2018-03-22

The Judge and His Hangman

The Judge and His Hangman
Today I finished my first book written in German and I tremendously enjoyed it. It was written by Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921 – 1990), a Swiss author and dramatist, and set in places I have been numerous times, for a change.

What I liked most about it are the descriptions; how a writer through his words can lead you to contemplate details which we usually neglect, because they are details. But precisely, along the pages they slowly form the big picture, like the pieces of a puzzle. Several movies have been made on this story but I can't image how I couldn't be disappointed with everything which would inevitably get lost in the conversion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Judge_and_His_Hangman,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_D%C3%BCrrenmatt,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_Game,

Thus, after French and English, I now feel ready to access the cultural work of all natives of this language, and there were many. I think I will now celebrate the moment, and right after I will read his other books. :-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_literature,
https://goo.gl/KB59do

11 comments:

Lev Osherovich said...

I read this book in high school German class! It must be some kind of classic introduction to literary 20th century German.

Zaid El-Hoiydi said...

Lev Osherovich That is where my daughter is at right now and, since I was eager to read something held in high esteem and in German, I chose and read it over the last few days.

Like with most litterature I assume I wonder how young students can enjoy such books. For me it was quickly clear that the pleasure I drew from it was from the many years of life the writer and myself shared. In a way I guess I can be glad I wasn't forced to read it at school as is mostly the case in Switzerland.

Henriette Seljepil said...

This book was curiculum in my primary school days. I can still hear the voice of my teacher talking about going to Germany aftet the war. On a bike named - Das Rote Blitz. Now I get a perspective on Durenmatt through you. Maybee I should rereed: Der Richter und sein Henker, sounds like a good idea

( my getman is bad, but its not this teachers fault, its due to change of school too many times before entering his class. In short, every school/ comunity have diferent plans, and my family moved about theese formative years. Nobodys fault, just happened.)

Karin Nelson said...

OMG I hadn't heard of him since highschool. :)

Zaid El-Hoiydi said...

Karin Nelson I wouldn't be surprised that a vast majority are just like you.

Karin Nelson said...

I do remember that we HAD to read one of his books, but I don't remember which one. It's been soooo long. However, what I know for sure is that he co-wrote one of my favourite movies of all time "Es geschah am hellichten Tag".

Zaid El-Hoiydi said...

Karin Nelson A good movie reference to know about which led me to "Das Versprechen" (The Pledge), to read next. Thank you Karin.

Karin Nelson said...

Well, that can only mean one thing: I have to add it to my reading list as well. :)

Zaid El-Hoiydi said...

Karin Nelson Since you're able to read German, lucky you will share the same pleasure I had, getting directly the words from the mind that bore them.

I read it as a Kindle ebook and later got the Audible narration. For Bärlach's voice there couldn't have been a better choice than Hans Korte. It was an incredibly immersive experience.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Korte
audible.de - Der Richter und sein Henker

Karin Nelson said...

I am still resisting audiobooks. I'm old fashioned that way. I suppose it's a time thing - but if I should ever not find 30 minutes in my day to read a book, that can only mean that I'm dead. :)

Zaid El-Hoiydi said...

Karin Nelson Together is the key word here, text and voice. :-)