Ein liebender Mann
by Martin Walser
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Description
"For readers of Colm Toibin's The Master and Michael Cunningham's The Hours, a witty, moving, tender novel of impossible love and the mysterious ways of art. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is so famous his servant auctions off snippets of his hair and children and adults recite from his many works by memory. When he was a young poet, his first novel, a story of love and romantic fervor ending in suicide, was an international blockbuster that set off a wave of self-inflicted deaths across Europe. show more Now seventy-three, sought after and busy with scientific pursuits and responsibilities to the Grand Duke, he has fallen in love with a nineteen-year-old, Ulrike von Levetzov. Infatuated, at the spa in Marienbad, he seeks her out. They exchange glances, witty words. In the social swirl, they find each other. On the promenade, they parade together arm in arm. Time spent away from her is sleepless, and when they kiss, it is in the 'Goethian' way, from his books: a matter of souls, not mouths or lips. And yet, his years fail him. At an afternoon tea party, a younger man tries to seduce her. At a costume ball, he collapses. When he proposes nonetheless, Ulrike and her mother are already preparing to leave. Caught in a storm of emotion and torn between despair and unwillingness to give up hope, he begins an elegy in his coach as he pursues her: 'The Marienbad Elegy,' one of his last great works"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This was an interesting story - saying it's an age-gap romance would be putting it mildly. Goethe is decades older than the woman who has stolen his heart - Ulrike. They make quite the interesting couple, and a rather interesting story spawns from their courtship. The story and characters overall were quite entertaining, but at times it moves quite slowly, which can make it difficult to keep pushing through when it feels like you've stalled. I did enjoy reading this, and seeing all the difficulties that had to be navigated in the 19th century. A sweet story that those who enjoy historical literary romances will enjoy.
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Author Information
155+ Works 2,440 Members
Martin Johann Walser was born in Wasserburg-Bodensee, Germany on March 24, 1927. He attended Regensburg University. His works, including short stories, novels, essays, plays, and poetry, often depict a Germany both guilty over the past and optimistic about the future. He has won a number of awards, include the Hermann Hesse Prize, the Schiller show more Prize, the Buechner Prize, and the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
rororo (25350)
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Ein liebender Mann
- Original publication date
- 2008
- People/Characters
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; Ulrike von Levetzow
- Important places
- Weimar, Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach; Marienbad, Germany
- Original language*
- Deutsch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 833.914 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures German fiction 1900- 1900-1990 1945-1990
- LCC
- PT2685 .A48 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Individual authors or works 1961-2000
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 102
- Popularity
- 312,478
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.38)
- Languages
- 8 — Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 15
- ASINs
- 3
