German Literature?

[superunknown]

I've only read Kafka's "The Trial" and I've got "The Metamorphosis" and Hesse's "Steppenwolf" sitting unread on my shelf.

[bouquin]

I love Mann. I have also read Hesse and Kafka.

[stlukesguild]

I've read quite a bit of German literature (mostly in English translation). Goethe is great (which should go without saying). My most recent reading was of his journals from his Italian Journeys. I haven't come across much by Schiller in translation, but what I have read of Heine, Moricke, and especially Holderlin I have liked very much. Oh... I cannot forget Novalis Hymns to the Night. Among the more recnt German literature I must admit to being a huge fan of Kafka and Rilke... and I also greatly admire Hermann Hesse, Thomas Mann, Friederich Durrenmatt, Georg Trakl, and Gunter Grass. I might note, however, that I believe Schiller (both the author and the person who started this thread) has left us.

[bo bara]

hesse's steppenwolf is excellent. also my favourite theorist is walter benjamin german critic influenced by marxism and jewish mysticism, which makes for some interesting insights. brecht is also good. mean to read some kafka soon.

[quasimodo1]

Rainer Maria Rilke is my poety hero. Mitchel the best translator of his work. Have you ever heard of Cioran, is he German? RJS

[stlukesguild]

Emil Cioran is Romanian but seems mostly known in the West for his works written in French:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Cioran

[Uncle Lar]

"Ich liebe Deutsches, aber mein Deutsch ist schlecht."
"I love German, but my German is bad."

To help me hone my
German, I like to study
great German writings.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Poetry:
http://www.goethe.lingvisto.org/azindex.php

Old High German: Hildebrandslied, ll. 1-26:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/iedocctr/ie-texts/text-ohg.html

I highly recommend watching the Academy Award Winning German Film, Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others):
http://www.hollywood.com/movie/The__Lives_of_Others/3487623


Haben Sie ein großes Wochenende!
Have a great Weekend!

Sincerely,

Onkel Lar

[SleepyWitch]

hehe, Uncle Lar
it's "ein schönes Wochenende" (a nice weekend)
"groß" means big and is not used the same way as "great"
you can say "ein großer Dichter" (a great/famous poet) though



it's nice to see how many people like German

[GothMan]

I'm a big fan of the German Romantics, especially the Jena-period (A. W. Schlegel, Fr. Schlegel, Novalis, Tieck, Wackenroder). Unfortunately I can't speak German but I'm about to learn it for sure, because most of this stuff is only in German on the net!

[Schokokeks]

I'm a big fan of the German Romantics, especially the Jena-period (A. W. Schlegel, Fr. Schlegel, Novalis, Tieck, Wackenroder). Unfortunately I can't speak German but I'm about to learn it for sure, because most of this stuff is only in German on the net!

It's my favourtite period in German literature, too , though I prefer the late Romantics, especially Hoffmann. If, in the course of your reading, you stumble over something interesting, please post it, I'd be happy to discuss with you .
Good luck with your learning German !

[GothMan]

Oh, I like Hoffmann too, of course! I will send you a PM for sure to have a discussion all about it! By the way I started reading Schiller's "The Robbers" yesterday...

[Schokokeks]

Oh, I like Hoffmann too, of course! I will send you a PM for sure to have a discussion all about it!

Great !

By the way I started reading Schiller's "The Robbers" yesterday...

I knew this would work .

[Cafe Rob]

My favourite philosophical book is "World as Will and Representation" by Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopehauer was significantly influenced by Kant and also to a lesser extent by Plato. He provides a broad commentary on the affairs of human life and writes in a very understandable way. I strongly recommend the book for anyone interested in the subject.

[quasimodo1]

Now how did I miss Schopenhauer, of course, any philosophy major knows a little but this work went right overhead. Thanks. RJS

[Elly_blue]

We had to read some books for German class and afterwards discuss it with the teacher. At the beginning I was not very happy with that idea, cause my German was not that good at the time.
But I certainly don't regret reading them, because it's a great way to get to know some foreign literature (you can't really get the essence of it if you read a translation).
I read books from Süskind and Kafka. Really not bad.!