A great translator takes on one final and nearly impossible. Schmidt began writing the novel in december 1963 while he and hans. Has anyone ever tackled the english translation of bottom. Last weekend i read the second of arno schmidts stories from the collected novellas. This is what makes some accounts of schmidt, like orthofers, hard for me to understand. Arno schmidt 19141979 was born in the workingclass suburb of hamburg hamm, germany. Cover design by imre reiner, who likely drew the illustration although he is not explicitly credited. The book is a mammoth project, originally published in folio format in 1970, presenting schmidts typescripts with handwritten.
With roots in both german romanticism and expressionism, he attempted to develop modern prose forms that correspond more closely to the. Helmut schulze liest arno schmidts zettels traum in umbria. It is probably fitting that my first post for 2017 is another progress update on arno schmidts bottoms dream, considering i intend to continue. Buy bottoms dream by arno schmidt with free delivery. When im done with bottoms dream, ive done my work, he said. Jeden tag ein kleines stuck dichtung, ob aus anhs bereits erschienenen buchern, ob noch im entstehen. Schmidt was awarded the fontane prize in 1964 and the goethe prize. Bottoms dream argues, and i think readers are meant to follow. Esther yi writes about the german writer arno schmidts magnum opus. A discussion with volker langbehn, professor of german at san francisco state university, about the new release of german author arno schmidt s bottoms dream, translated by john e. Someone uploaded the full bottoms dream by arno schmidt on. Michael orthofer discusses the obscure book bottoms dream and explains what he and the books author, arno schmidt, have in common.
For an enormous originally published as a 34page typoscript, and now 2010 as a properly typeset 1536page text, zettels traum originally published as zettels traum is arno schmidts much discussed and surprisingly wellselling magnum opus. I have always been wary of books that demand attention. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was, says bottom. Bottoms dreama threecolumned, more than 1,300page, photooffset typescript, centring on the mind and works of poe. Why arno schmidt is one of the best readers of all time. First and foremost it is about edgar allan poe, or perhaps it is language itself that plays that lead role. Finnegans wake omits the apostrophe, contrary to englishlanguage orthography, and zettels traum inserts it, contrary to german orthography.
Reading and discussion of arno schmidts bottoms dream. Although welltranslated into english, schmidt one of the german greats of the twentieth century doesnt get nearly the attention he deserves except in the stultifying, rarefied air of wellconcealed. Bottoms dream by arno schmidt, john edwin woods waterstones. Bottoms dream arno schmidt 9783518809006 see more like this results matching fewer words arno schmidt by m. Garish covers, deliberately awkward page or font sizes, titles that sound like lines from failed experimental poetry the need to stand out is understandable, especially in a literary market, but all too often it stems from a lack of substance on the page. Let us hope that he will have an opportunity to attempt the impossible and give us an english bottom s dream too. Helmut schulze liest arno schmidts zettels traum in. Bottoms dream zettels traum by arno schmidt posted on may 1, 2014 by the untranslated i have recently come up with the idea to add a new rubric to my blog that will deal with the forthcoming translations of important works of literature or the anticipated publication of already completed translations. Bottoms dream german literature hardcover point reyes. The novel was inspired by james joyces novel finnegans wake, particularly schmidt s use of columns. Woodss english translation, bottoms dream, published this fall by.
Since its publication in 1970 zettels traum bottoms dream has been regarded as arno schimdts magnum opus, as the definitive work of a titan of postwar german literature. Bottom s dream arno schmidt 9783518809006 see more like this results matching fewer words arno schmidt by m. Description i have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was, says bottom. Woodss new english translation of arno schmidts notoriouslyuntranslatable zettels traum, is like watching one of these beasts saunter out of the forest.
Woods pages 96141 posted on 04012017 by tonymess12 standard it is probably fitting that my first post for 2017 is another progress update on arno schmidt s bottoms dream, considering i intend to continue my reading journey through this literary revelation, it will probably take up a. For this reason, schmidt wrote bottoms dream in three columns, laconically adding. Bottoms dream german literature by arno schmidt bottoms dream german literature by arno schmidt pdf, epub ebook d0wnl0ad i have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was, says bottom. The radio session was noted by his wife alice schmidt, firstly published 1977, in the complete works it is at.
Presented as the diary of a dead german officer, the story recounts the attempted escape of a motley crew of soldiers and civilians on a steam train. Zettels traumbottom s dream i know there are a good few arno schmidt enthusiasts out there. On the whole, orthofers book makes for a fine introduction to this intriguing writer, especially now, as dalkey archive press has just announced that woods translation of bottoms dream will finally be published in september 2016. Since its publication in 1970 zettels traumbottoms dream has been regarded as arno schimdts magnum opus, as the definitive work of a titan of postwar german literature.
So, its now time for englishspeaking readers to finally go and discover arno schmidt. It has been a few weeks since i posted a bottoms dream update, however in that time i have managed to make it through a whole fifteen pages, and i would have kept reading without an update here, however i read back through my notes and thought it was time i put the gibberish onto a page and made it public. Let us hope that he will have an opportunity to attempt the impossible and give us an english bottoms dream too. He plans to retire within a year after finishing arno schmidts 1,330page opus, zettels traum, which will be titled bottoms dream, in english. Arno schmidt, the author of zettels traum, in 1964. Photograph from dpa picturealliance ap in 1970, the german writer arno schmidt published his magnum opus, a novel called zettel. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Woods pages 96141 posted on 04012017 by tonymess12 standard it is probably fitting that my first post for 2017 is another progress update on arno schmidts bottoms dream, considering i intend to continue my reading journey through this literary revelation, it will probably take up a. I just finished infinite jest and was browsing the rare book collection at the last bookstore for another gigantic tome to get lost in for monthsyears, when i stumbled upon this copy of bottoms dream by arno schmidt. Chicago tribune a giant of postwar german literature. Bottom s dream german literature by arno schmidt bottom s dream german literature by arno schmidt pdf, epub ebook d0wnl0ad i have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was, says bottom. He and ingo schulze will discuss, in english and german, what happened in the process of translation. Arno schmidts 1970 novel bottoms dream is finally available in english translation by john e. A discussion with volker langbehn, professor of german at san francisco state university, about the new release of german author arno schmidts bottoms dream, translated by john e. Then arno schmidt will assume his rightful place in modern literature. Arno schmidt project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Schmidt s rare vision is a journey into many literary worlds. Bottoms dream is a novel published in 1970 by west german author arno schmidt. Woods was fool enough to attempt the task, the result is bottoms dream, from which he will read. Arno schmidt 19141979 is considered one of the most daring and influential writers of postwar germany.
He is little known outside of germanspeaking areas, in part because his works present a formidable challenge to translators. For an enormous originally published as a 34page typoscript, and now 2010 as a properly typeset 1536page text, zettels traum originally published as zettels traum is arno schmidt s much discussed and surprisingly wellselling magnum opus. I have had a dream, and i wrote a big book about it, arno schmidt might have said. Arno schmidt, novelist, translator, and critic, whose experimental prose established him as the preeminent modernist of 20thcentury german literature. Bottoms dream by arno schmidt, 9781628971590, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Sep 23, 2016 bottom s dream by arno schmidt, 9781628971590, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Drafted into the army in 1940, he served in the artillery at a flak. And presumably theyre all holding their breath until 1 october, when the new edition of zettels traum comes out in german.
Bibliographie arno schmidt 19491991, bielefeld 1992 in german, continued wolfgang martynkewicz. Woods i have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was, says bottom. Arno schmidt, in full arno otto schmidt, born january 18, 1914, hamburghamm, germanydied june 3, 1979, celle, novelist, translator, and critic, whose experimental prose established him as the preeminent modernist of 20thcentury german literature. Jeremy alder, new york times a truly witty and innovative writer. Schmidts rare vision is a journey into many literary worlds. Woods has already shown his ability to translate late schmidt with his version of evening edged in gold 1975. Zettels traum or zettels traum as the author wrote the title is a novel published in 1970 by west german author arno schmidt. Topics arno schmidt bottoms dream collection opensource language english. Buy bottom s dream german literature series box by schmidt, arno, woods, john edwin isbn. Jul 27, 2016 michael orthofer discusses the obscure book bottom s dream and explains what he and the book s author, arno schmidt, have in common. As far as i can tell, schmidt did not intend bottom s dream to be his greatest work, just his biggest. Schmidt began writing the novel in december 1963 while he and hans wollschlager began to translate the works of edgar allan poe into german. Entitled leviathan or the best of worlds, this is a claustrophobic short story set during the fall of berlin.
Readers are now invited to explore its verbally provocative landscape in an english translation by john e. Bottoms dream german literature hardcover by arno schmidt, john e. Photograph from dpa picturealliance ap in 1970, the german writer arno schmidt published his magnum opus, a. Someone uploaded the full bottoms dream by arno schmidt.
Buy bottoms dream german literature series box by schmidt, arno, woods, john edwin isbn. Topics arno schmidt bottom s dream collection opensource language english. As i mentioned earlier, the book weighs over pounds. Bottoms dream arno schmidt haftad 9781628971590 bokus. Since its publication in 1970 zettel s traum bottom s dream has been regarded as arno schimdt s magnum opus, as the definitive work of a titan of postwar german literature. The experience of limits in arno schmidts bottoms dream. Making this an appropriate day to put together my first thoughts on arno schmidts bottoms dream. Bottoms dream german literature 9781628971590 by schmidt, arno and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. I found the first 50 pages utterly exhausting, and there were 100 more. Bottom s dream german literature 9781628971590 by schmidt, arno and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Schmidts magnum opus no less pretentious expression will do, zettels traum, translated as bottoms dream, is a massive answer to finnegans wake. With roots in both german romanticism and expressionism, he attempted to develop modern prose forms that correspond more closely to the workings of. It was then that schmidt developed his theory of etyms, the morphemes of language that betray subconscious desires.
For an enormous originally published as a 34page typoscript, and now 2010 as a properly typeset 1536page text, zettel s traum originally published as zettels traum is arno schmidt s much discussed and surprisingly wellselling magnum opus. Nov 03, 2016 arno schmidt, the author of zettels traum, in 1964. For three decades woods awardwinning work has often topped this short list, but not for much longer. The book has been called the german finnegans wake, and weighs in at a staggering 1500 pages. And both joyce and schmidt happened on roughly the same solution to their alienation from high culture.
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