Reading Along the NYRB

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50 Jahre New York Review of Books 50 Years

NYRB Volume XLI, Number 11

The first issue I received was of June 9, 1994, and I have loved to read the magazine ever since. It opens worlds not just of books and literature but of Fine Arts and Politics, and all on the highest level of form and content, illustrated by beloved cartoons of the late David Levine and ingenious black and white photographs by Dominique Nabokov.

So let me introduce a first blend of this noble literary magazine and books from the stocks of the Schröersche Buchhandlung and let's call it: Reading along the NYRB.

In said Volume XLI, Number 11 Michael Meyer reviews books by and about Ingmar Bergman. Some quotes, about Laterna Magica:

»When I asked one of his best-known actors what he thought of Bergman's autobiography, he replied: “You mean that novel Ingmar wrote about his life?”«

and further:

»That book was mainly a prolonged and merciless self-indictment, a delving into his childhood to find the causes of his unhappiness and self-hatred.«

» […] his skills as a writer, though considerable, are much more flawed than his skills as a director.«

But caution! Meyer in the same article calls Somerset Maugham “a writer of famously flat prose”. Grrr. He is stern, actually, regarding Bergman's own writings, books about him, his films, too. But he does love “Fanny and Alexander”. And he concedes to Bergman that whatever little he writes about his films in Laterna Magica, especially touching childhood memories, is worthwhile reading.

Vorrätig von und über Ingmar Bergman sind folgende Titel:

Alexander

Bergman, Ingmar

Laterna Magica

Autobiografie (1987)

Ü: Hans-Joachim Maass

und aus dem Verlag Bertz + Fischer:

Ingmar Bergman

Essays, Daten, Dokumente (dt./engl.)

Hrg.: Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen

Red.: Gabriele Jatho / Vorw.: Marion Löhndorf

“Essays, Films and Reviews: In five introductory essays, Marion Löhndorf

Bertz + Fischer

illuminates Bergman’s great themes: »search«, »artist«, »faith« and »relationships«, as well as the close entwinement between his »life and work«. Contemporary reviews document the diversity and vitality of the Swedish, German and English-language reception accorded this remarkable director and thus the enormous impact of an œuvre in which Ingmar Bergman repeatedly fell back on a seasoned team of artists and technicians. The principle of continuity also played a major role in his choice of subject matter. One can, therefore, also view Bergman’s œuvre as an integrated project: as a unique cinematic tapestry composed of self-referential quotes, reflections and inversions – »of motifs and hidden cross-references that are consciously repeated« (Löhndorf). The book also contains a comprehensive filmography, as well as rare film stills and behind-the-scenes photos.“ (publisher's information)

Bertz + Fischer

Bergman, Ingmar

Von Lüge und Wahrheit

Hrg: Warnecke / Jaspers

“Der opulent bebilderte Katalog präsentiert zahlreiche unveröffentlichte Dokumente aus [der Bergman Foundation]. Neben Bergmans persönlichen Dreh- und Arbeitsbüchern sowie umfangreichen Korrespondenzen bieten Werkfotos, Entwürfe, Requisiten und Originalkostüme einen facettenreichen Parcours durch das fast sieben Jahrzehnte umfassende Schaffen des Film- und Theaterregisseurs. Einen Schwerpunkt bildet dabei die faszinierende Überlagerung und Umformung von autobiografischem Erleben und künstlerisch fiktionalem Werk. Interviews mit namhaften Filmschaffenden zeigen die Aktualität von Bergmans Œuvre auf. Mit einem Originalbeitrag von Henning Mankell.” (Verlagstext)

Übrigens: Wir besorgen auch gerne die DVDs mit den Filmen von Ingmar Bergman.

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