W., Steve SemSandberg
W., Steve SemSandberg
List: $21.99 | Sale: $15.39
Club: $10.99

W.
A Novel

Author: Steve Sem-Sandberg, Saskia Vogel - Translator

Narrator: Adam Gold

Unabridged: 11 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/28/2022


Synopsis

A reimagining of Buechner’s classic play Woyzeck, the tale of jealousy, love turned to hate, and murder and its consequences propels this internationally acclaimed novelThe novel W. is a literary prequel to one of modern literature’s touchstone texts, the play Woyzeck—the basis of films, operas, and numerous translations and adaptations. Considered the first modern drama, Woyzeck tells the story of a loyal foot soldier who, in a fit of jealous rage, kills the woman he loves. In 1836 this true story inspired Georg Buechner to write the play, unfinished at his death at just 23 years old. W., the astonishing new novel by August Prize–winning author Steve Sem-Sandberg, grippingly recounts the lovers’ relationship, the murder case, and the solder’s execution, while digging deeper into the world and motivations of the characters.
Taking this classic and enduring work as his starting point, in poetic and controlled prose, Sem-Sandberg reveals a ruthless, moving, and unforgettable story of human vulnerability and the abyss that Buechner felt was a part of every person. Larger forces such as the horrors of war and the dehumanizing nature of psychiatry collide with the soldier’s own small world, and love devolves into hatred as Woyzeck desperately and humanly struggles to make something of the life given to him.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jin on September 18, 2021

Woyzeck kennt man vielleicht schon aus der Schule oder vom Theater. Dieses Buch rollt den Charakter Woyzeck nochmal neu aus, analysiert genau und präzise seinen Charakter bis zum bitteren Schluss. Die Art und Weise wie er porträtiert wurde, fand ich spannend und unterhaltsam erzählt. Für mein Geschm......more

Goodreads review by Marianne on May 03, 2022

De naam van het hoofdpersonage in deze roman, Johann Woyzeck, doet bij sommigen wellicht een belletje rinkelen. Over deze historische figuur die in 1821 in Leipzig werd onthoofd na de moord op zijn grote liefde Johanna Woost, schreef Büchner zijn beroemde toneelstuk. Ook de Zweedse schrijver Steve S......more

Goodreads review by Clara on March 05, 2020

Boken är en 4a vad gäller språk och idé. Tankeväckande kring individens ansvar. Men den var verkligen inte en härlig läsupplevelse utan bitvis alldeles för utdragen och tråkig eller hemsk. Så läsupplevelsen får definitivt inte mer än en 3a.......more

Goodreads review by Kisxela on October 18, 2023

I definitely wanted to read this work of literature because lately I have had to put down too many books before the end. However, I had to stop reading after the two hundredth page, the story was almost completely uninteresting to me, the main character and almost all the characters were repulsive a......more

Goodreads review by Miranda on July 31, 2024

Interesting writing (and a good translation) but I felt absolutely no connection to the characters nor the book itself. It was a bit of a Hardy/1917 combo and it didn’t play out well at all. Rather jumpy and I don’t know if this is because I’ve never heard let alone read the play but it just seemed......more