Publisher Description

W. G. Sebald was a literary phenomenon: a German literary scholar working in England, who took up creative writing out of dissatisfaction with German post-war letters. Within only a few years, his unique prose books made him one of the most celebrated authors of the late twentieth-century. Sebald died prematurely, aged 57, after the publication of his most celebrated prose fiction Austerlitz. This accessible critical introduction, written by a leading expert, highlights Sebald's double role as writer and academic. It discusses his oeuvre in the order in which his works were published in German in order to offer a deeper understanding of the original development of his literary writings. In addition to concise but incisive interpretations of the main publications, Schütte demonstrates how Sebald's critical writings (most of which still await translation) fed into his literary texts and concludes his study with a perceptive assessment of Sebald as a cult author.

Author Biography

Uwe Schütte is Reader in German at Aston University. He has published numerous articles, essays and reviews on German-language literature and popular music and twenty books (mainly in German) on German language and literature including four on W G Sebald and his work.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations viAcknowledgements viBiographical Outline ixAbbreviations and References xiii

1 W. G. Sebald: Emigrant and Academic 12 After Nature (1988) 303 Vertigo (1990) 424 The Emigrants (1992) 575 The Rings of Saturn (1995) 726 Austerlitz (2001) 887 The Cult of Sebald 107

Postscript 116Notes 117Primary Bibliography 123Select Bibliography 124Index 127

Review

'Schütte's book is now the place to start with one's study of Sebald... It seems so simple, doesn't it—summarize an author's life, books, and impact in 130 pages? Schütte makes this look easy, which is a credit to the clarity of his writing and critical thinking.'
Vertigo

Review Quote

"Schtte's book is now the place to start with one's study of Sebald... It seems so simple, doesn't it - summarize an author's life, books, and impact in 130 pages? Schtte makes this look easy, which is a credit to the clarity of his writing and critical thinking." Vertigo

Description for Sales People

Written by a leading expert on Sebald (who also knew him personally) The only current study of Sebald available for a general readership Reflects the publication history of the German original texts but is specifically written for an Anglophone audience Contains a summary chapter critically discussing his reception as a cult author Sebald has a wide international following of both general and academic readers

Description for Press or Other Media

An authoritative introduction to one of the most-read authors of our time.

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