SEBALD, W.G. [trans. Hulse, Michael]. The Emigrants. London: The Harvill Press. 1996.
8vo. Original blue cloth boards with gilt lettering and publishers device on spine; Blue illustrated dust wrapper; [10], 3-237, [3]; minimal bruising to top and bottom of dust wrapper spine; otherwise fine copy.
First edition in English.
"But I have never been able to bring myself to sell anything, except perhaps, at one point, my soul".
The Emigrants is a powerful series of narratives which explore the consequence of trauma and displacement as experienced by four Jewish emigres in the 20th century. As with much of Sebald's work, the use of stark black and white photographs throughout give the impression that one is reminscing over a past life. They are both complimentary to the narrative but also interruptions to recollection. "The Emigrants is about the power of memory. The way in whch German history has wrought havoc with the human capacity to remember has never before been remember has never before been recorded with such force" (Volkskrant).
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