Category Archives: History

Forgottenness by Tanja Maljartschuk, translated by Zenia Tompkins.

Posted on March 22, 2024 by mandywight

There are two parallel stories in Tanja Maljartschuk’s novel Forgottenness. It’s the story of Viacheslav Lypynskyi, born in 1882, an important figure in the early 20th century struggle for Ukrainian independence. It’s also the story of the narrator, a young … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Translation, Books on Ukraine, History, Memoir, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

La Carte Postale- Anne Berest

Posted on March 13, 2024 by mandywight

On 6th January 2003 a postcard arrives at the home of Lélia and Pierre. It’s an old postcard of the Paris Opera Garnier, with four names written on the back: Ephraïm, Emma, Noémie and Jacques.  These are the names of … Continue reading →

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Magnificent Rebels-The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self by Andrea Wulf.

Posted on January 13, 2024 by mandywight

Andrea Wulf has written a terrific book about the writers, thinkers and philosophers based in the German town of Jena at the end of the 18th century. From around 1794, for a decade or so, these brilliant and creative thinkers … Continue reading →

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East and West- Reading for #GermanLitMonth 2023

Posted on December 1, 2023 by mandywight

The real conversation in Berlin is about East and West. I was intrigued to hear this comment from American writer Lorrie Moore on the podcast Literary Friction in July. She was recommending Jenny Erpenbeck’s novel Kairos, and her words have … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in German, Books in Translation, History, Memoir, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck,(translation Michael Hofmann).

Posted on November 3, 2023 by mandywight

I’m a great fan of German writer Jenny Erpenbeck. With novels like The End of Days and Go, Went, Gone, and her non-fiction collection Not a Novel, she’s acquired for me the status of public intellectual, a sort of German … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in German, Books in Translation, History, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Pompeii or Jowna’s Five Speeches by Eugen Ruge.

Posted on July 15, 2023 by mandywight

I really enjoyed reading Eugen Ruge’s latest novel Pompeii or Jowna’s Five Speeches for New Books in German. I’ve been fascinated by volcanic landscapes for a while now, ( see Esther Kinsky’s Rombo) and this interest was furthered by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in German, Classical World, History | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Diary of an Invasion by Andrey Kurkov

Posted on February 7, 2023 by mandywight

It seems like a good time to be reading this account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the one year anniversary approaching, on February 24th. Andrey Kurkov, a novelist well-known outside Ukraine, ( Death of a Penguin, Grey Bees) … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in English, Books on Ukraine, History, Memoir, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

In My Grandfather’s Shadow. A story of war, trauma and the legacy of silence by Angela Findlay.

Posted on January 4, 2023 by mandywight

Born in the mid-60s, Angela Findlay enjoyed an idyllic childhood in a small village in Hampshire. Her parents, a German mother and English naval officer father, had married in 1962, and settled in England soon after. Though Angela was aware … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in English, History, Memoir, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Peak Reads of 2022

Posted on December 30, 2022 by mandywight

It’s been a great year for books, book events and opportunities. I really enjoyed browsing in Freiburg, Berlin and Bordeaux, attending readings at festivals like Festilitt, Sheffield’s Off the Shelf and, virtually, at Edinburgh. On a more sombre note, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in English, Books in German, Books in Spanish, Books in Translation, Books on Ukraine, Books set in South America, History, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We Don’t Know Ourselves- A Personal History of Ireland since 1958 by Fintan O’Toole.

Posted on December 22, 2022 by mandywight

1958 was the year journalist and writer Fintan O’Toole was born and this book covers the arc of Ireland’s history since that date from the perspective of himself and his family. Less personal than a memoir, it reminds me of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in English, History, Ireland, Memoir | Tagged , | 3 Comments