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LiteraturSchweiz

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Authors

A

Fabiano Alborghetti,

Carole Allamand,

Urs Allemann

B

Guido Bachmann,

Jean-Luc Benoziglio,

Sibylle Berg,

Bern ist überall,

Donata Berra,

Clo Duri Bezzola,

Peter Bichsel,

S. Corinna Bille,

Hans Boesch,

Giovanni Bonalumi,

David Bosc,

Nicolas Bouvier,

Anne Brécart,

Irena Brežná,

Lukas Bärfuss,

Katja Brunner,

Ernst Burren,

Julien Burri,

Roland Buti

C

Arno Camenisch,

Alex Capus,

Maurice Chappaz,

Gaston Cherpillod,

Jacques Chessex,

Anita Siegfried (Text),

Claudia de Weck (Ill.),

Martina Clavadetscher,

David Collin,

Nicolas Couchepin

D

Flurin Darms,

Massimo Daviddi,

Martin R. Dean,

Zora del Buono,

Max Huwyler (Text),

Dieter Leuenberger (Ill.),

Franz Dodel,

Elvira Dones,

Friedrich Dürrenmatt,

Ralph Dutli

E

Dorothee Elmiger,

Lisa Elsässer

F

Urs Faes,

Luisa Famos,

Andrea Fazioli,

Michael Fehr,

Anna Felder,

Felice Filippini,

Catalin D. Florescu,

Eleonore Frey,

Ursula Fricker,

Alexandre Friederich,

Max Frisch

G

Zsuzsanna Gahse,

Katharina Geiser,

Massimo Gezzi,

Andrea Gianinazzi,

Dagny Gioulami,

Eugen Gomringer,

Nora Gomringer,

Roman Graf,

Dana Grigorcea

H

Heinz Helle,

Reto Hänny,

Franz Hohler,

Thomas Hürlimann,

Michael Hugentobler,

Sandra Hughes

I

Felix Philipp Ingold

J

Anja Jardine,

Hanna Johansen

K

Lorenz Pauli (Text),

Kathrin Schärer (Ill.),

Christoph Keller,

Birgit Kempker,

Pascale Kramer,

Thilo Krause,

Agota Kristof,

Tim Krohn,

Robert Walser (Text),

Käthi Bhend (Ill.),

Meral Kureyshi

L

Monique Laederach,

Rolf Lappert,

Doris Lecher,

Pedro Lenz,

Pierre Lepori,

Eva Maria Leuenberger,

Gertrud Leutenegger,

Hugo Loetscher,

Catherine Louis,

Jonas Lüscher

M

Urs Mannhart,

Pietro de Marchi,

Plinio Martini,

Grytzko Mascioni,

Mariella Mehr,

Jérôme Meizoz,

Klaus Merz,

Michel Mettler,

Jörg Müller,

Gianna Molinari,

Perikles Monioudis,

Adolf Muschg

N

Melinda Nadj Abonji,

Andreas Neeser,

Jens Nielsen

O

Giovanni Orelli,

Angelika Overath

P

Rose-Marie Pagnard,

Andri Peer,

Oscar Peer,

Anne Perrier,

Rut Plouda,

Marius Daniel Popescu,

Dubravko Pušek,

Fabio Pusterla

Q

Claudia Quadri

R

Kuno Raeber,

Philippe Rahmy,

Dragica Rajčić,

Ilma Rakusa,

Nicolas Robel,

Antonio Rossi,

Gustave Roud,

Anna Ruchat,

Simona Ryser

S

Catherine Safonoff,

Isolde Schaad,

Hansjörg Schertenleib,

Michail Schischkin,

Hansjörg Schneider,

Kathrin Schärer,

Jürg Schubiger,

Hans Schumacher,

Ruth Schweikert,

Monique Schwitter,

Jon Semadeni,

Tommaso Soldini,

Anna Sommer,

Peter Stamm,

Michael Stauffer,

Bruno Steiger,

Michelle Steinbeck,

Jens Steiner,

Carmen Stephan,

Beat Sterchi,

Martin Suter

T

José-Flore Tappy,

Pierre-Alain Tâche,

Matteo Terzaghi,

Leo Tuor

U

Marie-Jeanne Urech,

Raphael Urweider

V

Aglaja Veteranyi,

Christina Viragh,

Peter von Matt

W

Robert Walser,

Frédéric Wandelère,

Julia Weber,

Peter Weber,

Markus Werner,

Urs Widmer

Z

Mary-Laure Zoss,

Matthias Zschokke

Roman Graf

Niedergang

«Wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg.»

A young Berlin couple set off on a tour through the Swiss mountains. André and Louise intend to climb high and seem well prepared for their adventure. Yet, the closer they get to the top, the further apart they drift. Roman Graf’s novel plays out the old theme of man’s existential encounter with mountains. Vigour and strength of will, but also the inner turmoil of his hero are reflected in his powerful but poetic writing.
André has planned this trip for months, right down to the last detail. This walking tour is a reminder of the happiest days of his childhood – for him, it’s something he must do. Moreover, he wants to show his girlfriend Louise how beautiful the mountains are. But everything threatens to fall apart. The village is shrouded in mist; persistent drizzle delays their departure. Louise seems listless, André feels thwarted. Eventually they set off, struggling with unfulfilled hopes and growing ill temper. With difficulty, they reach the end of their first stage. The next day, the good weather returns and their enthusiasm for the adventure with it. But the ascent is strenuous, and Louise’s hostility increases with every rock she climbs. Before the final ascent, she abandons her boyfriend. Hurt but proud, André climbs on alone. In his rocky solitude, he reaches his mental and physical limits: he draws energy from his strength of will, from his childhood memories and from dream visions, which suddenly come upon him. His obsession remains to reach the mountain-top and leave everything else behind him. It will prove his undoing.
(Martin Zingg, translated by Max Easterman, Rosie Goldsmith)

Recommended for translation by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, www.12swissbooks.ch

Translation of title: Downfall

Knaus Verlag, München 2013

ISBN: 978-3-8135-0566-5

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