review
War and Love is a collection of essays by one of the leading lights in contemporary Swiss culture. Lukas Bärfussâs writing is as original and thought-provoking as his thinking, a George Orwell for our times.
Bärfussâs critical gaze ranges over an impressive array of issues. No topic is off-limits for the author, who delves into fundamental philosophical questions just as readily as he explores everyday themes. Bärfussâs essays are insightful excursions into literature, history, philosophy, music, contemporary living, social questions and politics. His style is gratifyingly sharp and precise, enabling his readers to follow the sequence of his thoughts, step-by-step, and observe how they are reflected in the lucid prose. This slim volume has considerable depth as Bärfuss writes about antique tragedies, Sakurai, the life of a cleaning products salesman, Stendhal, cultural politics in ZĂźrich, contemporary literature and theatre, Benjamin, toothache and semantic problems. The authorâs success as a playwright shines through in his powerful, punchy prose and the dramatic eloquence of his rhetoric, guiding his readers through an arresting intellectual experience.
War and Love is a book that stimulates and enriches contemporary thought through thematic depth and stylistic virtuosity.
All recommendations from Autumn 2018