|
|
2.0étoiles sur 5
You Have To Give Konrad Some Credit, Mai 30 2004
EMBERS takes place in 1939 Hungary on a country estate near Budapest. The story begins with the arrival of a letter. In this letter, Henrik, a former Austrian general, learns that he is going to receive a visit from his childhood friend and onetime fellow officer, Konrad, the man who once betrayed Henrik with Henrik's beautiful wife, Krisztina and who Henrik has not seen in forty years.Krisztina has been dead for thirty-two years and since that time, with the exception of the servants, Henrik has been the estate's only inhabitant. Once he learns of Konrad's impending arrival, he immediately begins making preparations for the visit, seeking to recreate, down to the candles, silver, flowers and food, the last dinner he, Krisztina and Konrad shared together. This dinner followed a long day of hunting that changed the lives of all three persons forever. Before Konrad's arrival, however, we learn about Henrik's childhood and his first meeting with Konrad at the Imperial Military Academy. It is, in fact, Konrad who introduces Henrik to the beautiful Krisztina. Henrik believed that he, Konrad and Krisztina comprised an inseparable threesome until the day he is betrayed by both friend and wife, a betrayal he discovers only when Krisztina fails to control herself and utters two revealing words. Henrik's world falls apart. He retreats to his hunting lodge and he and Krisztina never see each other again; she dies eight years later. Henrik severs his friendship with Konrad, not speaking to him for forty years. On the night of Konrad's visit, however, Henrik certainly makes up for his forty-year silence. EMBERS is almost a monologue-a rant even-as Henrik unleashes all his long pent up fury and rage. I found this "almost monologue" far too long-winded and melodramatic. I feel the book would have been vastly improved had Marai let Konrad speak instead of writing a long diatribe directed against him. I could understand Henrik's rage, but, my goodness, it's been forty years, I felt like telling him, get over it. Konrad did betray Henrik's trust and friendship but Konrad certainly deserves credit for staying the night and listening to the bitterness of an old man who can't get over the injustices of life and the foibles of love. While Marai writes elegant, lovely prose, I really can't understand the popularity of this book. The story is terribly predictable and the ranting bitterness of Henrik gets to be "too much." I really wouldn't recommend EMBERS, but if you do read it and, like me, don't like it, be comforted. It's a short book and it really won't take up much of your time.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
 
|
|
|
|
de Sándor Márai
de Ismail Kadare
de Sándor Márai
de David Albahari
de Sándor Márai
