graciosareis's review against another edition

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Estas duas histórias, escritas pelo autor quando tinha 24 anos, retratam o ambiente político agitado pelo confronto nacionalista, no final do século XIX, em Praga. Na altura, era habitada por cento e quarenta mil checos e vinte e sete mil alemães.
“Foi ali [no Café Nacional, por poetas e pintores, actores e estudantes] que Wanda ouviu falar das questões da “nação” e que tomou, pela primeira vez, conhecimento das suas aflições e dificuldades e das suas aspirações secretas e profundas” (p.101)
Os protagonistas são jovens estudantes que vivem a ocupação alemã e por conseguinte acompanham os ideais revolucionários da época.
As duas histórias apresentam a mesma temática e algumas personagens em comum. No segundo conto
Gostei de ler e de conhecer o testemunho do autor sobre esta época conturbada da sua cidade natal.

sercem_w_ksiazkach's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

taitmckenzie's review against another edition

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3.0

I am generally a big fan of Rilke's work, and after reading these early stories of the brilliant poet I was not surprised to learn that he had wanted them forgotten, or left unconnected to his mature oeuvre, though it is always interesting to see the places where great artists develop. These two longish short stories concern the lives of Czech students and artists living amongst the German occupation of Prague, which immediately sets this book apart, for it concerns political and even revolutionary themes which seem to have vanished in Rilke's more famous poetry, ideals of his youth perhaps transmuted into the all consuming vision of [book: The Duino Elegies] and [book: The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge]. While there is some amount of plot, one can already see Rilke as poet making grand emotionally descriptive passages about setting and place, so that we are almost more presented with a window or kaleidoscope into the world of his youth then an actual plot, which at times makes it difficult to follow.
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