What other central european authors do you read?

[bendk]

I liked these two:

Bruges-la-Morte by Georges Rodenbach

On the Edge of Reason by Miroslav Krleza

And I have read quite a few books by Ismail Kadare, my favorite being The Palace of Dreams.


Ligotti has mentioned the Rodenbach book. It is so atmospheric as to make the location, Bruges, the main character.

[MadsPLP]

Robert Walser is, by the way, highly recommended by me as well. Not only Benjamenta / von Gunten, but also most the rest of his works. I believe The Tanners and short stories from Berlin have recently been translated into English, but thein again, I think most of his books are available in English.

And, lest I forget, Mihail Sebastian is a writer well worth seeking out. Especially his interbellum/WWII-journals Journals 1935-1944: The Fascist Years are brilliant as far as I've read them, comparable to Victor Klemperers journals from Nazi Germany in quality, if not even better. The only novel I've seen by him in English is The Accident, a book which I unfortunately haven't read, but which my girlfriend thought highly of. I'm usually less critical than her.

Magnus: If you haven't read it yet, you should seek out Karsten Sand Iversen's Skyggebiblioteket as well. Brilliant writing and lots of extremely good recommendations.

[klarkash]

Marai's Embers was very good.
Jahnn comes highly recommended but the books are very expensive/hard to find in English.

[hoelk]

To those who read German I would highly recommend the Anthology "Der Gewöhnliche Schrecken". A Horror short-story anthology edited by Peter Handke (!!!). Features a very memorable point-of-view ghoul story by Peter O. Chotjewitz ("Der Ghoul von der Via del'Oca."). Various editions of this collection are available for 0.1 euro +3 euro porto on Amazon.de Im pleased to see how many of the recommendations here are public domain and available from projekt guttenberg or similar sites. Anyone got more suggestions in English or German that are easily available as free online texts?

[gveranon]

Quote Originally Posted by MadsPLP

While we're in Norway, Tor Ulven should be of high interest to you as well, Magnus, but you probably already know that. I doubt his works are translated into English.

A novel by Tor Ulven was just published in English translation by Dalkey Archive (April 24). The copy I ordered actually shipped a few days early and has been waiting since Monday for me to pick it up at the post office. (I've been waiting for a couple of other books to arrive so I only have to stand in line there once this week.)

Amazon.com: Replacement (9781564787477): Tor Ulven, Kerri A. Pierce: Books

 

Amazon.com: Replacement (9781564787477): Tor Ulven, Kerri A. Pierce: Books

i second all of the authors listed thus far, and so will not repeat them here. to this list i submit the work of danilo kis.

[Viva June]

Quote Originally Posted by gveranon

A novel by Tor Ulven was just published in English translation by Dalkey Archive (April 24). The copy I ordered actually shipped a few days early and has been waiting since Monday for me to pick it up at the post office. (I've been waiting for a couple of other books to arrive so I only have to stand in line there once this week.)

This is great news, even if it means I missed my chance of being the one who introduced the English-speaking world to Tor Ulven. Replacement (or, as I would have called it, had I been smart enough to apply for a grant and do a translation, Substitution) is his best novel and easily one of the most dispiriting works ever written; I guarantee you will enjoy it.

[MagnusTC]

Quote

I have the impression you read in German as well, Magnus?

Yes I do read german, and french when I am not too lazy : ) I recently found out that Hans Henny Jahnn's Nacht aus Blei exists in a danish translation from the 1950's (Nat af bly og Aske), if you don't want to wait for a copy to show up on ebay...

[Sand]

Also, Guido Morselli, particularly the novel translated into English as Past Conditional. An alternative history of the First World War.

[MadsPLP]

Quote Originally Posted by MagnusTC

Quote I have the impression you read in German as well, Magnus? Yes I do read german, and french when I am not too lazy : ) I recently found out that Hans Henny Jahnn's Nacht aus Blei exists in a danish translation from the 1950's (Nat af bly og Aske), if you don't want to wait for a copy to show up on ebay...

I am aware of that translation. I should probably buy it, although my faith in translations into Danish from period has been shaked more than once.