Germany

mountain where monsters roamBritish and German Literature, History and Culture

Thomas Mann's "The Devil's Mountain" Synopsis and Comments - What is life? A hodgepodge of strong personalities! A masterpiece of German literature!

この小説は私にとって非常に大切な作品です。私の「十大小説」を選ぶとすれば『魔の山』は確実にその中に入ることでしょう。それほどこの作品は力強く、強烈なインパクトがあります。とにかくスケールの大きな作品です!

I first read this book when I was a graduate student. I had been wanting to read a profound novel about life issues, and this was the one I suddenly came across. I was originally interested in Thomas Mann, having read "Death in Venice" as a student and having heard his name mentioned in connection with Goethe.

そしてこの本と出会い、私は忘れられない一節を心に焼き付けることになったのです。

Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(5) The Colosseum, a symbol of ancient Rome, and Goethe Andersen: The Romanticism that Fascinated Men of Letters

ローマ観光の定番中の定番のコロッセオでありますが、やはりここは面白い。その巨大な姿による圧倒的な視覚効果はもちろん、歴史的な背景も非常に興味深いです。

現代でこそ発掘と保全が進み今のような姿となっていますが、実は19世紀後半までのコロッセオは草の生い茂る牧歌的な姿をしていました。

そして私はこの巨大なコロッセオを眺めながらゲーテの巨人ぶりに圧倒されるほかありませんでした。私はこのコロッセオでゲーテの偉大さを改めて思い知ることになりました。ゲーテ、ゲーテ、ゲーテ!やはりあなたは恐るべき超人だ!私はあなたにひれ伏すしかない。

Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(3) Visit the long-established Caffe Greco in Rome - a sanctuary for artists where Goethe, Andersen, and Mendelssohn also frequented.

ローマのスペイン広場近くにあるカフェ・グレコはあのゲーテやアンデルセン、メンデルスゾーンやベルリオーズなど数え切れないほどの著名人が時を過ごした名店で、文学や絵画、音楽好きにはたまらない聖地となっています。

さすが200年以上の歴史を持つ老舗。ノスタルジーを感じるにも最高です。

私もローマ滞在中何度もここへ足を運びました。何度来てもわくわくする空間です。憧れの偉人たちがここにいたのだという思いに毎回興奮していました。

Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(1)ローマの玄関ポポロ門とポポロ広場~一瞬で旅行者を引き込む目の一撃!劇場都市ローマの真骨頂とは!

私のローマ旅行記の記念すべき第一回目はローマの玄関口ポポロ門とポポロ広場です。

私もテルミニ駅から地下鉄を使ってポポロ門までやって来ました。

ゲーテやスタンダールもここを通りました。私が好きなドストエフスキーもメンデルゾーンもここを通ったことでしょう。

私にとってローマはベルニーニの街であり、あのゲーテが褒め称えた街でもあります。何事も「始め」が肝心。これからのローマ滞在にとって大いに弾みとなった初日でした。

Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

My thoughts after "Dostoevsky's Journey" and future blog updates - in reply to the message to all visitors to this blog.

I like Dostoevsky. But above all, I love "Dostoevsky with Mrs. Anna. I would be very happy if the journey of these two men could be seen by as many people as possible.

After this, our blog will be updated with articles about Rome, but for me personally, I will now plunge into the study of Buddhism. Finally, I have returned to my main focus. I will be studying the history, thought, and culture of Buddhism along the route of its transmission from India, Asia, China, and Japan. My ultimate goal is to write a novel biography of Shinran Shonin. My research is now entering a new phase, and I have no regrets about my nearly four years of research on "Shinran and Dostoevsky.

Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

(29) The connection between the sudden death of his beloved child Alyosha and "The Brothers Karamazov" - Dostoevsky as the father of his children.

In our previous article, we introduced you to Dostoevsky, the loving wife.

And in this article I would like to conclude my travelogue by introducing Dostoevsky as a father.

Dostoevsky, the loving wife, Dostoevsky, the father of a child.

I will now share with you an episode that is absolutely essential to know Dostoevsky as he walked with his wife.

I believe that if you read "The Brothers Karamazov" with the knowledge of Dostoevsky's love for his children, something different will surely grow inside your heart.

Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

(28) Visit to a place associated with Dostoevsky in the spa resort of Bad Ems - Dostoevsky sends ardent love letters to his wife even 10 years after their marriage.

For me, Bart Ems is a symbolic place where I can feel Dostoevsky's love for his wife Anna.

Dostoevsky was passionately in love with his wife even after 10 years of marriage.

He continues to send ardent love letters from Ems to Mrs. Anna.

I would like to show everyone how delirious he is, which is hard to believe that he is a great writer who wrote that "Evil Spirit".

I feel that there is no better place to learn about Dostoevsky as a loving wife than here.

Mrs. Anna.Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

(27) Mrs. Anna's Warriors after returning home! She fights off debt collectors! Dostoevsky has full confidence in her!

In my previous article, "(26) Mr. and Mrs. Dostoevsky's Return to Russia after 4 Years! What is the growth of Dostoevsky and his wife Anna, who has become well rounded after the trip?", we talked about the point where Mr. and Mrs. Dostoevsky finally returned to Russia.

In this article, we will introduce Mrs. Anna, who has grown up after such a trip. 4 years have passed, and they have returned as completely different people from the ones before their departure. What kind of life did they lead after returning home?

Dostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

(26) Mr. and Mrs. Dostoevsky return to Japan after a four-year absence! What is the growth of Dostoevsky and his wife Anna, who has become more rounded after the trip?

Four years ago, their journey began in Dresden.

Dresden as a newlywed, the nightmare of Baden-Baden, heaven and hell in Geneva, days in Florence, and homesickness in Dresden. Many things happened. Too many things. The couple overcame these unimaginable days together.

The two people who started the trip are no longer with us.

Dostoevsky overcame his own darkness and insanity and came back a much bigger writer. And his wife, Anna, will continue to play an outstanding role as a great manager to support Dostoevsky.

These four years were truly a destiny-changing journey for Dostoevsky.

Shakespeare, a treasure trove of masterpieces

Tatsuji Iwabuchi, Brecht: Person and Thought 64 - We can change Shakespeare. If we can change Shakespeare

この本はドイツの劇作家ブレヒトの生涯や時代背景、思想をコンパクトに知れるおすすめの作品です。

私がこの本を手に取ったのはシェイクスピアがきっかけでしたが、「演劇と時代背景」について考えることができたのは大きな収穫だったなと思います。

当時の演劇界の空気感を知れるこの本はとてもおすすめです。私も1ページ1ページ興味津々で読みました。ぜひ手に取ってみてはいかがでしょうか。