Vertigo (Sebald novel)

Vertigo
Author W. G. Sebald
Original title Schwindel. Gefühl
Translator Michael Hulse
Country Germany
Language German
Genre Diary, Memoir
Publisher Eichborn
Publication date
1990
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 298
ISBN 3-8218-4063-3
OCLC 23177054

Vertigo (German: Schwindel. Gefühle.) is a 1990 novel by the German author W. G. Sebald. The first of its four sections is a short but conventional biography of Stendhal, who is referred to not by his pen name but by his given name of Beyle. The second is a travelogue of two journeys made to the Alpine region by an unnamed narrator whose biography resembles Sebald's; an episode from the life of Casanova is also featured. The third describes a difficult period in the life of Kafka, referred to only as "Dr. K." And the fourth is a nostalgic recounting of the narrator's visit to his German hometown of "W," a rural village which he has seen nothing of for decades.[1][2] Sebald makes notable use of leitmotif, such as sensations of dizziness as suggested in the title, and deceased persons lying covered on platforms. The novel functions along with Sebald's subsequent works The Emigrants and The Rings of Saturn as a trilogy.[3] All three works were translated into English by Michael Hulse in partnership with Sebald.

Reception

Stephen Moss of The Guardian found the book difficult to characterize, but embraced it critically.[3]

See also

References

  1. Freeman, John (2000-07-05). "A meditation on four lives and three centuries, Vertigo finds W.G. Sebald in search of lost time". Minneapolis City Pages. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  2. Dillon, Millicent (2000-07-16). "Putting the past in front of him". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  3. 1 2 Moss, Stephen (2000-01-20). "Falling for Vertigo". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
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