Eva Menasse’s essays and speeches give us another opportunity to rediscover the author’s spiritedness and irrepressible passion for writing: in lovingly mischievous observations about Germans and Austrians, in committed political interventions, but also in passionate acknowledgements of favorite authors like Richard Yates, Alice Munro and Ulrich Becher. She pays special attention to the public role of the author, a field in which it is common knowledge that one can do nothing right.
The Heinrich Böll Prize winner attempts to determine what the namesake of the prize would think, write and do today. She quarrels with Günter Grass, but still delivers a birthday speech for him. She praises the literary-musical genius of Georg Kreisler and thanks Imre Kertész for making the effort for himself and his readers with his relentless literary accuracy.
Eva Menasse’s poignant and elegant texts take a refreshing look at today’s world and demonstrate the relevance of literature. They take a stand and deliver a strong case against half-heartedness.
“Literature is an arduous practice. It offers more questions than answers. When it does provide answers, it is to questions other than the ones we asked. It has dark wrinkles and gloomy re-cesses. And that is the very reason why it illuminates and enlightens.”
