Speak, Silence: In Search of W. G. Sebald

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The long-awaited first biography of W. G. Sebald 'The best biography I have read in years' Philippe Sands 'Spectacular' Observer 'A remarkable portrait'Guardian W. G. Sebald was one of the most extraordinary and influential writers of the twentieth century. Through books including The Emigrants, Austerlitz and The Rings of Saturn, he pursued an original literary vision that combined fiction, history, autobiography and photography and addressed some of the most profound themes of contemporary literature: the burden of the Holocaust, memory, loss and exile. The first biography to explore his life and work, Speak, Silence pursues the true Sebald through the memories of those who knew him and through the work he left behind. This quest takes Carole Angier from Sebald's birth as a second-generation German at the end of the Second World War, through his rejection of the poisoned inheritance of the Third Reich, to his emigration to England, exploring the choice of isolation and exile that drove his work. It digs deep into a creative mind on the edge, finding profound empathy and paradoxical ruthlessness, saving humour, and an elusive mix of fact and fiction in his life as well as work. The result is a unique, ferociously original portrait. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Preface Note to Readers Part I Beginnings 1 W. G. Sebald 2 Dr Henry Selwyn Part II Winfried 3 Wertach, 1944–52 4 Il Ritorno in patria 5 Ambros Adelwarth Part III Sebe 6 1952–6 7 1956–61 8 1961–3 9 Paul Bereyter Part IV Cocky 10 Freiburg, 1963–5 11 Fribourg, 1965–6 12 The Novel Part V Max, 1966–70 13 Manchester, 1966–8 14 St Gallen and Manchester, 1968–70 15 Max Ferber Part VI Max, 1970–2001 16 1970–6 17 1977–88 18 1989–96 19 1997–2001 20 Marie Part VII W. G. Sebald 21 To The Emigrants 22 The Rings of Saturn 23 Austerlitz 24 An Attempt at Restitution Part VIII Endings 25 Unrecounted Acknowledgements Guide to the Companion Page Abbreviations Notes Preface 1 W. G. Sebald 2 Dr Henry Selwyn 3 Wertach, 1944–52 4 Il Ritorno in patria 5 Ambros Adelwarth 6 1952–6 7 1956–61 8 1961–3 9 Paul Bereyter 10 Freiburg, 1963–5 11 Fribourg, 1965–6 12 The Novel 13 Manchester, 1966–8 14 St Gallen and Manchester, 1968–70 15 Max Ferber 16 1970–6 17 1977–88 18 1989–96 19 1997–2001 20 Marie 21 To The Emigrants 22 The Rings of Saturn 23 Austerlitz 24 An Attempt at Restitution 25 Unrecounted Select Bibliography Picture Credits Index