So admittedly, I had to a do a little research on early-20th-century writer Karl Kraus. Born 100-plus years ago, the Austrian satirist was a law student turned playwright who went on to publish his own newspaper, in which he wrote about the hypocrisy and dehumanization he witnessed in European politics, culture, and media—think smart, witty, with an angled and far-reaching eye. Now take Jonathan Franzen, one of today’s most well-known novelists and essayists, also recognized for his gift of observation, and combine the two into one book. In The Kraus Project, Franzen presents his definitive new translations of Kraus and also annotates them. I am not sure I have ever laughed out loud at footnotes before, but Franzen’s own wit and comparisons gave me ample chance to do so repeatedly. This is an excellent example of what can happen when thought, passion, and literary criticism are blended into one. Don't miss our event with Jonathan Franzen on Monday, December 9th at 7:00pm.
The Kraus Project: Essays by Karl Kraus (Hardcover)
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 10/2013