Martin Bircks ungdom Delfinserien Originally published in this partly autobiographical second novel established S derberg s reputation for shocking boldness yet great elegance It traces the development of the hero from a seeming

Originally published in 1901, this partly autobiographical second novel established S derberg s reputation for shocking boldness yet great elegance It traces the development of the hero from a seemingly idyllic Stockholm childhood to maturity as a thirty year old man, an introspective outsider, critical of society, constantly searching for the truth but going through a grOriginally published in 1901, this partly autobiographical second novel established S derberg s reputation for shocking boldness yet great elegance It traces the development of the hero from a seemingly idyllic Stockholm childhood to maturity as a thirty year old man, an introspective outsider, critical of society, constantly searching for the truth but going through a gradual process of disillusionment He dreams of being a poet, but is too melancholic to break free from his modest bureaucratic career, and slowly drifts towards nihilism and aestheticism Martin Birck s Youth is a book rich in fin de si cle themes melancholy, eroticism and decadence abound The Stockholm depicted here with lyrical beauty is a haunting city of shadows and snowstorms, suppressed passion and loneliness The conflict between dreams and reality which occurs in so many novels of the period is central to the novel, and its preoccupation with issues of free will, determinism and morality prefigures S derberg s next novel, the highly acclaimed Dr Glas in which Martin Birck makes a cameo appearance.
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Unlimited Martin Bircks ungdom (Delfinserien) - by Hjalmar Söderberg
234 Hjalmar Söderberg

Hjalmar Emil Fredrik S derberg was a Swedish novelist, playwright, poet and journalist His works often deal with melancholy and lovelorn characters, and offer a rich portrayal of contemporary Stockholm through the eyes of the flaneur S derberg is greatly appreciated in his native country, and is sometimes considered to be the equal of August Strindberg, Sweden s national author.