Éric Vuillard

WINNER OF THE 2017 PRIX GONCOURTA gripping and compelling fictional account of the pivotal meetings and events which led up the the outbreak of WWII: how egos flourished, diplomacy failed, and a few powerful men brought Europe to the brink of disaster. For fans of HHhH and To Die in Spring .The titans of German industry - set to prosper under the Nazi government - gather to lend their support to Adolf Hitler. The Australian Chancellor realizes too late that he has wandered into a trap, as Hitler delivers the ultimatum that will lay the groundwork for Germany's annexation of Austria. Winston Churchill joins Neville Chamberlain for a farewell luncheon held in honour of Joachim von Ribbentrop: German Ambassador to England, soon to be Foreign Minister in the Nazi government, and future defendant at the Nuremberg trials.We know that these meetings took place, but what was the mood in the room? What words were exchanged? What egos that were in play? Vuillard makes it impossible to ignore the fact that the world was brought to the brink of war because of the actions of, and decisions made by, those in power. The sense of failure and tragedy is cumulative: there was nothing inevitable about these disastrous events.The Order of the Day is a fascinating and incredibly moving account of failed diplomacy, broken relationships, and the catastrophic momentum which led to conflict.

The Order of the Day

Ils étaient vingt-quatre, près des arbres morts de la rive, vingt-quatre pardessus noirs, marron ou cognac, vingt-quatre paires d'épaules rembourrées de laine, vingt-quatre costumes trois pièces, et le même nombre de pantalons à pinces avec un large ourlet. Les ombres pénétrèrent le grand vestibule du palais du président de l'Assemblée ; mais bientôt, il n'y aura plus d'Assemblée, il n'y aura plus de président, et, dans quelques années, il n'y aura même plus de Parlement, seulement un amas de décombres fumants. E. V.

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L'ordre du jour

Yoksullarin Savasi

Gündem

INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST From the award-winning author of The Order of the Day, a powerful account of the German Peasants’ War (1524–25) that shows striking parallels to class conflicts of our time. In the sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation launched an attack on privilege and the Catholic Church, but it rapidly became an established, bourgeois authority itself. Rural laborers and the urban poor, who were still being promised equality in heaven, began to question why they shouldn’t have equality here and now on earth. There ensued a furious struggle between the powerful—the comfortable Protestants—and the others, the wretched. They were led by a number of theologians, one of whom has left his mark on history through his determination and sheer energy. His name was Thomas Müntzer, and he set Germany on fire. The War of the Poor recounts his story—that of an insurrection through the Word. In his characteristically bold, cinematic style, Éric Vuillard draws insights from this revolt from nearly five hundred years ago, which remains shockingly relevant to the dire inequalities we face today.

The War of the Poor

Prix Goncourt 2017 20. Februar 1933: Auf Einladung des Reichstagspräsidenten Hermann Göring finden sich 24 hochrangige Vertreter der Industrie zu einem Treffen mit Adolf Hitler ein, um über mögliche Unterstützungen für die nationalsozialistische Politik zu beraten: Krupp, Opel, BASF, Bayer, Siemens, Allianz – kaum ein Name von Rang und Würden fehlt an den glamourösen runden Tischen der Vermählung von Geld und Politik. So beginnt der Lauf einer Geschichte, die Vuillard fünf Jahre später in die Annexion Österreichs münden lässt. Bild- und wortgewaltig führt er den Leser in die Hinterzimmer der Macht, wo in erschreckender Beiläufigkeit Geschichte geschrieben wird. Dabei erzählt er eine andere Geschichte als die uns bekannte, er zeigt den Panzerstau an der deutschen Grenze zu Österreich, er entlarvt Schuschniggs kleinliches Festhalten an der Macht, Hitlers abgründige Unberechenbarkeit und Chamberlains gleichgültige Schwäche. Mit der ihm eigenen virtuosen Eindringlichkeit und satirischem Biss seziert Vuillard die Mechanismen des Aufstiegs der Nationalsozialisten und macht deutlich: Die Deals, die an den runden Tischen der Welt geschlossen werden, sind faul, unser Verständnis von Geschichte beruht auf Propagandabildern. In "Die Tagesordnung" zerlegt Éric Vuillard diese Bilder und fügt sie virtuos neu zusammen: Ein notwendiges Buch, das eine überfällige Geschichte erzählt und damit den wichtigsten französischen Literaturpreis erhielt.

Die Tagesordnung

International Booker Prize Finalist The Spectator (UK): Best Book of the Year From the award-winning author of The Order of the Day, a powerful account of the German Peasants’ War (1524–25) that shows striking parallels to class conflicts of our time. In the sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation launched an attack on privilege and the Catholic Church, but it rapidly became an established, bourgeois authority itself. Rural laborers and the urban poor, who were still being promised equality in heaven, began to question why they shouldn’t have equality here and now on earth. There ensued a furious struggle between the powerful—the comfortable Protestants—and the others, the wretched. They were led by a number of theologians, one of whom has left his mark on history through his determination and sheer energy. His name was Thomas Müntzer, and he set Germany on fire. The War of the Poor recounts his story—that of an insurrection through the Word. In his characteristically bold, cinematic style, Éric Vuillard draws insights from this revolt from nearly five hundred years ago, which remains shockingly relevant to the dire inequalities we face today.

En febrero de 1933, en el Reichstag tuvo lugar una reunión secreta, que no estaba en el orden del día, en la que los industriales alemanes —entre los que se contaban los dueños de Opel, Krupp, Siemens, IG Farben, Bayer, Telefunken, Agfa y Varta— donaron ingentes cantidades a Hitler para conseguir la estabilidad que él prometía. Desde ese año, Hitler ideó una estrategia de cara a la comunidad internacional para anexionarse Austria "pacíficamente"; para ello, mientras se ganaba la aquiescencia o el silencio de primeros ministros europeos, mantuvo una guerra psicológica con Schuschnigg, el canciller austriaco, hasta que la invasión (un alarde del legendario ejército alemán, que ocultaba graves problemas técnicos) fue un hecho. Esta novela desvela los mercadeos y vulgares intereses comunes, las falsedades y posverdades, que hicieron posible el ascenso del nazismo y su dominio en Europa hasta la Segunda Guerra Mundial, con las consecuencias de todos conocidas. El orden del día narra de un modo trepidante y muy novedoso, en escenas memorables, las bambalinas del ascenso de Hitler al poder, en una lección de literatura, historia y moral política.

El orden del día

Et si je vous en donnais deux ?, lui lança-t-il.00- Deux quoi ? ?, répondit le ministre français, interloqué, incapable de faire le lien entre la conversation diplomatique, somme toute assez classique qu'il menait à propos de Diên Biên Phu, et cette question à la tournure tout à fait saugrenue.00± Deux bombes atomiques... ?, précisa le secrétaire d'Etat américain.0É.V.

Une sortie honorable

A 20 de fevereiro de 1933, um dia comum em Berlim, teve lugar no Reichstag uma reunião secreta na qual os industriais alemães — entre os quais se contavam os donos da Opel, Krupp, Siemens, IG Farben, Bayer, Allianz, Telefunken, Agfa, BASF e Varta — doaram enormes quantias a Hitler para conseguir a estabilidade que ele prometia. A partir desse ano, Hitler preparou uma estratégia para a comunidade internacional para anexar «pacificamente» a Áustria; para isso, enquanto procurava o consentimento ou o silêncio dos primeiros-ministros europeus, manteve uma guerra psicológica com Schuschnigg, o chanceler austríaco, até que a invasão (uma vanglória do lendário exército alemão, que escondia graves problemas técnicos) foi um facto.Esta narrativa revela os negócios e os vulgares interesses comuns que tornaram possível a ascensão do nazismo e o seu domínio na Europa até à Segunda Guerra Mundial, com as consequências que todos conhecemos. A Ordem do Dia descreve de forma trepidante e inovadora, em cenas memoráveis, os bastidores da ascensão de Hitler ao poder, numa lição de literatura, história e moral política.

A Ordem do Dia

A short, brutal tale by the author of The Order of The Day: the story of a moment in Europe's history when the poor rose up and banded together behind a fiery preacher, to challenge the entrenched powers of the ruling elite.

La Historia suele contar la toma de la Bastilla desde el punto de vista de grandes personajes que, en realidad, nunca estuvieron allí: en esta obra, se cuenta la historia de quienes sí se hallaban allí ese preciso día, el célebre 14 de julio de 1789. Sus protagonistas eran gentes anónimas, impulsadas por el hambre, el malestar, la carestía de lo indispensable. Pero antes de seguir los pasos de estos desconocidos revolucionarios, Vuillard retrocede unos meses para relatar la rebelión de los trabajadores de las manufacturas Réveillon, que vieron recortados sus salarios, y cuya cruenta represión causó más muertos que los del 14 de julio. También se detiene en narrar cómo se vivía en esos momentos en la gran corte de Versalles, así como el trasfondo económico y social que provocó el levantamiento. Pero sobre todo sigue, hora a hora, de manera vibrante y apasionada, cómo individuos sin derechos convulsionaron un régimen arcaico para dar un nuevo sentido a la historia. Y relatar la historia, advierte el autor, «es una manera de mirar el presente».

14 de julio

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Boston Globe, and Literary Hub Winner of the 2017 Goncourt Prize, this behind-the-scenes account of the manipulation, hubris, and greed that together led to Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria brilliantly dismantles the myth of an effortless victory and offers a dire warning for our current political crisis. February 20, 1933, an unremarkable day during a harsh Berlin winter: A meeting of twenty-four German captains of industry and senior Nazi officials is being held in secret in the plush lounge of the Reichstag. They are there to extract funds for the accession to power of the National Socialist Party and its Chancellor. This opening scene sets a tone of consent that will lead to the worst possible repercussions. March 12, 1938, the annexation of Austria is on the agenda: A grotesque day intended to make history—the newsreels capture a motorized army on the move, a terrible, inexorable power. But behind Goebbels’s splendid propaganda, an ersatz Blitzkrieg unfolds, the Panzers breaking down en masse on the roads into Austria. The true behind-the-scenes account of the Anschluss—a patchwork of minor flourishes of strength and fine words, fevered telephone calls, and vulgar threats—all reveal a starkly different picture. It is not strength of character or the determination of a people that wins the day, but rather a combination of intimidation and bluff. With this vivid, compelling history, Éric Vuillard warns against the peril of willfully blind acquiescence, and offers a reminder that, ultimately, the worst is not inescapable.

Een ijzersterke reconstructie van de gebeurtenissen in de aanloop naar WOII 20 februari 1933: op een winterse dag in Berlijn ontmoeten vierentwintig Duitse topfabrikanten en nazi-hoogwaardigheidsbekleders elkaar in het geheim in het gebouw van de Rijksdag. Het doel: financiële ondersteuning voor de opmars van de Nationaalsocialistische Duitse Arbeiderspartij en haar vreeswekkende leider. Deze ontmoeting zet de toon voor een nationale instemming die afgrijselijke gevolgen zal hebben. 12 maart 1938: de annexatie van Oostenrijk. De media vereeuwigen het beeld van een oppermachtig gemotoriseerd leger. Maar achter Goebbels’ imponerende propaganda ontvouwt zich een ander schouwspel: de tanks stranden massaal in de straten van Oostenrijk en doen de zorgvuldig georkestreerde mythe wankelen. Het ware verhaal van de Anschluss – een opeenstapeling van kleine krachtmetingen, nerveuze telefoontjes en vulgaire bedreigingen – onthult een heel ander, minder glorieus beeld. De overwinning is niet het resultaat van heroïsche vastberadenheid, maar van intimidatie en bluf. Éric Vuillard ontmantelt op overtuigende en ironische wijze de mythe van de glorieuze annexatie en schreef daarmee een spannende en intrigerende roman. De pers over De orde van de dag ‘De orde van de dag is zonder veel poeha tot leven gewekt in een prachtige taal, en filmisch in beeld gebracht.’ **** De Standaard ‘Er ligt een methode ten grondslag aan Vuillards herlezing van de geschiedenis. Hij gaat uit van verhalen uit de -marge en stelt deze met zorg samen om ons algemene beeld van de geschiedenis een nieuwe, aangrijpende betekenis te geven.’ Le Soir ‘Vuillard haalt scènes uit de vergetelheid, verteld in een sierlijke taal, die gevestigde perspectieven aan de kaak stellen en het collectieve bewustzijn verfrissen.’ Le Figaro Littéraire

De orde van de dag

Fascinating, brilliant and angry: the tale of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and the tragic fate of its Native American participants Buffalo Bill was the prince of show business. His spectacular Wild West shows were performed to packed houses across the world, holding audiences spellbound with their grand re-enactments of tales from the American frontier. For Bill gave the crowds something they’d never seen before: real-life Indians. This astonishing work of historical re-imagining tells the little-known story of the Native Americans swallowed up by Buffalo Bill’s great entertainment machine. Of chief Sitting Bull, paraded in theatres to boos and catcalls for fifty dollars a week. Of a baby Lakota girl, found under her mother’s frozen body, adopted and displayed on the stage. Of the last few survivors of Wounded Knee, hired to act out the horrific massacre of their tribe as entertainment. And of Buffalo Bill Cody himself, hamming it to the last, even as it consumed him. Told with beauty, compassion and anger, Sorrow of the Earth shows us tragedy turned into a circus act, history into sham, truth into a spectacle more powerful than reality itself. Could any of us turn away? Born in Lyon in 1968, Éric Vuillard is a French author and film director. His books include Conquistadors (winner of the Ignatius J. Reilly Prize 2010), and La Bataille de l’occident and Congo, which were jointly awarded the 2012 Franz-Hessel prize and the 2013 Valery-Larbaud prize. Sorrow of the Earth is the first of his books to be translated into English.

Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull and the Tragedy of Show Business

Sorrow of the Earth

A batalla de Occidente

La 4e de couverture indique : "Les exaspérés sont ainsi, ils jaillissent un beau jour de la tête des peuples comme les fantômes sortent des murs."

La guerre des pauvres

König Leopold II. initiiert 1884 in Berlin die Kongokonferenz. Jahrzehnte, nachdem das europäische Ringen um Rohstoffe und Land entschieden scheint, fordert der König des Kleinstaats seinen Teil des Kuchens. Er rafft gigantische Teile zentralafrikanischen Regenwalds im heutigen Kongo in seinen Privatbesitz, eine Fläche achtmal so groß wie Belgien. Improvisierend und spärlich besetzt beginnt eine Kolonialherrschaft von ungekannter Brutalität, die das Land bis in die Gegenwart hinein zeichnet. Éric Vuillard macht die Monstrosität der Geschichte Belgisch-Kongos in seinem virtuosen Text spürbar. Er zeigt kleine Brüsseler Beamte, aufgeschwungen zu Dschungelherrschern, die zu Vollstreckern der europäischen Rohstoffgier werden, und er verleiht ihren zahl- und namenlosen Opfern eine Stimme. Mitreißende Erzählung eines der bizarrsten Kapitel der Kolonialgeschichte und rhapsodischer Essay über die Allgegenwart der Gier, ist "Kongo" ein erschreckend lebendiges Zeugnis banaler Grausamkeit und des beginnenden Weltkapitalismus.

Éric Vuillard

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