The Little Reader Library: novella

Showing posts with label novella. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Journey into the Past - Stefan Zweig

Translated from the German by Anthea Bell

‘Ah, the dark, endless years between then and now, a grey sea between shore and shore, between heart and heart!’

This novella by Stefan Zweig is so beautifully written and even in a short work such as this, there were so many sentences and passages I found myself marking to return to and enjoy again.

The story is of a man born into poverty, working for little money as a private tutor, who takes up a position offered to him by a famous industrialist which enables him to raise up from his humble beginnings, and whilst employed he meets and falls deeply in love with the wife of his employer. He is given a great career opportunity, which involves relocating overseas for two years, to Mexico. Despite his love, he goes, and the two keep in touch by letter, focused on meeting once again once the two years have passed. However, the onset of World War I then serves to keep the two separate for many years longer.

Eventually they meet again, and the novella begins with them taking a train journey together again after all the years apart. As they travel, the recollections begin to flow and the reader learns how they met as he embarks on the journey into the past.

‘And while the rattling wheels invisible below them rolled onward, into a future that each of them imagined differently, the thoughts of both returned in reverie to the past.’

At times the feelings expressed and the behaviour are so deeply romantic; I was struck by the lengths he goes to in order to keep her letters safe and dry and close by him all the time whilst he is in Mexico. Zweig uses language so effectively to capture and convey human emotions and passions. The translation reads very well throughout.

Journey into the Past took hold of my heart and drew me into the intensity of feeling that once existed between this man and woman; it made me curious as to whether all that remained between them now was nostalgia or whether any of that once deep connection remained. I find the author’s words captivating and his understanding of human relationships and human nature so true and believable.

I have previously read The Post Office Girl, and Journeys, by Stefan Zweig, and next on my list of his works to read is Chess.

Published by Pushkin Press

I bought my copy of this novella.

Read as part of the 2013 Translation Challenge

Saturday, 3 November 2012

The Collini Case - Ferdinand von Schirach - German Literature Month 2012

Translated by Anthea Bell

'What you do now will determine the rest of your life...'

Caspar Leinen is young, just starting out on his career as a lawyer, and he takes on the case of Fabrizio Collini. Proving that Collini is not-guilty in this case could really establish Leinen as a defense attorney and make his name. Collini has worked for the same company for thirty-four years, and appears to be a decent and quiet man. Then one day he walks into a luxurious Berlin hotel and kills a man. Having taken on the case, Leinen then discovers that he knows Collini’s victim. This presents him with a dilemma on both a personal level, and professionally.

As he continues with the case, at first, there seems nothing that indicates why Collini has acted as he has, and both Leinen and the reader are left asking, what is the motive for this murder? Leinen works into the small hours sorting and searching through the statements, and evidence:

'Leinen was looking for something, although he didn't know what. He had overlooked some small detail. There must be a key somewhere that would explain the murder and put the world back in order.'

The tension mounts as Leinen finally makes a discovery regarding the case. The discovery is only revealed to the reader at the moment that it is revealed to the judge and jury in the trial, making us a full part of the story, and heightening our anticipation of the revelations to come. It is shocking and surprising when it comes, as it is brings into question an aspect of the German justice system itself.

I felt drawn into this story from the start, it is compelling. It’s a short book, which hits you with the detail of the story and the background that you need to know, with no superfluous extras. This is crisp spare prose, the interactions of the characters and everything that happens is all geared towards building the plot, leading to the main scene, the evidence given in the court room during the trial. The writer is one of Germany's most prominent defense lawyers working in Berlin and this shows in the authenticity and sharpness of the prose. This book is well worth a read.

Published by Michael Joseph

( - I am sharing this review again as part of German Literature Month - see this post for more information.)

Friday, 2 November 2012

How do you Voodoo? - Janice Horton

This new novella by author Janice Horton is a short read for Halloween time. At only 20,000 words it's a quick, entertaining contemporary read.

Nola Nichols is a top fashion model, used to her appearance being preened and polished to perfection at all times. Whilst on a flight traveling back to the UK from the Caribbean, trying to sleep in her first class bed, Nola is irked by a woman who appears to be ill and has been moved up from economy making noise and causing disruption to her peaceful routine. Demanding of the staff that the woman is removed back to her economy seat, Nola is aware of some words that the woman utters; could this be some sort of curse? Thinking little more of this at the time, when she returns home, strange physical changes being to happen to Nola. Suddenly the things she has prized most highly, her looks, are starting to fade, and with an important new modeling job coming up, she must somehow find a way to restore herself.

There is a strong moral behind the story which is very current when thinking about our society nowadays. The main character is very focused on her appearance, believing that this is what matters most. Through the events within the story, she grows to realise that how she behaves and how she treats others are the things that ought to matter to her much more, and that kindness and friendship are more rewarding than selfishness and vanity.

Will she confront the ghosts of her past? And how will things develop with Louis, the doctor she has met? The story takes in, amongst other places, the City of the Dead or Necropolis in Glasgow (read more about this in the link below to the author's post about it.)

It was a nice change to read a shorter story but one that still felt fulfilling and delivered intrigue and character development. Another entertaining, fun modern-day tale from this author with a nice balance of humour, sweet romance, morals and a spooky side!

Find out more about Glasgow's Necropolis or City of the Dead here, in a post by the author about her visit there.

Reviewed by Lindsay Healy

Thank you to the author for kindly sending me a copy of this novella to read and review.

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Janice Horton lives in Scotland and writes contemporary women's romantic fiction with humour. Her novels ‘Bagpipes & Bullshot’ and ‘Reaching for the Stars’ are both Amazon Kindle bestsellers. Her latest title ‘How Do You Voodoo?’ is a romantic and humorous novella for Halloween and out now!