and Kant almost simultaneously). Also a subplot with love/sex-thirsty 13 year old girl (fortunately not taken to the logical end) was not particularly entertaining. I did not appreciate the language either, the creativity of such similes for example: “Leaving already? Hans asked touching her nipple someone pressing the bell”.

The attitudes of the lovers were quite interesting as well. Her: “If i weren’t going to love a man id do better to marry one who was rich and kind. You may think this conformist, but I prefer to call it pragmatism.” Him: “The truth is we never the only ones. Everyone is or thinks about being with others.” And if she sleeps with the other men at the same time: “She’ll give me more pleasures and can teach me what she learns with others.”

Oh, and then a serial rapist has appeared on the streets of the city. You know the feeling when you read the book and think when is it going to end. That was such a book for me. I was too much invested when I understood it was not going to be better. I kept reading as i wanted to find out how he would resolve the triangle. I hoped he just would not resolve it at all - leave it open. It would be a good way to finish. Any other resolution would be either unrealistic or banal. Well, he did not fulfil my hopes with that either. But at least he did not choose the most banal one.

Now, I am not sure whether to try any other book by him. IÂ’ve seen an interview with him and I d the man. But it was not great reading experience. We will see.25 s A.372 48

Transcurre el siglo XIX en Wandernburgo, una ciudad alemana singular, extraña y, básicamente, inexistente. Allí mismo, Hans, un ilustrado forastero, descubrirá la pasión amorosa, la amistad entrañable y el terrible escozor de los celos. A poco de llegar, compartirá eruditas tertulias y conocerá a Sophie, una joven "fascinante y con mucha personalidad" en palabras del deslumbrado Hans (En palabras del preocupado padre de la joyita: "Si mi hija insiste en ser tan fascinante y personal, cosechará una legión de enamorados y ningún esposo") Previsiblemente, el amor surgirá, imperturbable. Y que la "fascinante" Sophie se encuentre comprometida con otro hombre, será un pormenor. Por el momento...
Hans, que había llegado a la ciudad para pasar solo una noche, comprenderá lo terriblemente difícil que es irse de Wandernburgo.

Una novela ambiciosa con un escritor que "tiene con qué" cumplir esas aspiraciones. Con ritmo cadencioso, nos sorprende con diálogos dinámicos y fluidos y luego regresa a la tranquilidad. Con tantos personajes, es previsible que no se haya logrado profundizar en todos, pero algunos de ellos dan todo de sí. Destacan esas tertulias con apasionados debates filosóficos y literarios. La historia puede volverse demasiado sosegada, hasta lenta, pero considero que vale la pena.
Y bueno, que sí, que al final era difícil irse de Wandernburgo.23 s Alma658

“But isn't that what love is, the old man said, being happy to stay?”

“...(Places are constantly changing, haven't you noticed the branches, the river?) No one notices those things,...everyone walks around without seeing, they become accustomed, accustomed to their houses, their jobs, their loved ones, and in the end they convince themselves that this is their life, there can be no other, it's just a habit.”

“It's the same with books, you see mounds of them in bookshops and you want to read them all, or at least to have a taste of them. You think you could be missing out on something important, you see them and they intrigue you, they tempt you, they tell you how insignificant your life is and how tremendous it could be.”

“We lose the fear of letting go of our baggage, but also the certainty that what is in them belongs to us.”
23 s Jonfaith1,950 1,578

Imagine a bucolic village, one of relative isolation and which strangely defies the laws of location and time. Insert an urbane protagonist. Should we allow a masked nemesis? No, I am not referring to Hot Fuzz http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/?..., fine film it is but rather than that the novel Traveler of the Century by Andres Neuman. This is the first of Neuman's works to be translated and it appears to offer the hubris on an early effort. There are two or three amazing aspects on display. Unfortunately, each situation is routinely abandoned after a few sequences and ly doesn't return for a few hundred pages.

Obviously Traveler is a nod to Kafka and the discussions within The Magic Mountain but it simply drags as it seeks definition. Definition is a nominal point as the prtagonists tryst under the enterprise of translation. It is too long by half and even disappointing there. The philosophy of the novel's first half gives way to the sex of the second. The reader does marvel at the deft debates, is centralization at odds with republicanism. Was an occupied Germany (by Napoleon) more at ease with personal liberty than Metternich's Holy Alliance? Well, of course. The chief characters are richly drawn and conflicted. The situation is nothing novel. That said my interest remained only with the barrel organist and his dog.
20 s Caroline807 240

Finished after midnight and woke up thinking what a great opera this would make. Aura of Faust, wavering time and place, hurdy-gurdy harmonics, complex love triangle, grotto, sex--what more do you need? And wonderful parts for men and women of all ages. There are creative possibilities for the translation scenes--they would be fabulous in multiple-language duets for Hans and Sophie. All set in early 19th century contention between Classicism and Romanticism, labor and capital, agrarianism and technology, Catholicism vs Protestant, Jew and atheist, Kant vs FichteÂ…...

Warning: SPOILERS LATER in a section that is headed by another warning. First general comments.

This is a book to read slowly, as time is an important element and you need to get into the sense of time moving both very slowly and too quickly in the city of Wandernburg. Pay attention to names, or the lack thereof. Notice as you slide bit by bit into complicity with lovers as they steal time together.

Neuman does so many things well, from combining his German and Spanish heritage in the characters of Hans and Alvaro to making sure that every character (except the priest, I have to say) is multi-dimensional and demands your attention and usually your respect. The conservative academic Mietter holds his own in debates with Hans, and Rudi is a very sympathetic side of the triangle. Both of the Levins--the resolute Jew and his wife trying desparately to be taken as a real convert to Catholicism--are suffused with self-awareness and with sadness.

And of course there are interesting women. First the vibrant, intellectual but idealized Sophie. Usually idealized women are fairly brainless but hopelessly devoted; Sophie has plenty of brains and is profoundly practical about how the limits of her class and time affect her freedom to act as a man would. And yet she really has no faults, so still unreal. But there are also Elsa and Lisa with their class consciousness and struggles to escape their bounds. And Mrs. Levin.

The Gottlieb salon scenes are fascinating not only for their content but also for the contrast with the gritty, real life salon in the organ grinders grotto, where laborers debate not abstract principles but the real principles that govern their daily lives.

SPOILERS from here on!! Stop reading if you havenÂ’t already read the book.

I absolutely loved the subtle build-up of tension and the playing with time. Not the subdued suspense about the attacker, I didnÂ’t really find that necessary except to underline the more general tension that was developing as we waited for the affair to be discovered and Sophie to make her choice. Obviously it was impossible that everyone from Rudi to her father to the Zeits didnÂ’t know exactly what was going on, what was keeping them from confronting the pair? Indeed, what was keeping the tensions building in Europe from exploding into more strikes, revolts and revolutions? The back and forth from the personal to the political is beautifully done, so that this doesnÂ’t feel polemical at all, but entirely natural. Perhaps, since Hans has clearly lived in a time later than this one as well, his confidence stems not only from his (apparent) youth but also from knowing the rebellion does come.

[Paragraph added one hour later:] Just read a chapter in Claudio Magris’s 'The Danube' that is very enlightening on this; the whole ‘Danube' (at least first 100 pages I’ve finished) is a wonderful complement to the whole of ???Traveler'. Magris has a chapter on Ulm in which he discusses German particularism, ‘the old Germany based on the law of custom, which sanctioned historical traditions and differences, opposing any central power, all forms of state interference…the tortuous, lacerating German idyll, the particularism, the social segmentation…the outcome of an organic historical evolution, not of some ‘abstract’ rationalism…freedom in the modern sense is countered by the liberties of the classes and corporation, their ancient rights which defend the social inequalities stratified over the centuries…[discussion of class pride]... also a pride which jealously guards its own boundaries with respect to those above…In general the German idyll--which confines the individual in a constricted dimension, and in a society split into separate, stagnant compartments--tends to make the individual (according to Lukacs) into a Burger, a bourgeois, rather than a citoyen...'

(I did so want to know what was in that trunk; forbidden books or books from future years? Must be the latter, judging by his anxiety over the Novalis volume that Alvaro brings him in the grotto. Does Alvaro know? Does Lisa, after she reads the final letter?)

The time shifting seems linked with the Faust overtones; itÂ’s been a long time since I read Faust so I am fuzzy here. But from shortly after the moment Hans asks for a telegraph station you know something is odd; Napoleon is not that long in the past, eventually Alvaro seems to pin it down to 1823. Next the restless Hans is fascinated by, captivated by, the organ grinder, who shows him a profoundly true and graceful way to be old and poor and a philosopher as Hans simultaneously enters a deeply sensuous and intellectual relationship with Sophie. LIsa is drawn to him as well, and life in the taverns with Alvaro deepens the Faustian ness.

All in all, a tremendous accomplishment with resonances on every page that will repay a second reading. But first I need to reread Faust. ThatÂ’s the trouble with reading--each good book makes hash of your to-read pile.
21st-c-fiction fiction-in-translation hispanic20 s B. Faye242 57

????? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? 200 ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ? ?????????? ? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ??????????? ???????? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ???*?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????????????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????????? ???????? ??? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ?? ??????????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???20 s Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer1,917 1,494

Principally this is a novel of ideas. Primary among them is literature, how it varies by country and nationality and the challenges of translation especially of poetry. Another key theme is religious belief and especially dissent. The final key theme is Europe – balanced at it is at this juncture between the failures of the French revolution which lead both to tyranny and a conservative counter-revolution/restoration; with themes of: European unity and if it means literary/artistic union, customs union or political union (with clear current day echoes); progressive ideals versus conservatism.

A deep and sometimes difficult book – with a mix of Andreï Makine description, José Saramago style dialogue (although with brackets as a device to identify speakers) and Milan Kundera style literary reflections. Complex, multi-layered and a novel which would repay re-reading.201316 s Konstantinos104 19

???????? ??????!19 s Yaniv21

In a time when American writers are asking What Happened to the Novel of Ideas? Andres Neuman responds with The Traveler of the Century, a magisterial tour de force of thought and wisdom. Neuman crafted a deeply intellectual novel for lovers of history, poetry, philosophy, politics, translation and, of course, literature. Set in a fictitious German town between Saxony and Prussia, Neuman's characters debate and argue about the most pressing issues of the day - from the rise of feminist thought in the West to the legacy of the French Revolution and the conservative ethos in post Napoleonic Europe - while reminding his readers that these 19th century ideas have not entirely left us and continue holding currency in the 21st century.

Not since Roberto Bolaño have I read a writer with such an astonishing intellect and talent Neuman. The Colombian writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez aptly summarized it in his book review for The Guardian:

"The Traveller of the Century belongs in the quintessentially Latin American genre of the "total novel": the all-encompassing narrative bent on exploring every theme, every social milieu, every emotional possibility...it is also a book whose subject matter calls for the open destruction of boundaries: in geography, in relationships, in language. The result is a beautiful, accomplished novel: as ambitious as it is generous, as moving as it is smart."

Highly recommend this novel. I look forward to following Neuman and reading the rest of his work. literature16 s Karrie Miner64 3

Great philosophical dialogue. A book that will make you think.favorites15 s Cris130 100

Este es el primer libro que he leído este año pero ya puedo decir que muy posiblemente se encuentre en la lista de favoritos que elabore en enero del que viene. Lo encontré por casualidad y me ha pillado completamente por sorpresa. No sabría quedarme con un solo aspecto memorable de esta novela; cada una de sus caras me ha fascinado aún más que la anterior.

Entre estas páginas me he encontrado con diálogos cómo hacía tiempo que no leía. El autor hace uso de la elipsis como forma de involucrar al lector, de invitarlo a pasar y poner de su parte en la conversación. Las continuas interrupciones entre personajes añaden partes del escenario no descritas y el lenguaje sin censura nos trasmite emociones y detalles del subconsciente del interlocutor que nos llegan sin necesidad de hacer ningún apunte. Todo esto hace que nuestra percepción de la historia fluya y evolucione a pasos agigantados sin que nos demos cuenta.

Reseña completa y mi versión de la portada en https://sidumbledorefueralibrero.com/...favorites14 s ???????? ????????Author 6 books576

http://diavazontas.blogspot.gr/2016/0...

????????? ??? ?? ??????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ????????? ?????????????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? 2012. ? ???????????? ??? ??? ?? «???? ?????», ?? ????????? ?? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????????, ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? «????????? ??? ?????» ?? ???????. ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ????????? ???????.

????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????????? ???? ?????????, ??? ????-???? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???, ?????????? ??? ???? ??????????, ??? ?????????????, ??????????? ??? ????????? ???????? ???, ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ????????? ?? ?? ??????, ?? ??????????? ?? ????? ?? ???. ? ?????? ????? ????? ??????????. ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????????? ?? «???? ?????» ??? ????????? ??? ??? ?????? «????» ???. ???? ?? ??? ???????? ??????? ???????????? , ?????? ?????????: ??? ? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????????.

? ??????? ??????? ???? ? ????, ???? ???????? ??? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ???????, ?????? ????? ??? ????????????, ??? ???? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ??????, ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???????????? ???? ?????, ???? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????. ? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ??? ?????, ???? ?? ???????????? ??? ?????, ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????. ??????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ???. ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????????? ???????? ??? ?????, ??? ???????? ??? ????. ?? ????, ?????????? ??? ??????????????.

? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???, ??? ???? ??????????, ?????????????? ?? ??? ??? ????????? ??????, ???? ??????? ??????? ?????, ???? ????????????, ???? ????????? ??? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??? ?????. ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ? ???????????? ????????? ?????, ? ???? ????? ????????, ?? ????? —??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ? ???? ??? ????— ??? ? ??????, ???? ??????? ????????. ??????? ? ???? , ??? ????? ??????????? ??? ??????????? ??? ?????? ??????, ???? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ???????? ??????????? ??? ?? ????????????????? ??? ???????, ?? ????? ?? ???????????? —????????, ??????????, ???????????— ?? ??? ?????, ??? ?? ????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ????????????? ??? ???????????.

???? ?????????? ????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ??? ????????????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????????????. ???? ????????????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ?? ???: ????????? ?? ??? ????????? ?? ?? ????. ? ????, ??? ??????? ?????????????? ??? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???, ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????????, ??? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???, ??? ????? ??? ?????????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????????? ?? ???????? ?? ??????????? ???????. ? ??????? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??? ?????????. ??? ??? ????????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ???, ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????????. ? ????, ??? ???????????? ???? ??????????? ???????????? ???, ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????. ????????? ??? ??? ????????????? ??? ????? ???, ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????, ?????????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??????, ???? ???? ???????? ????. ????????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??????????????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????: ?? ????? ?????????????, ? ???????? ? ? ???????; ???? ??????????????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ????. ? ????, ??? ??? ????, ????? ??????????· ??? ?????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ???? ?????, ??? ???? ???????. ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ??????? ?????, ????? ????? ? ????????? ???, ????? ???? ?????????? ?? ????? ??????????, ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ????.

???? ????????????? ????? ??? ?? ????????????? ??????????, ? ????????? ????? ??? ?????????????? ?? ??????????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????????? ????? ??? ??????????, ? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????????, ? ???????? ?????????????, ? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ? ??????????????? ???, ?????????? ???? ????????????? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????????, ????? ?? ????? ????? ????????, ???? ???????? ??? ???????????.

???? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ? ???????. ? ????? ? ??????? ??????? ??? ? «?????????? ??? ?????» ????? «??? ???????????? ?????? ??????? ???? 19? ????? ???? 21?». ??? ? ??????????· ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????, ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????. ??? ? ????????. ? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????????????, ? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ??????????? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ????????????????? ????? ??? ??? ??????????? ????. ??? ?????? ? ????? ??? ????? ???????, ?
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