The 1933 Nazi takeover in Germany, the unrests in Austria ending in a rightwing victory in 1934, the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, and the increasing threat of a Nazi invasion and war form the backdrop of the third part of Elias Canetti’s autobiography,
Das Augenspiel[
The Play of the Eyes, 1985]. Assuming that his readers are familiar with the historical background, Canetti does not dwell on political issues, but reveals in his rigorously personal account the traces traumatic events leave on him and his circle of friends. The projects he starts remain unfinished; there is no audience for his works; and his novel
Die Blendung[
Auto-da-Fé, 1935] appears too late to receive a wider reception.
The five major parts are subdivided into smaller chapters. Part I, “Hochzeit” [“Wedding”],
1451 words
Citation: Lorenz, Dagmar C. G.. "Das Augenspiel". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 July 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=15719, accessed 21 November 2024.]
