Writing Europe : what is European about the literatures of Europe? : esssays from 33 European countries

What do we mean by Europe? Thirty-three authors from 33 European countries attempt an answer -- in serious, ironic, skeptical, or optimistic tones. Their essays, written for the symposium held at the Literaturhaus Hamburg in 2003, reflect the astonishing diversity of European cultures. Table of Contents......Page 6 Ursula Keller, Germany: Writing Europe......Page 9 Ilma Rakusa, Switzerland: Impressions and Conversations during the Intervals......Page 29 Guðbergur Bergsson, Island: Europe Untitled ......Page 37 Andrei Bitov, Russia: The Literary Hero as Hero A Discourse in the Genre of the Intellectual Primitive......Page 43 Hans Maarten van den Brink, The Netherlands: Language and Terror Seven Remarks on the Languages of Europe......Page 55 Mircea Cărtărescu, Romania: Europe Has the Shape of My Brain......Page 65 Stefan Chwin, Poland: The Nursery School Teacher from Tversk Street......Page 75 Aleš Debeljak, Slovenia: Concentric Circles of Identity......Page 87 Jörn Donner, Finnland: Europe from the Fringe......Page 103 Mario Fortunato, Italy: Europe?......Page 115 Eugenio Fuentes, Spain: The Western Bloc......Page 123 Jens Christian Grøndahl, Denmark: Notes of an Escapist......Page 131 Durs Grünbein, Germany: Europa's Lovers......Page 141 Daniela Hodrová, Czech Republic: Woven Into the Web......Page 151 Panos Ioannides, Cyprus: Europe in My Prose and My Theatrical Work......Page 161 Mirela Ivanova, Bulgaria: Europe — One Way of Reading It......Page 173 Lídia Jorge, Portugal: A Sort of Huge Portugal......Page 181 Dževad Karahasan, Bosnia: Europe Writes in Time......Page 191 Fatos Lubonja, Albania: Between the Local and the Universal......Page 201 Adolf Muschg, Switzerland: Europe or “Eleuthera, City of the Mnemosyne”......Page 211 Péter Nádas, Hungary: In the Intimacy of Literary Writing......Page 219 Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Turkey: Guest Faces......Page 227 Geir Pollen, Norway: On the European Ingredient in the Text (with a Sidelong Glance at an Eel in a Bathtub)......Page 239 Jean Rouaud, France: In Memory of Ernst Wiechert......Page 251 Robert Schindel, Austria: “We’re All Right.” Europe’s Influence on My Writing......Page 259 Ivan Štrpka, Slovakia: Oh, Children Smeared with Honey and with Blood......Page 273 Richard Swartz, Sweden: The Light Falls on Me......Page 289 Nikos Themelis, Greece: Looking for a Widened Self-Awareness......Page 297 Emil Tode, Estonia: Europe, a Blot of Ink......Page 307 Colm Toíbín, Ireland: The Future of Europe......Page 317 Jean-Philippe Toussaint, Belgium: You Are Leaving the American Sector......Page 325 Dubravka Ugrešić, Croatia: European Literature as a Eurovision Song Contest......Page 333 Dragan Velikić, Servia: B-Europe......Page 343 Tomas Venclova, Lithuania: What Can Lithuania Give to Present-Day Europe......Page 353 Māra Zālīte, Latvia: Unfinished Thoughts......Page 363 Writing Europe / By Ursula Keller -- Impressions And Conversations During The Intervals / By Ilma Rakuša -- Europe Untitled / By Guðbergur Bergsson -- The Literary Hero As Hero / By Andrei Bitov -- Language And Terror / By Hans Maarten Van Den Brink -- Europe Has The Shape Of My Brain / By Mircea Cărtărescu -- The Nursery School Teacher From Tversk Street / By Stefan Chwin -- Concentric Circles Of Identity By Aleš Debaljak -- Europe From The Fringe / By Jörn Donner -- Europe? / By Mario Fortunato -- The Western Bloc / Eugenio Fuentes -- Notes Of An Escapist / By Jens Christian Grøndahl -- Europa's Lovers / By Durs Grünbein -- Woven Into The Web / By Maniela Hodrová -- Europe In My Prose And My Theatrical Work / By Panos Ioannides -- Europe -- One Way Of Reading It / Mirela Ivanova -- A Sort Of Huge Portugal / By Lídia Jorge -- Europe Writes In Time / By Dževad Karahasan -- Between The Local And The Universal / By Fatos Lubonja -- Europe Or Eleuthera, City Of The Mnemosyne / By Adolf Muschg -- In The Intimacy Of Literary Writing / By Péter Nádas -- Guest Faces / By Emine Sevgi Özdamar -- On The European Ingredient In The Text / By Geir Pollen -- In Memory Of Ernst Wiechert / By Jean Rouaud -- We're All Right. Europe's Influence On My Writing / By Robert Schindel -- Oh, Children Smeared With Honey And With Blood / By Ivan Štpka -- The Light Falls On Me / By Richard Swartz -- Looking For A Widened Self-awareness / By Nikos Themelis -- Europe, A Blot Of Ink / By Emil Tode -- The Future Of Europe / By Colm Toíbín -- You Are Leaving The American Sector / By Jean-philippe Toussaint -- European Literature As A Eurovision Song Contest / By Dubravka Ugrešić -- B-europe / By Dragan Velikić -- What Can Lithuania Give To Present-day Europe / By Tomas Venclova -- Unfinished Thoughts / By Māra Zālīte. Edited By Ursula Keller And Ilma Rakuša. Includes Bibliographical References. What do we mean by Europe? Thirty-three renowned authors from 33 European countries attempt an answer-in serious, ironic, skeptical, or optimistic tones. Their essays, written for the symposium held at the Literaturhaus Hamburg in 2003, reflect the astonishing diversity of European cultures. Not only are the style and experience of the individual authors remarkable for their distinctiveness, but their perspectives and views also appear to have little in common-at first glance. The editors have created a unique literary project, a milestone in the vitally necessary cultural discourse about Europe. There were times when the idea of a united Europe was a profound and emphatic concern of the great European writers, giving rise to an abundance of meaningful essays on Europe.