IoS paperback review: Tales of the German Imagination, Selected and translated by Peter Wortsman
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.As Wortsman notes in his introduction, "a streak of melancholy and depression bordering on madness runs through the authors and tales in this book." Which begs the question, are these writers running away from their demons or facing them?
The familiar Grimms' tales here – "Hansel and Gretel", "The Children of Hameln" – play into children's fears of being abandoned and adults' fears of harm coming to their offspring, but Rainer Maria Rilke's "The Seamstress", about a young man who cannot resist making love to a filthy old hag and thereby ruining his future prospects forever, speaks more about sexual fears and adult weakness. Or it's the state controlling us in absurd ways, as in Kafka's familiar nightmare. Heinrich Heine speculates on the particularly rural German identity behind so many tales, and the depths of meaning attached to simple objects.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments