Witold Gombrowicz

Ferdydurke

Sarah Sammis

Link+ due 4/24/12

It reads like the terribly earnest set up of the much better Penny Dreadful. 

http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...

In this bitterly funny novel by the renowned Polish author Witold Gombrowicz, a writer finds himself tossed into a chaotic world of schoolboys by a diabolical professor who wishes to reduce him to childishness. Originally published in Poland in 1937, Ferdydurke became an instant literary sensation and catapulted the young author to fame. Deemed scandalous and subversive by Nazis, Stalinists, and the Polish Communist regime in turn, the novel (as well as all of Gombrowicz's other works) was officially banned in Poland for decades. It has nonetheless remained one of the most influential works of twentieth-century European literature. Ferdydurke is translated here directly from the Polish for the first time. Danuta Borchardt deftly captures Gombrowicz's playful and idiosyncratic style, and she allows English speakers to experience fully the masterpiece of a writer whom Milan Kundera describes as “one of the great novelists of our century.”

paola montepiedra

"In this novel a writer finds himself tossed into a chaotic world of school-boys by a diabolical professor who wishes to reduce him to childishness. Originally published in Poland in 1937. Ferdydurke became an instant literary sensation and catapulted its young author to fame. Deemed scandalous and subversive by Nazis, Stalinists, and the Polish Communist regime in turn, the novel (as well as all of Gombrowicz's other works) was officially banned in Poland for decades. It has nonetheless remained one of the most influential works of twentieth-century European literature."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tomasz

Doceniam genialny pomysł i przemyślenia, acz "wykonanie" może budzić pewne zastrzeżenia.

Allyson Marrs

I can appreciate an author's own style. That being said, this was not a book for me. The time spanned over quite a few years. It was unclear how many, but perhaps a decade, and that doesn't include the flashbacks. I feel like it was too much time passing. It made me feel disconnected from the characters. Also, during what I assumed was the climax, one of the characters shifted so absurdly, I didn't even like her anymore.

All in all, the writing wasn't bad, but I think it tried too hard. Too many metaphors and literary prose for my taste. Too much going on with the characters as well. Basically, I finished it because I can't not finish a book once I start it.

Ferdydurke

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