Gehen
by Thomas Bernhard
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Description
A walk with a friend unspools a far-ranging, darkly comic, philosophical dialogue in this novella by "one of the masters of contemporary European fiction" (George Steiner). With celebrated novels such as The Loser, Woodcutters, and Extinction, Austrian author Thomas Bernhard cemented his reputation as "one of the century's most gifted writers." Though he is favorably compared with Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett, it is only in recent years that he has gained a devoted cult following in show more America (Newsday). A powerful, compact novella, Walking provides a perfect introduction to the absurd, dark, and uncommonly comic world of Thomas Bernhard, showing a preoccupation with themes-illness and madness, isolation, tragic friendships-that would obsess Bernhard throughout his career. Walking records the conversations of the unnamed narrator and his friend Oehler while they walk, discussing anything that comes to mind but always circling back to their mutual friend Karrer, who has gone irrevocably mad. Walking is a beautifully realized, penetrating meditation on the impossibility of truly thinking. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
La commistione fra camminata e pensiero dà vita al dialogo rutilante e frammentato che il libro sviluppa. Due persone che parlano e camminano, con la scrittura che le segue. Sì, in mezzo ci sono momenti divertenti tanto quanto considerazioni esistenziali preziose, ma personalmente ho apprezzato più l'idea che la realizzazione.
I couldn't finish this very short novella by an author some have called a towering intellect. It was repetitive and meandering. Its central themes and philosophical ideas were simple and presented plainly. The introduction by Brian Everson was far more interesting. The discussion at the heart of the character's metaphorical and literal walk did not stir an iota of emotion in me.
I want to discover a work by Bernhard I can enjoy. I want to understand why everyone recommends him so highly. Perhaps my next attempt will be more successful.
I want to discover a work by Bernhard I can enjoy. I want to understand why everyone recommends him so highly. Perhaps my next attempt will be more successful.
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Best Literary Walks
35 works; 7 members
Walking
25 works; 4 members
Author Information
282+ Works 16,451 Members
Thomas Bernhard was born to Austrian parents in Holland and reared by his mother in the vicinity of Salzburg. His temperament and erratic health created difficulties for him as he grew up in a society governed by National Socialists. Bernhard found the alpine landscapes of his native Austria far more harsh than lyrical. The isolation of the show more characters in his novels is only slightly mitigated by friendship, generally only between men, and never by love. Yet many readers feel this lack of sentimentality gives Bernhard's work an epic power. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Wandeling
- Original title
- Gehen
- Original publication date
- 1971; 2019 (Nederlandse vertaling) (Nederlandse vertaling)
- People/Characters*
- Karrer; Oehler
- First words*
- Während ich, bevor Karrer verrückt geworden ist, nur am Mittwoch mit Oehler gegangen bin, gehe ich jetzt, nachdem Karrer verrückt geworden ist, auch am Montag mit Oehler.
- Original language*
- Duits
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 833.914 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures German fiction 1900- 1900-1990 1945-1990
- LCC
- PT2662 .E7 .G413 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Individual authors or works 1961-2000
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 207
- Popularity
- 157,225
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.95)
- Languages
- 9 — Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 3
