In Patagonia

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Patagonia (English original title: In Patagonia ) is a 1977 published travel novel by the British writer Bruce Chatwin (1940-1989).

content

Inspired by a piece of the skin of an alleged brontosaur , which the cousin of Chatwin's grandmother brought back from a research trip from Patagonia , the narrator sets out on a journey to this landscape in southern Argentina and Chile . He visits numerous places with historical reference, including the residence of groups of emigrants from Wales and Germany. He also searches for traces of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and travels to Tierra del Fuego and Punta Arenas . The skin that inspired him to travel turns out to be part of the giant sloth Mylodon .

background

Chatwin created the novel based on a trip to Patagonia that began in December 1974 and lasted about four months. He is said to have quit his job with a telegram that said: "Away to Patagonia for four months". During this time he visited the places and people he described.

He had been encouraged to take such a trip in 1972 when he met the then 93-year-old Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray .

reception

In Patagonia received the Hawthornden Prize in 1978 and the EM Forster Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1979 . The book has been described in numerous reviews as pointing the way for travel literature. In particular, the combination of historical research, anecdotes and lively, pointed descriptions of people was praised. Paul Theroux explained in Patagonia to his "Book of the Year", while Graham Greene counted it among his favorite travel books.

In contrast, there are numerous statements made by those affected. Chatwin often asked her under false assumptions; Facts had been falsified and the people had been anonymized inadequately, so that some of them suffered from it decades later. Sensational showmanship, a condescending attitude and the lack of a consistent theme were also criticized.

Edition history

The first edition was published in 1977 in the UK by Jonathan Cape . It was the first book written by Chatwin to be published.

The first German edition was published in 1981 by Rowohlt Verlag .

Expenses (selection)

Secondary literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare : Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , p. 437.
  2. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , pp. 439, 471.
  3. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , pp. 468, 472-474.
  4. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , p. 470.
  5. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , pp. 442, 469.
  6. ↑ Nicholas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A biography. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7 , p. 460.