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A review by haazex
Martin Bircks ungdom by Hjalmar Söderberg
5.0
A Gateway to Melancholy
Hjalmar Söderberg keeps surprising me with his thoughtful philosophical musings about life. Once again he kept me up late at night, turning pages and allowing me to suspend myself in his reality. The novel is semi-biographical following the author from childhood to his mid-thirties (or so). Söderberg continuously oscillates between criticizing society, equality, and gender roles while simultaneously musing about the meaning of life, one’s dreams and hopes. As time unfolds the perspective darkens and one senses great sarcasm, loss of hope and shattered dreams. Reading these pages in Swedish I couldn’t help but sensing the Swedish summers, the beech trees, and the darkness of the approaching winter. His dreams and hopes are tantalizing while resonating with my own thoughts and perspectives. At times Söderberg’s prose is extremely poetic as he paints situations, relationships and time with a spectrum of vivid and memorable colors. Love, longing and melancholy dominate. The last chapter in particular is glorious. The novel is quite dark as one senses the youth of Martin wrestling with the norms of society and failed hopes and longings. Yet I cannot help but to admire Söderberg’s writing and wonder why he is not more renowned internationally. Surely he belongs in the pantheon of the greatest Swedish writers – an equal to Strindberg. I have previously read Doctor Glas which is just as thoughtful. The poetic bursts of Martin Birck will stay with me as small resonating embers of life. Brilliant.
Hjalmar Söderberg keeps surprising me with his thoughtful philosophical musings about life. Once again he kept me up late at night, turning pages and allowing me to suspend myself in his reality. The novel is semi-biographical following the author from childhood to his mid-thirties (or so). Söderberg continuously oscillates between criticizing society, equality, and gender roles while simultaneously musing about the meaning of life, one’s dreams and hopes. As time unfolds the perspective darkens and one senses great sarcasm, loss of hope and shattered dreams. Reading these pages in Swedish I couldn’t help but sensing the Swedish summers, the beech trees, and the darkness of the approaching winter. His dreams and hopes are tantalizing while resonating with my own thoughts and perspectives. At times Söderberg’s prose is extremely poetic as he paints situations, relationships and time with a spectrum of vivid and memorable colors. Love, longing and melancholy dominate. The last chapter in particular is glorious. The novel is quite dark as one senses the youth of Martin wrestling with the norms of society and failed hopes and longings. Yet I cannot help but to admire Söderberg’s writing and wonder why he is not more renowned internationally. Surely he belongs in the pantheon of the greatest Swedish writers – an equal to Strindberg. I have previously read Doctor Glas which is just as thoughtful. The poetic bursts of Martin Birck will stay with me as small resonating embers of life. Brilliant.