About this title: W. G. Sebald writes eloquently about Germany in the aftermath of World War II, particularly the strange reluctance of Germans to talk about the extensive bombing of their country by the Allies. He also discusses the work of German writers who have written on the subject, or avoided it--particularly Alfred Andersch and Jean Améry. Sebald has been accused by some critics of endeavoring to turn the Germans into victims of World War II rather than its aggressors; however, what he is doing, rather, is pondering the concept of "collateral damage" of war, and its ethical implications.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Acceptable. Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges. read more
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004-02-01
ISBN-13:9780375756573ISBN:0375756574
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780375756573. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780375756573ISBN:0375756574
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House
Date Published: 2003-02-11
ISBN-13:9780375504846ISBN:0375504842
Description: Good. Good to very good condition. Clean pages. Tight binding. DJ has some wear along the edges & some some dust smudges in various spots. Prompt shipping & FREE delivery confirmation. dw. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Ltd
Date Published: 2003
ISBN-13:9780241141267ISBN:0241141265
Description: Good. This is an EX LIBRARY copy with all the usual stamps, marks etc. The inside flysheet has been tidily removed. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
Description: Good. 0375756574 All orders ship same/next day. Orders before 2: 00 PM EST ship same day. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780375756573ISBN:0375756574
Description: Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 224 p. Contains: Illustrations. Modern Library Classics (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
"During the latter years of WWII, 131 German cities and towns were the victims of Allied air raids, and many of those towns were literally decimated. It was the same sort of fire bombing we saw in Japan leading up to Hiroshima. The destruction truly was amazing. From the fire bombing of Hamburg, Sebald writes: "The water in some of the canals was ablaze. The glass in the tram car windows melted; stocks of suger boiled in bakery cellars. Those who had fled from their air-raid shelters sank, with grotesque contortions, in the thick bubbles thrown up by the melting asphalt." By the time all the bombing was finished, over six hundred thousand German civilians had died, and seven and half million were homeless. Rats overran cities and got fat on corpses, and people lived for years in the rubble underneath. And yet, most literature written by Germans after the war never mentions any of this. That's what this book is about: it meditates on the horrors of the destruction and why German writers, still, have been so silent about it.
For those who've not yet read Sebald, you are in for a real treat of truly curious genius. His books are typically a melange of fiction, non-fiction, and photography, and I simply marvel at his brain and his prose. This book, part history, part literary criticism, part autobiography, and with photos, contains some of the most captivating thoughts and words I've read in a while."
"The long title essay in this book focuses on what Sebald sees as the cultural amnesia of the German people with regard to WWII--not so much for crimes they committed or complicit with, but for the crimes afflicted against them by the Allies' huge bombing campaigns--the annihilation of numerous German cities. Particularly, he asks, why haven't writers confronted it and when they have why has it been done in a kitschy way. It's really interesting. I thought I might only read that first essay, but the three shorter essays focus on specific writers and they are equally fascinating, particularly on the German writers Amerly and Weiss. It's different than the novels obviously, but I'll follow WG anywhere."
"You just need to read the first 3 essays. Its strange how German nationalism has been shunned post WWII. Nobody wants to be called a nazi. Of course this may only be interesting to germans and us German Americans."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
