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amy_rr's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The synopsis for this book described Sebald as exploring 'the conflict between man and nature'. This was particularly evident in the 2nd section of the triptych of poems which explores the life of a naturalist/ explorer, and to some extent in the final section which is autobiographical and describes the East-Anglian coastline which has been scarred by military use over the years.
However, I found the first section, which regards a painting by the renaissance painter Grunewald, far more challenging to understand, both due to my lack of knowledge on Christian art history, but also in terms of its relevance to the overarching theme of the book. After reading the article that another reviewer links to, I had a better understanding of how Sebald is defining nature in this context (in essence, 'after nature' meaning 'after the fact' - ie out of the context of its history, looking at the artwork with a personal or contemporary eye).
Having a slightly better understanding of this, I would like to re-read the book soon to appreciate it further. Aside from my own confusion, I found the prose beautiful to read with some striking imagery.
I just think that his lifetime as a scholar has made some of his musings feel inaccessible to the average reader, who will need to engage in/ research the subject matter in order to fully appreciate it. In other words, the work demands patience and commitment, or conversely an acceptance that some aspects simply won't make much sense but are enjoyable to read. In either instance it is possible to gain a personal understanding of the work after nature - or after the fact, much as Sebald himself regards Grunewald's paintings.
However, I found the first section, which regards a painting by the renaissance painter Grunewald, far more challenging to understand, both due to my lack of knowledge on Christian art history, but also in terms of its relevance to the overarching theme of the book. After reading the article that another reviewer links to, I had a better understanding of how Sebald is defining nature in this context (in essence, 'after nature' meaning 'after the fact' - ie out of the context of its history, looking at the artwork with a personal or contemporary eye).
Having a slightly better understanding of this, I would like to re-read the book soon to appreciate it further. Aside from my own confusion, I found the prose beautiful to read with some striking imagery.
I just think that his lifetime as a scholar has made some of his musings feel inaccessible to the average reader, who will need to engage in/ research the subject matter in order to fully appreciate it. In other words, the work demands patience and commitment, or conversely an acceptance that some aspects simply won't make much sense but are enjoyable to read. In either instance it is possible to gain a personal understanding of the work after nature - or after the fact, much as Sebald himself regards Grunewald's paintings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, and War
tomrubenreads's review against another edition
5.0
Ontroerend mooi. Diepgang, beleving, werelden en personages komen tot leven, je zou je Zelf er in verliezen en terugvinden. Lof aan Ria van Hengel, de vertaalster van het oeuvre van Sebald.
tbr_tyrant's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
2.5
buddhafish's review against another edition
3.0
28th book of 2020.
I already think I need to re-read this. It is comprised of three prose poems, the first about a 16th century painter, the next an 18th century naturalist and the last, Sebald himself in Germany. I read it quickly and maybe it deserves slower reading. I'll read it a few more times this week maybe, aloud. There are some beautiful lines and images, as expected from Sebald. I plan to read more of his novels shortly, having only read The Rings of Saturn
I already think I need to re-read this. It is comprised of three prose poems, the first about a 16th century painter, the next an 18th century naturalist and the last, Sebald himself in Germany. I read it quickly and maybe it deserves slower reading. I'll read it a few more times this week maybe, aloud. There are some beautiful lines and images, as expected from Sebald. I plan to read more of his novels shortly, having only read The Rings of Saturn
tdbrwn's review against another edition
Barring a few exceptions, I don’t get on well with poetry, not to mention poetry in translation. (Why? Perhaps a lack of serious trying. More plausibly, brainrot from too much academic reading and the internet.) Poetic prose: “yes please”. Line breaks: “no thanks”. However, I wanted to give this early Sebald poem-thing a try. I expected it to be interesting but unenjoyable; to be filed under “try again later”.
My expectations were met but partially exceeded. The book is a triptych of long-ish poems, all in the typical Sebald mould: a kind of biography of the painter Grünewald; a kind of travelogue of a historical scientific expedition; and a kind of autobiographical piece. All of them are based around preoccupations that occur throughout Sebald’s prose works: travel, obscure histories, melancholy, persecution, order and coincidence.
The purpose to which these themes are put is more opaque than in his prose works. Because of this, and because of the line breaks, I was able to appreciate the descriptive language in a different way. There were, however, obvious subtleties that still went over my head. As such, the book will definitely be filed under “try again later”. But it was enjoyable and I am now looking forward to dipping into Sebald’s shorter poetry.
My expectations were met but partially exceeded. The book is a triptych of long-ish poems, all in the typical Sebald mould: a kind of biography of the painter Grünewald; a kind of travelogue of a historical scientific expedition; and a kind of autobiographical piece. All of them are based around preoccupations that occur throughout Sebald’s prose works: travel, obscure histories, melancholy, persecution, order and coincidence.
The purpose to which these themes are put is more opaque than in his prose works. Because of this, and because of the line breaks, I was able to appreciate the descriptive language in a different way. There were, however, obvious subtleties that still went over my head. As such, the book will definitely be filed under “try again later”. But it was enjoyable and I am now looking forward to dipping into Sebald’s shorter poetry.
partypete's review against another edition
4.0
quite good, but a bit confusing. being his earliest work, you can see the experimentation and themes he carries into books like the rings of saturn. I’m not sure if an extended poem was the right format for all of this - the grunewald section was difficult to parse, although it might be an interesting take on ekphrastic poetry. i struggled at times to understand why he chose to ruminate on the subjects that he did.
still quite happy to read it, but i think it’s a bit of an optional read when compared to his later works
still quite happy to read it, but i think it’s a bit of an optional read when compared to his later works
mlindner's review against another edition
3.0
This is divided into three main sections, entitled: ...As the Snow on the Alps, And If I Remained by the Outermost Sea, and, Dark Night Sallies Forth. The 1st is about Matthias Grünewald, a German Renaissance painter. The 2nd is about Georg Wilhelm Steller, a botanist-explorer of the Enlightenment. The last is about the author himself.
This was OK but it assumes a lot of knowledge of all of these men to fully appreciate, much less understand, the poems.
After reading it I found this essay, primarily about the 1st section of the book, via the blog 3 Quarks Daily.
http://nonsite.org/issue-1/sebalds-after-nature-authorship-at-the-threshold-of-representation
This was OK but it assumes a lot of knowledge of all of these men to fully appreciate, much less understand, the poems.
After reading it I found this essay, primarily about the 1st section of the book, via the blog 3 Quarks Daily.
http://nonsite.org/issue-1/sebalds-after-nature-authorship-at-the-threshold-of-representation