Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten
Encyclopedia
Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten is a novel by Swiss writer Christian Kracht
. It was published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch
in September 2008. The title, translating to "I'll be here in sunshine and in shadow", is from the lyrics to the Irish anthem Danny Boy
.
The novel presents an alternate history of Switzerland
in which Lenin did not leave Switzerland for Russia in 1917 to bring about the Russian Revolution. Instead, Lenin's revolution took place in Switzerland, transforming it into the Swiss Socialist Republic, a Communist state engaged in the colonisation of Africa
and in perpetual war
with other totalitarian empires, notably with a federation of British and German fascists. The plot of the novel, set in around 2010, traces a black Swiss political commissar
's journey to the heart of the empire, the gigantic alpine Reduit
, where he is to arrest Brazhinsky, an enemy of the state.
Ich werde hier seins surreal setting and precise prose has garnered acclaim in the German-speaking literary world. Die Welt
called it a "glorious horror story"; the Süddeutsche Zeitung
praised the writing as not only deeply reminiscent of Ernst Jünger
, but also as the "most beautiful German prose currently on offer" and Die Zeit
hailed the work as "possibly the novel of the year". But the Frankfurter Rundschau
's reviewer discounted Ich werde hier sein as "simply moronic" and Die Tageszeitung
found the text to be too diffuse and incoherent, amounting to just a "drug-clouded scenery".
The novel has been translated into Russian, Croatian, Swedish, Polish, Bulgarian, Korean, French and Dutch.
Christian Kracht
Christian Kracht is a Swiss novelist and journalist.-Early life:Kracht was born in Saanen. His father, Christian Kracht Sr., was chief representative for the Axel Springer publishing company in the 1960s. Kracht attended Schule Schloss Salem in Baden and Lakefield College School in Ontario, Canada...
. It was published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch
Kiepenheuer & Witsch
Kiepenheuer & Witsch is a German publishing house, established in 1951 by Joseph C. Witsch in Cologne. Among the authors it published are Joseph Roth, Heinrich Böll, Günter Wallraff, and Gabriel García Márquez....
in September 2008. The title, translating to "I'll be here in sunshine and in shadow", is from the lyrics to the Irish anthem Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
.
The novel presents an alternate history of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in which Lenin did not leave Switzerland for Russia in 1917 to bring about the Russian Revolution. Instead, Lenin's revolution took place in Switzerland, transforming it into the Swiss Socialist Republic, a Communist state engaged in the colonisation of Africa
Colonisation of Africa
The colonisation of Africa has a long history, the most famous phase being the European Scramble for Africa during the late 19th and early 20th century.- Ancient colonialism :...
and in perpetual war
Perpetual war
Perpetual war refers to a lasting state of war with no clear ending conditions. It also describes a situation of ongoing tension that seems likely to escalate at any moment, similar to the Cold War.-In past history:...
with other totalitarian empires, notably with a federation of British and German fascists. The plot of the novel, set in around 2010, traces a black Swiss political commissar
Political commissar
The political commissar is the supervisory political officer responsible for the political education and organisation, and loyalty to the government of the military...
's journey to the heart of the empire, the gigantic alpine Reduit
Reduit
A reduit is a fortified structure such as a citadel or a keep into which the defending troops can retreat when the outer defences are breached...
, where he is to arrest Brazhinsky, an enemy of the state.
Ich werde hier seins surreal setting and precise prose has garnered acclaim in the German-speaking literary world. Die Welt
Die Welt
Die Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
called it a "glorious horror story"; the Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
praised the writing as not only deeply reminiscent of Ernst Jünger
Ernst Jünger
Ernst Jünger was a German writer. In addition to his novels and diaries, he is well known for Storm of Steel, an account of his experience during World War I. Some say he was one of Germany's greatest modern writers and a hero of the conservative revolutionary movement following World War I...
, but also as the "most beautiful German prose currently on offer" and Die Zeit
Die Zeit
Die Zeit is a German nationwide weekly newspaper that is highly respected for its quality journalism.With a circulation of 488,036 and an estimated readership of slightly above 2 million, it is the most widely read German weekly newspaper...
hailed the work as "possibly the novel of the year". But the Frankfurter Rundschau
Frankfurter Rundschau
The Frankfurter Rundschau is a German daily newspaper, based in Frankfurt am Main. It is published every day but Sunday as a city, two regional and one nationwide issues and offers an online edition as well as an e-paper...
's reviewer discounted Ich werde hier sein as "simply moronic" and Die Tageszeitung
Die tageszeitung
die tageszeitung , was founded in 1978 in Berlin. It is a cooperative-owned German daily newspaper which is administrated by a workers' self-management...
found the text to be too diffuse and incoherent, amounting to just a "drug-clouded scenery".
The novel has been translated into Russian, Croatian, Swedish, Polish, Bulgarian, Korean, French and Dutch.