TODESFUGE
An audio recording, with still photo accompaniment, of Paul Celan reading Todesfuge.
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An audio recording, with still photo accompaniment, of Paul Celan reading Todesfuge.
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In his recent TEV guest review of Home Land, Jim Ruland called Sam Lipsyte the "funniest writer of his generation," and we're quite inclined to agree. We tore through Home Land in two joyful sittings and can't remember the last time we've laughed so hard. Lipsyte's constellation of oddly sympathetic losers is rendered with a sparkling, inspired prose style that's sent us off in search of all his prior work. In Lewis Miner's (a.k.a Teabag) woeful epistolary dispatches to his high school alumni newsletter ("I did not pan out."), we find an anti-hero for the age. Highly, highly recommended.
I've long found this one of the most powerful poems I know. How moving to hear it read by Celan himself. Thank you for posting.
Posted by: Pamela | June 18, 2008 at 08:06 AM
I'guessing that your seeking Celan's poem on Youtube was prompted by a reading of Banville's 'Conversation in the Mountains.'
Am I close?
Posted by: Andrew | June 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM
This is why I read your blog faithfully, Mark. I located and printed out an English translation of the poem, then read it while listening to the German. Then I looked up Celan's biography. Adds depth to an ordinary sunshiny day.
Posted by: Susan | June 18, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Thank you both Susan and Pam for the kind words. And Andrew: Clever lad. Stay tuned.
Posted by: TEV | June 18, 2008 at 07:57 PM