We are three writers in the same family, but very different. Axel, who died in 2022, always wrote in his native German, and Imke writes fiction in her mother tongue, Swedish; Marianne is a literary scholar and writes in English about English literature.

Marianne Thormählen

has written about very different works and authors in English literature, but her aim is always the same: helping the reader get more out of the poems and novels she loves. Her lucid and vigorous style appeals to readers outside as well as inside the academy.

Axel Thormählen

was born in northern Germany but moved to Sweden in 1969. His novels and stories are centred around individuals who try to find contentment in life, with varying success. Once encountered, these people stay in the reader’s memory, partly thanks to the lyrical force of Thormählen’s prose.

Axel Thormählen died on 6 June 2022.

Imke Thormählen

is an academic administrator who spends her free time in the world of literature, film, and television. She writes books which she would herself have liked to read after a hard day at the office, chiefly historical fiction and prequels/sequels of major British novels.

Our books

All
  • All
  • Axel Thormählen
  • Imke Thormählen
  • Marianne Thormählen

Dental Gold

10.00 kr20.00 kr
What are the true values in life? That is a question we keep asking ourselves during the financial crises of our existence, and it haunts the narrator of this short story, too. A reliable answer would be beyond price.

Dental Gold and Other Stories

30.00 kr60.00 kr
Axel Thormählen’s stories are as unpredictable as life itself, mixtures of pleasure and sadness in shifting registers along the scale between romance and satire. They deal with people who want to find comfort and some kind of foothold in human existence, even though some of them realise that contented stability will always elude them.

Tandguld

10.00 kr
Vari består livets sanna värden? Den frågan ställer vi oss gång på gång under tillvarons finanskriser, och i denna novell ansätter den även jagberättaren. Ett tillförlitligt svar vore bokstavligen guld värt.

The Ladislaw Case

60.00 kr150.00 kr
This sequel to Middlemarch is also in a limited sense a sequel to Dickens’ Bleak House. While there is no need to have read either novel in order to enjoy The Ladislaw Case, acquaintance with George Eliot’s characters and Dickens’ Inspector Bucket enhances the reader’s pleasure in following the twists and turns of the plot and the tribulations of the characters. Read the blurb text Click here for a synopsis Here is a chapter from the book: [Ladislaw Chapter 23.pdf] "Thormählen writes very well, moves the plot along, and keeps the tension at just the right pitch throughout. She does a particularly good job extrapolating Eliot's characters, convincingly making Ladislaw much less attractive than he is in Eliot's novel and revealing the implications of Rosamond's chilling egotism ... Thormählen ... has created an entertaining re-vision of a major Victorian novel [which] successfully extrapolates elements in [Middlemarch] that both illuminate and criticize [it]." George P. Landow, Editor-in-Chief, The Victorian Web. 'One of the pleasures of reading Imke Thormählen's murder mystery ... is that it works on two levels: even as it unravels the question of who committed the murder, the novel provides a thought-provoking sequel to George Eliot's Middlemarch. /---/ [It contains] ... strong narrative suspense, psychological realism, and a credible Victorian setting ... [I]maginatively and insightfully faithful to George Eliot's vision ... this novel ... reveals some of the hitherto untapped potential that lies latent in ... Eliot's novel and is, at the same time, a very good read indeed.' Micael M. Clarke, George Eliot -- George Henry Lewes Studies, Nos. 64-65 'The characterization of the main protagonists in the story is generally consistent with that created by George Eliot ... Characters impress us or repel us by what they say. There is no difficulty here in recognizing their voices: the clear sombre voice of the disappointed Dr Lydgate; the excessively polite voice of Rosamond, so quick to criticize her husband and add to his sense of failure in his professional and social life; the irritable and yet self-critical voice of the young politician Ladislaw; the certain tones of Lady Chettam secure in her social position, correcting her sister "Dodo" and yet always caring for her ... If the reader has also devoured Middlemarch, he or she will be eager to meet old friends, to be reminded of some of the darker strands of that story, and ultimately, tense with expectations, excited to discover the murderer. We are kept guessing until very near the end and for most readers the revelation will be a real surprise.' Ruth and Michael Harris, The George Eliot Review 44 (2013), 88-89

Eine Wintertaufe

und andere weihnachtliche Erzählungen JMB Verlag, 2010 Das Phänomen „Weihnacht“ hat schon viele Schriftsteller/innen fasziniert. Einige Weihnachtsgeschichten, z. B. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, sind mittlerweile Klassiker der Weltliteratur. Das Thema erschöpft sich nicht; immer wieder gibt es neue Aspekte von diesem Fest der Hoffnung, das mitten im Winter den Alltag vorübergehend vertreibt. Dazu gehören die bis zum Heiligabend aufgesparten Erwartungen, die manchmal erfüllt werden und manchmal nicht. Axel Thormählen wollte eigentlich nur die eine echte Weihnachtsgeschichte schreiben und dabei das Geheimnis lüften, was Menschen mit diesem Fest verbindet. Es hat sich aber erwiesen, dass das mit einer einzigen Geschichte nicht möglich ist. Allerdings unterscheiden sich die hier vorliegenden fünf Erzählungen wohl in ihrem Ausgangspunkt, doch nicht in der Aussage, nämlich dass Wunder passieren, auch wenn sie als solche nicht wahrgenommen werden. Zuweilen geschehen sie eben gerade zur Weihnachtszeit. Bestellung für Eine Wintertaufe und andere weihnachtliche Erzählungen an Jens Bolm .

Der Grüne Himmel

45.00 kr
JMB Verlag, 2015 Illustrationen von Peter Kirchhof „Schlachtfeld Menschheit“: Unter diesem Thema wird in der kleinen südschwedischen Universitätsstadt Lund eine zehntägige Konferenz abgehalten, an der führende Geisteswissenschaftler aus aller Welt teilnehmen. Parallel dazu tagen im medizinischen Bereich Experten der Kardiologie. Bei einem Ausflug am ersten Tag vermischen sich einige der Teilnehmer in einem kleinen Wald außerhalb von Lund. Dieser Wald ist danach der wirkliche Mittelpunkt der Handlung. Jeden Tag treffen sich dort verschiedene Personen und machen Spaziergänge, wobei zuweilen merkwürdige Dinge passieren. Dieser Roman besteht aus Episoden. Während der jeweiligen Spaziergänge werden zentrale Aspekte unseres Menschenlebens angesprochen. Dazu gehören Alter und Kindheit, Liebe, Krankheit und Tod sowie Kunst, Lüge und Zukunft. Axel Thormählen beschreibt die Geschehnisse in einem warmen und zeitweise humoristischen Ton. Ohne vor den tiefsten Unruhen der Menschenseele haltzumachen, bietet dieser zugleich besinnliche und fantasievolle Roman vor allem Trost.

Tandguld och andra berättelser

30.00 kr60.00 kr
Axel Thormählens noveller är lika oberäkneliga som livet självt, tankfulla blandningar av humor och svårmod med inslag av ömhet och stänk av satir. De handlar om människor som söker tröst och ett fotfäste i tillvaron, även om några av dem inser att de aldrig kommer att bli nöjda med vad som ligger inom det möjligas ramar. Axel Thormählen, f. 1945 i Nordtyskland, har bott i Sverige sedan 1969 men har alltid skrivit på sitt tyska modersmål. I svensk översättning har följande böcker av honom utkommit, alla på ellerströms förlag: novellsamlingarna De närvarande (1987) och Verksamhetsberättelser (1996) samt romanen Wilhelm (1993). De tidiga romanerna Hanky och Hanna utkom 1978 resp. 1983 på Merlin Verlag i Tyskland. 2014 gav det likaledes tyska jmb-Verlag ut hans bästa noveller under titeln Der letzte Wikinger und andere Erzählungen. Den satiriska litteraturthrillern Wenn Wörter töten könnten, en hejdlös drift med litteraturscenen och dess aktörer som delvis utspelar sig i Lund och på Gotland, har kommit ut på jmb-Verlag i flera utgåvor, senast 2020.

The Brontës in Context (paperback)

189.00 kr
Edited by: Marianne Thormählen, Lunds Universitet, Sweden Very few families produce one outstanding writer. The Brontë family produced three. The works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne remain immensely popular, and are increasingly being studied in relation to the surroundings and wider context that formed them. The forty-two new essays in this book tell 'the Brontë story' as it has never been told before, drawing on the latest research and the best available scholarship while offering new perspectives on the writings of the sisters. A section on Brontë criticism traces their reception to the present day. The works of the sisters are explored in the context of social, political and cultural developments in early-nineteenth-century Britain, with attention given to religion, education, art, print culture, agriculture, law and medicine. Crammed with information, The Brontës in Context shows how the Brontës' fiction interacts with the spirit of the time, suggesting reasons for its enduring fascination. The Brontës in Context, hardback The Brontës in Context, paperback

Reviews so far

'General readers will enjoy it as much as Brontë students and fans, and its careful avoidance of anything too topical or controversial will keep it fresh for years. Thormählen's high-quality contributors, assembly of reliable facts and data, pertinent commentary, maps, illustrations, splendid chronology and further reading lists make it everything that one could wish for.' Times Literary Supplement 'The high quality of scholarship in combination with the clarity of the jargon-free writing make it a book accessible to all. Those new to the Brontës will receive a solid introduction; those familiar with the Brontë story will be surprised by new information and fresh insights. Much of the knowledge one gains over the years from reading many disparate books is gathered together into this one volume, helping the reader to develop a coherent and comprehensive understanding of this literary family's life and historical contexts. I would recommend The Brontës in Context not only to those interested in the Brontës, but to anyone studying literature in the Victorian age. /---/ [It] will serve current and future generations of Brontë readers, students and scholars admirably; it will also prompt new avenues of study as readers delve deeper into the variety of issues that this volume covers. The Brontës in Context exemplifies the best writing, communicating not only information but also pleasure to the reader who enters its pages, ensuring that it will have a lasting contribution to make to the world of Brontë studies.' Brontë Studies 'Readers of The Brontës in Context will gain fresh insights into the writings of the sisters, and also how those writings relate to the concerns of their time and contribute to our understanding of the nineteenth-century mindset. Already my copy is getting thumb-marked, and I'm sure the book will be a valued handbook for years to come.' Emerald Insight

Rochester – The Poems in Context (paperback)

359.00 kr
The 1999 Oxford University Press edition by Harold Love of the works of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, praises Marianne Thormählen's Rochester: The Poems in Context (Cambridge University Press, 1993; a paperback edition appeared in 2006) as the most up-to-date book on Rochester's poetry, a "fresh, personal, and profoundly learned" study (pp. xlvi-xlvii). Other scholars have called it "splendid" (The Yearbook of English Studies), "intelligent and careful" (The Review of English Studies), "judicious" (Times Literary Supplement), and "smart and useful ... a treasure trove of information [for which] readers of Rochester will be indebted to Ms Thormählen for years to come" (The Scriblerian). Marianne Thormählen regards Rochester as a serious poet who devoted much time and care to his verse and aimed for the highest standards in his writing. This view runs counter to the traditional idea of Rochester as the "wicked earl" who wrote with ease; but she bolsters it with convincing evidence of painstaking literary desk-work, deliberate exploitation and subversion of poetical conventions, and subtly crafted references to people and events in Charles II's and Louis XIV's Europe. Rochester's much-talked-about obscenities are shown to belong within a sombre framework of dissatisfaction with sensual pursuits and distrust of male sexual ability. The book ends with a consideration of Rochester's famous deathbed conversion. A select bibliography directs the reader to every notable work on Rochester up to 1990. Rochester: The Poems in Context, hardback Rochester: The Poems in Context, paperback

The Brontës and Religion (paperback)

329.00 kr
appeared from Cambridge University Press in 1999. The first full-length study of religion in the Brontë fiction, it shows how the Brontës' familiarity with the contemporary debates on doctrinal, ethical, and ecclesiastical issues informs their novels. Divided into four parts, the book examines denominations, doctrines, ethics, and clerics in the work of the Brontës. The analyses of the novels clarify the constant interplay of human and divine love in their development. While demonstrating that the Brontës' fiction is usually in agreement with the basic tenets of Evangelical Anglicanism, The Brontës and Religion emphasises the characteristic spiritual freedom and audacity of the Brontës. Lucid and vigorously written, it opens up new perspectives for Brontë specialists and enthusiasts alike on a fundamental aspect of the novels greatly neglected in recent decades. Excerpts from reviews: "[a] well-informed [study] based on scrupulous readings and meticulous judgments" (Times Literary Supplement); "[the author's] willingness to read with the grain of the novels' religion makes for absorbing reading" (Victorian Studies); "a refreshingly textual study of the Brontës' fiction" (The Review of English Studies); "a work of extraordinarily comprehensive scholarship" (The Journal of Ecclesiastical History); "the kind of writing which will endure and remain valuable for many years to come" (Theology); "I very much enjoyed this book" (Reviews in Religion & Theology). The Brontës and Religion, hardback The Brontës and Religion, paperback

The Brontës and Education (paperback)

329.00 kr
All the seven Brontë novels are concerned with education in both senses, that of upbringing as well as that of learning. The Brontë sisters all worked as teachers before they became published novelists. In spite of the prevalence of education in the sisters' lives and fiction, however, this is the first full-length book on the subject. Marianne Thormählen explores how their representations of fictional teachers and schools engage with the intense debates on education in the nineteenth century, drawing on a wealth of documentary evidence about educational theory and practice in the lifetime of the Brontës. This study offers much new information both about the Brontës and their books and about the most urgent issue in early-nineteenth-century British social politics: the education of the people, of all classes and both sexes. The Brontës and Education, hardback The Brontës and Education, paperback

Reviews so far

'Compelling and unique ... This thoroughly researched volume looks at ... contemporaneous education controversies. Summing up: highly recommended.' Choice '... writes with considerable panache and vigor. In this reviewer's experience the book makes a very enjoyable read not only for a scholar public but for a general audience as well'. www.bronteblog.blogspot.com. Read the whole review at http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/bronts-and-education-review.html '... crisp, objective and lively ... Thormählen triumphs in the light she shines on the educational world in which the family lived ... This book is an exciting helpmate in the struggle to secure a firm understanding of factors that fed the Brontë sisters' imaginative development ...' Brontë Studies ''Thormählen's prose is lucid yet sophisticated, each paragraph redolent with pithy thoughts and new twists on familiar truths ... Thormählen guides us sure-footedly ... [the notes constitute] a veritable textbook on early nineteenth-century education ... [The Brontës and Education is] a deeply satisfying work that enriches our appreciation of the Brontës and their world." Modern Philology

Hanna

Der Roman Hanna beschäftigt sich mit der Möglichkeit eines in Verruf geratenen jungen Mädchens, ihr eigenes Leben wieder in die Hand zu nehmen und sich in einer Umwelt voller Vorurteile und Doppelmoral als Individuum zu behaupten Hier ein Ausschnitt http://www.merlin-verlag.de

Hanky

Roman von Axel Thormählen (Merlin Verlag) Hanky ist der erste Roman des Autors und erschien 1978 beim Merlin Verlag. Wie auch im darauffolgenden Roman Hanna ist der Handlungsort das Weserstädtchen Brake, doch abspielen könnten sich die Handlungen auch in jeder anderen Kleinstadt. Während der Alkoholiker Hanky von den Kleinbürgern wegen seiner Homosexualität geschnitten und als Aussätziger behandelt wird, ist es bei Hanna die „Sünde der Frau“, die Anstoß erregt. Hier zwei Ausschnitte aus dem Roman „Hanky“, den die FAZ mit den Worten „mehr als eine Talentprobe, sondern ein Kunstwerk hohen Grades“ lobte. www.merlin-verlag.de

Wenn Wörter töten könnten

Axel Thormählens Literatur-Thriller Wenn Wörter töten könnten ist ein mit einer gehörigen Portion Satire angereicherter, spannender Roman, dessen Handlungen sich hinter den Kulissen des Literatur-Betriebs abspielen. Die verschiedenen Intrigen dehnen sich von Hamburg bis ins schwedische Universitätsstädtchen Lund, um auf der Insel Gotland ihre Auflösung zu finden. Hier ein Ausschnitt Erschien Anfang Mai 2020 in einer Neuauflage bei JMB Verlag.

Wenn Wörter töten könnten (Epub)

45.00 kr
Axel Thormählens Literatur-Thriller Wenn Wörter töten könnten ist ein mit einer gehörigen Portion Satire angereicherter, spannender Roman, dessen Handlungen sich hinter den Kulissen des Literatur-Betriebs abspielen. Die verschiedenen Intrigen dehnen sich von Hamburg bis ins schwedische Universitätsstädtchen Lund, um auf der Insel Gotland ihre Auflösung zu finden. Hier ein Ausschnitt Erschien Anfang Mai 2020 in einer Neuauflage bei JMB Verlag.

Zahngold

29.00 kr
JMB Verlag, 2009 Worin liegen die wahren Werte? Diese Frage stellt sich in den Finanzkrisen unseres Lebens immer wieder, und in der vorliegenden Geschichte plagt sie auch den Erzähler. Eine Antwort darauf wäre buchstäblich Gold wert. Bestellung für Zahngold an Jens Bolm .

Das Haus an Piccadilly

15.00 kr
JMB Verlag, 08 Juni 2012 Ein geheimnisvolles Haus in London erregt seit Jahren die Neugier von Leo Norman. Durch unheimliche Umstände gelangt er an das riesige Schlüsselbund dieses Hauses und stattet ihm einen unvergesslichen Besuch ab ... Bestellung für Das Haus an Piccadilly an Jens Bolm . "Hinter Thormählens Sprachwitz steckt ein Philosoph!" Kunst + Kultur No. I/09

Der Weg nach Altenburg

60.00 kr
JMB Verlag, 2013 Illustrationen von Peter Kirchhof "Ein schauerlicher Bericht aus dem Niemandsland des Lebens". Bestellung für Der Weg nach Altenburg an Jens Bolm . http://www.nwzonline.de/person/thormählen,axel http://www.431verstaerker-magazin.de/2014/01/07/rezension-axel-thormaehlens-erzaehlung-weg-nach-altenburg/ Dass sein Freund Hannes sich das Leben genommen hat, kann der Erzähler nicht glauben und reist daher an den Ort seiner Kindheit, um Hannes zu suchen. Statt des gebuchten Express-Zuges steigt er allerdings in den Regional-Schnellzug mit gleichem Fahrziel ein. Die eigenartige Stimmung der Passagiere, ihr entweder manisches oder geradezu phlegmatisches Verhalten und der düstere, unwirkliche Ausblick aus dem Fenster während dieser langen Bahnfahrt hätten als Warnung gesehen werden können, denn als der Protagonist in Rade am Fluss ankommt, ist nichts mehr so, wie es war. Die Stadt, die ihm schon seit seiner Kindheit vertraut ist, erkennt er kaum wieder. Sie ist wie ausgestorben, die meisten Lichter sind aus, die Stadt liegt in fast vollkommener Dunkelheit und die wenigen Menschen, denen er begegnet, scheinen ihrer Identität beraubt zu sein. Seine Suche nach Ansprache, nach einem Telefon, einem Taxi oder nach Hannes wird immer beängstigender, bis er in einer Bar findet, was er gesucht hat. Oder doch nicht? Die menschenleeren Straßen, die skurrilen Bars und die einst vertraute Stadt, die nurmehr von Namenlosen bevölkert scheint, werden immer mehr zu einem Alptraum. Gelingt es dem Erzähler nach Altenburg zurückzukehren oder sitzt er bis in alle Ewigkeit in dieser düsteren Stadt fest? Mich hat die poetische Sprache des Erzählers und die mystische Stimmung der Geschichte sofort in den Bann gezogen. Ich fühlte mich an Kafka oder E.T.A. Hoffmann erinnert und nahm wie selbstverständlich neben den Reisenden im Zug Platz. Fast schien die nicht nur äußerliche Heimatlosigkeit der anderen auch von mir Besitz zu ergreifen, so dass ich die wenigen Seiten wie im Fieber umblätterte und doch am Ende froh war, noch einmal den Absprung vom Zug geschafft zu haben. Fazit: Es handelt sich um ein kleines Büchlein, aber um eine feine Geschichte. Auch die vier Illustrationen von Peter K. Kirchhof sind sehr passend und stimmungsvoll. Die Handlung von “Der Weg nach Altenburg” ist in der Gegenwart angesiedelt, doch die Form folgt der Tradition des fantastischen Erzählens. Eine mitreißende Geschichte, die ins Innere und dann wieder an den Ausgangspunkt zurückführt. Besonders für eine kurze Bahnfahrt geeignet, die noch Zeit zum Nachdenken lässt, die dieser Lektüre unbedingt folgen sollte. Laila Mahfouz, 7. Januar 2014

Der Weg nach Altenburg (ePub & PDF)

15.00 kr
JMB Verlag, 2013 Illustrationen von Peter Kirchhof "Ein schauerlicher Bericht aus dem Niemandsland des Lebens". Bestellung für Der Weg nach Altenburg an Jens Bolm . http://www.nwzonline.de/person/thormählen,axel http://www.431verstaerker-magazin.de/2014/01/07/rezension-axel-thormaehlens-erzaehlung-weg-nach-altenburg/ Dass sein Freund Hannes sich das Leben genommen hat, kann der Erzähler nicht glauben und reist daher an den Ort seiner Kindheit, um Hannes zu suchen. Statt des gebuchten Express-Zuges steigt er allerdings in den Regional-Schnellzug mit gleichem Fahrziel ein. Die eigenartige Stimmung der Passagiere, ihr entweder manisches oder geradezu phlegmatisches Verhalten und der düstere, unwirkliche Ausblick aus dem Fenster während dieser langen Bahnfahrt hätten als Warnung gesehen werden können, denn als der Protagonist in Rade am Fluss ankommt, ist nichts mehr so, wie es war. Die Stadt, die ihm schon seit seiner Kindheit vertraut ist, erkennt er kaum wieder. Sie ist wie ausgestorben, die meisten Lichter sind aus, die Stadt liegt in fast vollkommener Dunkelheit und die wenigen Menschen, denen er begegnet, scheinen ihrer Identität beraubt zu sein. Seine Suche nach Ansprache, nach einem Telefon, einem Taxi oder nach Hannes wird immer beängstigender, bis er in einer Bar findet, was er gesucht hat. Oder doch nicht? Die menschenleeren Straßen, die skurrilen Bars und die einst vertraute Stadt, die nurmehr von Namenlosen bevölkert scheint, werden immer mehr zu einem Alptraum. Gelingt es dem Erzähler nach Altenburg zurückzukehren oder sitzt er bis in alle Ewigkeit in dieser düsteren Stadt fest? Mich hat die poetische Sprache des Erzählers und die mystische Stimmung der Geschichte sofort in den Bann gezogen. Ich fühlte mich an Kafka oder E.T.A. Hoffmann erinnert und nahm wie selbstverständlich neben den Reisenden im Zug Platz. Fast schien die nicht nur äußerliche Heimatlosigkeit der anderen auch von mir Besitz zu ergreifen, so dass ich die wenigen Seiten wie im Fieber umblätterte und doch am Ende froh war, noch einmal den Absprung vom Zug geschafft zu haben. Fazit: Es handelt sich um ein kleines Büchlein, aber um eine feine Geschichte. Auch die vier Illustrationen von Peter K. Kirchhof sind sehr passend und stimmungsvoll. Die Handlung von “Der Weg nach Altenburg” ist in der Gegenwart angesiedelt, doch die Form folgt der Tradition des fantastischen Erzählens. Eine mitreißende Geschichte, die ins Innere und dann wieder an den Ausgangspunkt zurückführt. Besonders für eine kurze Bahnfahrt geeignet, die noch Zeit zum Nachdenken lässt, die dieser Lektüre unbedingt folgen sollte. Laila Mahfouz, 7. Januar 2014

Der letzte Wikinger

45.00 kr
JMB Verlag Hannover ISBN 9783944342542 Illustrationen von Peter Kirchhof Endlich gibt es eine Auswahl der besten Erzählungen von Axel Thormählen auf Deutsch: Über die in den U.S.A. herausgegebene Auswahl A Happy Man and other Stories (Les Figues Press) schrieb Claude Rawson, Literaturprofessor an der Yale University: „Ein entzückendes, ungewöhnliches, hochindividuelles Buch mit einer milden Weisheit, manchmal beunruhigend oder belustigend oder beides zugleich, aber immer unverwechselbar.“

The Water Tower and Other Stories

40.00 kr
In these six stories, everyday incidents and situations become extraordinary, lingering on in the reader's memory. For instance, the search for the perfect Christmas tree will never be quite the same again after reading '23 December'. The pursuit of human happiness in all its different manifestations is at the core of these taut, ironic, and compassionate tales.

A Happy Man or Der Glückliche

150.00 kr
Les Figues Press, Los Angeles 2008 http://www.lesfigues.com

Selected short stories by Axel Thormählen, bilingual edition (English/German)

The tales in this collection could hardly be more diverse where content is concerned, ranging from the Christmas story 23 December to the young love of Dyke Crest Lane No. 1. We also meet the Construction Worker who keeps interrupting our lives with his relentless noise, the ancient church servant Thomas who inhabits the cathedrals where we catch our breath, and the old woman for whom the only uplifting thing is the Water Tower which rises near her house. In the familiar Course of Things, illness, healing process, and death go hand in hand; the Happy Man knows that, too, whereas the Churchgoer is still searching for a monumental meaning in life. We’d better make use of our Visiting Hour even if things keep breaking into little pieces, again and again. https://www.spdbooks.org/Products/9781934254042/a-happy-man-and-other-stories.aspx Book Reviews Blog http://www.dalkeyarchive.com/catalog/show_comment/1594 http://skylightbooks.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-encounter-with-happy-man.html http://www.bookslut.com/fiction/2008_11_013686.php http://www.theshortreview.com/reviews/AxelThormahlenAHappyMan.htm Interview with Axel Thormählen http://www.theshortreview.com/authors/AxelThormahlen.htm

Kremberg, en julberättelse

40.00 kr
Träsnidarmästaren Jacob Kremberg kom förmodligen från Nordtyskland. Många danska och sydsvenska kyrkor smyckas av hans verk, tillkomna i början av 1600-talet. Han är centralgestalten i denna novell, som skildrar händelser en kall decembernatt i en skånsk lantkyrka. 'Kremberg: En julberättelse' är dock ingen dokumentär redogörelse utan en historia om fantasi och skapande tillkommen på fantasins egna villkor. Den lilla publikationen, som väger 27 gram och kostar 40 SEK, är det idealiska 'julkortet' till litterärt intresserade vänner och affärsbekanta.

JOSÉPHINE

Utdrag ur Joséphine, kap. 51 ('Kungen av Rom'): Jag hade i hemlighet förhoppningar om att få stanna något längre i Malmaison. Men det fann sig inte Bonaparte i. Han kunde dock inte bekväma sig till att meddela mig detta själv utan sände den oerhört generade Cambacérès. Ärkekanslern var inte precis någon mme de Rémusat, och han meddelade mig sin härskares vilja på ett ganska tafatt sätt. Visserligen ville kejsaren inte tvinga mig till någonting, men med hänsyn till kejsarinnans tillstånd var det bäst att jag reste till Navarra så fort som möjligt. -- Hon är rätt så uppriven, det stackars lilla livet, avslutade Cambacérès allvarligt. Kejsaren -- och jag också för den delen -- skulle starkt rekommendera att ers majestät åker. Jag tyckte att Marie-Louise, som hade privilegiet att få tillbringa varje dag med Bonaparte och dessutom bar på hans barn, var den sista som hade någon anledning att vara "uppriven". Trots det beslöt jag mig för att lyda Cambacérès råd. Ingen skulle påstå att jag var ute efter att såra Marie-Louise. Livet på Navarra var ganska behagligt. Mme de Rémusat hade följt med den här gången, och till och med hon verkade ha riktigt roligt. Mme d'Arberg var däremot något bekymrad. Monsieur Pourtalès hade börjat visa stort intresse för mme Gazzani, och snart var romansen ett faktum. Mlle de Castellane-Norantes försäkran om att hon "nog skulle kunna locka tillbaka" monsieur Pourtalès gjorde inte mme d'Arberg lugnare. Men jag var så glad över att mme Gazzani lyckats glömma Bonaparte att jag omöjligt kunde dela hennes upprördhet. Så kom den tjugonde mars 1811. Ryktet spred sig att kejsarinnan snart skulle föda. Hela dagen var det ingen vid mitt hov som kunde koncentrera sig på biljard eller läsning. Det blev en nästan olidlig väntan tills fram på kvällen, då det första kanonskottet hördes från det intilliggande Évreux. -- Gudskelov! utbrast jag. Barnet lever! Bara det nu är en pojke. Ingen vågade säga något de första tjugoen skotten. Vid det tjugoandra bröt ett jubel utan like ut. Det var en pojke. Jag satt länge utan att få fram ett ord. Mme d'Arberg såg ängsligt på mig. -- Hur är det fatt, ers majestät? Är ni ledsen? -- Ledsen! ekade jag. Hur skulle jag kunna vara ledsen? Detta är ju vad vi alla hoppats på! Vad kejsaren måste vara lycklig. Ursäkta mig ett ögonblick, jag måste skriva till honom. Och sedan skall vi hålla en stor och påkostad bal. Det här måste firas! Alla tyckte att jag bar mig ädelt och hjältemodigt åt vid nyheten om tronföljarens födelse. Men jag förtjänade inte deras beröm. Jag var faktiskt glad. Bonaparte hade nu äntligen sin arvtagare, och kanske ännu viktigare, en egen son. Inte desto mindre glömde han inte att i ett brev till mig tillägga, efter att ha yttrat sin faderliga stolthet: "Jag är mycket nöjd med Eugène. Han har aldrig på något sätt varit en besvikelse för mig." Jag uppfattade de korthuggna raderna som den absoluta höjden av ömhet och omtänksamhet. I flera dagar tråkade jag ut alla som jag kunde få tag på med mina svärmiska lovsånger om kejsarens hänsynsfullhet. Vad som fick Bonaparte att framstå i ett om möjligt ännu mer förklarat ljus var att han skickade Eugéne till mig med information om vad som hade hänt vid förlossningen och annat skvaller från hovet. Eugène livade upp oss allesammans. Han kom på idén att starta tävlingar i allt möjligt, såsom biljard, dans och till och med fiske. Ingen av damerna var alltför ledsen om de förlorade, eftersom Eugène brukade ge dem en kram eller kyss på kinden som "tröstpris". Jag misstänkte att den unga söta mlle Ducrest -- ett tämligen nytt tillskott till mitt hov -- till och med ibland spelade dåligt med flit vid biljardtävlingarna. Både jag och mme d'Arberg höll emellertid ett vakande öga på de båda. Eugène hade sett till att de gröna "hovklänningarna" avskaffades. Han förklarade att han ville se "den prydliga gräsmattan förvandlas till en blomstrande äng". Alla de unga flickorna vid mitt hov enades om att det var mycket tjusigt sagt av Eugène och skaffade sig genast de mest färgglada klänningar de kunde hitta. Hovetiketten försvann så gott som helt tillsammans med de gröna klänningarna. Mme d'Arberg var förtvivlad, men det fanns inte mycket hon kunde göra. I stället försökte hon förgäves få någon reda i mina finanser som -- trots att jag hade ett underhåll på tre miljoner franc om året -- var så till den grad katastrofala att Bonaparte till och med en gång sände sin finansminister för att läxa upp mig. Jag antar att mme d'Arberg drog en suck av lättnad då jag fick tillstånd att återvända till Malmaison, där hon inte behövde ta så mycket ansvar för mig. Det var nog väl att hon inte visste vad jag föresatt mig att göra när jag kom till Paris. Jag var nämligen fast besluten att se Bonapartes son och Frankrikes blivande kejsare -- som Bonaparte högtidligt givit titeln "kungen av Rom". (S. 444-46)

Rochester – The Poems in Context (hardback)

770.00 kr
The 1999 Oxford University Press edition by Harold Love of the works of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, praises Marianne Thormählen's Rochester: The Poems in Context (Cambridge University Press, 1993; a paperback edition appeared in 2006) as the most up-to-date book on Rochester's poetry, a "fresh, personal, and profoundly learned" study (pp. xlvi-xlvii). Other scholars have called it "splendid" (The Yearbook of English Studies), "intelligent and careful" (The Review of English Studies), "judicious" (Times Literary Supplement), and "smart and useful ... a treasure trove of information [for which] readers of Rochester will be indebted to Ms Thormählen for years to come" (The Scriblerian). Marianne Thormählen regards Rochester as a serious poet who devoted much time and care to his verse and aimed for the highest standards in his writing. This view runs counter to the traditional idea of Rochester as the "wicked earl" who wrote with ease; but she bolsters it with convincing evidence of painstaking literary desk-work, deliberate exploitation and subversion of poetical conventions, and subtly crafted references to people and events in Charles II's and Louis XIV's Europe. Rochester's much-talked-about obscenities are shown to belong within a sombre framework of dissatisfaction with sensual pursuits and distrust of male sexual ability. The book ends with a consideration of Rochester's famous deathbed conversion. A select bibliography directs the reader to every notable work on Rochester up to 1990. Rochester: The Poems in Context, hardback Rochester: The Poems in Context, paperback

T.S. Eliot at the Turn of the Century

150.00 kr
In 1993, a group of Eliot scholars came together in Lund to address the question of T. S. Eliot´s standing a hundred years after his death and on the threshold of a new millennium. The 1990s were years of Eliot-bashing; much was made of his alleged misogyny, racism, and anti-semitism, and even at the beginning of decade it was obvious that the poet´s status had suffered. Bernard Bergonzi, Lois A. Cuddy, Barbara Everett, Rudolf Germer, Nancy D. Hargrove, M. Teresa Gibert-Maceda, Stephen Medcalf, A. David Moody, Kristian Smidt, and Marianne Thormählen analysed different aspects of Eliot´s work and found enough strength and power in it to be cautiously optimistic about his future. Emrys Jones read a paper on a Stratford production of Murder in the Cathedral which focused attention on Eliot´s writing for the stage, and Grover Smith, who could not attend the meeting, contributed a new approach to The Cocktail Party. All these essays were published in the volume called T. S. Eliot at the Turn of the Century, including A. David Moody on Eliot and the mind of Europe, Nancy D. Hargrove on Eliot´s annus mirabilis in Paris (1910-1911), Bernard Bergonzi on Eliot and the city, Lois A. Cuddy on evolution in Eliot´s work, Rudolf Germer on Eliot and religion, M. Teresa Gibert-Maceda on women and Eliot, Marianne Thormählen on the problem of the individual personality in Eliot´s poetry and plays, Stephen Medcalf on the Sweeney poems, Kristian Smidt on Eliot´s less than fair treatment of the Victorians in his criticism, and Barbara Everett on the unpleasantness of meeting Mr Eliot. The volume also contains an edited version of a panel discussion about Eliot´s standing and Eliot studies. (Lund Studies in English 86, 1984; 244 pp, ed. Marianne Thormählen.)

Eliot’s Animals

90.00 kr180.00 kr
T. S. Eliot´s poems and plays are full of animals, from the alley cats of the early poems by way of the eagle, leopards, and unicorns in Ash-Wednesday to the birds in Four Quartets. Marianne Thormählen´s Eliot´s Animals takes you on a guided tour of Eliot´s bestiary, showing how the poet brought a rich variety of ideas about animals into his texts and invested those texts with layers of meaning derived from, for instance, Dante, Baudelaire, and the Bible. Eliot´s Animals is a book to dip into for the Eliot reader curious to see how a particular scene can be perceived with reference to the function of a particular animal image. There is no need to read it straight through -- but those who do will learn something new about Eliot´s range and subtlety in handling symbolic features. (Lund Studies in English No. 70, 1984; 197 pp.)

The Waste Land a Fragmentary Wholeness

110.00 kr220.00 kr
T. S. Eliot is felt by many to have been the poet of the twentieth century, and his famous The Waste Land is the best known poem of that century in English. Many people have found it hard to come to grips with, though, and reading Eliot remains a challenge. "A hoax", "tripe", a piece of "rhythmical grumbling" (the latter is the poet´s own description) -- is T. S. Eliot´s The Waste Land really worth all the attention it has come in for since its publication in 1922? Thousands of literary critics and scholars have been writing about it -- what inspired such enormous efforts? And will the new millennium gratefully drop it into semi-oblivion as a period piece belonging to the world of yesterday? You´ll know more about The Waste Land, and about Eliot, and about the way you yourself respond to modern poetry after reading Marianne Thormählen´s The Waste Land: A Fragmentary Wholeness. First published in 1978, it has become a standard work on the poem, partly thanks to its generous annotation and bibliography which have helped many students chart their own way through this challenging terrain. The book tells you about the poem´s gestation, Ezra Pound´s midwifery, metre and rhythm in the Waste Land, and the symbolic imagery that is such a powerful dimension in all of Eliot´s work. It also suggests ways of freeing the reader from the obligation to make it all hang together by working out a consistent "plan" or "structure". Let The Waste Land: A Fragmentary Wholeness help you form your own relationship with the greatest modernist poem, unhampered by preconceived notions and unworried by its alleged "difficulty". (Lund Studies in English No. 52, 1978; 248 pp.)

Rethinking Modernism

1170.00 kr
Around 1979, scholars adopted the term "modernism" as a designation for the radical changes that took place in Anglo-American literature in the early twentieth century. The concept lent prestige to works and authors associated with it, encouraging the development of a vast body of criticism while blocking academic recognition of literature to which it does not readily apply. In Rethinking Modernism, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2003 and edited by Marianne Thormählen, fifteen scholars of modernism subject the concept to sceptical scrutiny as they revisit their special areas of expertise. The general question they all face is not so much "what was modernism?" -- a familiar question -- as "was/is modernism?" Their results show that although "modernism" remains a useful concept under certain conditions, for them -- as for any reader of this book -- modernism will never be quite the same again. The book ends with a 20-page bibliography of works on modernism in two parts, compiled by the editor; the Literary Research/Recherche littéraire reviewer called it "comprehensive and invaluable". Other reviewers have praised the book as forming a "both focused and vigorous" volume (The Yearbook of English Studies) and as offering noteworthy "considerations of category breakers and the construction of categories by the reception of literary works" (The Review of English Studies). https://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/rethinking-modernism-marianne-thormählen/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781403911803

The Brontës and Religion (hardback)

appeared from Cambridge University Press in 1999. The first full-length study of religion in the Brontë fiction, it shows how the Brontës' familiarity with the contemporary debates on doctrinal, ethical, and ecclesiastical issues informs their novels. Divided into four parts, the book examines denominations, doctrines, ethics, and clerics in the work of the Brontës. The analyses of the novels clarify the constant interplay of human and divine love in their development. While demonstrating that the Brontës' fiction is usually in agreement with the basic tenets of Evangelical Anglicanism, The Brontës and Religion emphasises the characteristic spiritual freedom and audacity of the Brontës. Lucid and vigorously written, it opens up new perspectives for Brontë specialists and enthusiasts alike on a fundamental aspect of the novels greatly neglected in recent decades. Excerpts from reviews: "[a] well-informed [study] based on scrupulous readings and meticulous judgments" (Times Literary Supplement); "[the author's] willingness to read with the grain of the novels' religion makes for absorbing reading" (Victorian Studies); "a refreshingly textual study of the Brontës' fiction" (The Review of English Studies); "a work of extraordinarily comprehensive scholarship" (The Journal of Ecclesiastical History); "the kind of writing which will endure and remain valuable for many years to come" (Theology); "I very much enjoyed this book" (Reviews in Religion & Theology). The Brontës and Religion, hardback The Brontës and Religion, paperback

The Brontës and Education (hardback)

670.00 kr
All the seven Brontë novels are concerned with education in both senses, that of upbringing as well as that of learning. The Brontë sisters all worked as teachers before they became published novelists. In spite of the prevalence of education in the sisters' lives and fiction, however, this is the first full-length book on the subject. Marianne Thormählen explores how their representations of fictional teachers and schools engage with the intense debates on education in the nineteenth century, drawing on a wealth of documentary evidence about educational theory and practice in the lifetime of the Brontës. This study offers much new information both about the Brontës and their books and about the most urgent issue in early-nineteenth-century British social politics: the education of the people, of all classes and both sexes. The Brontës and Education, hardback The Brontës and Education, paperback

Reviews so far

'Compelling and unique ... This thoroughly researched volume looks at ... contemporaneous education controversies. Summing up: highly recommended.' Choice '... writes with considerable panache and vigor. In this reviewer's experience the book makes a very enjoyable read not only for a scholar public but for a general audience as well'. www.bronteblog.blogspot.com. Read the whole review at http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/bronts-and-education-review.html '... crisp, objective and lively ... Thormählen triumphs in the light she shines on the educational world in which the family lived ... This book is an exciting helpmate in the struggle to secure a firm understanding of factors that fed the Brontë sisters' imaginative development ...' Brontë Studies ''Thormählen's prose is lucid yet sophisticated, each paragraph redolent with pithy thoughts and new twists on familiar truths ... Thormählen guides us sure-footedly ... [the notes constitute] a veritable textbook on early nineteenth-century education ... [The Brontës and Education is] a deeply satisfying work that enriches our appreciation of the Brontës and their world." Modern Philology

English Now

Selected Papers from the 20th IAUPE Conference in Lund 2007 In August 2007, about 200 senior researchers in the field of English, language and literature, spent a week in Lund taking the temperature of their subject. Nearly 150 papers were presented in 19 conference sections. This volume contains a lively selection, chosen by the 37 Section Chairs as saying something about where research in the discipline is heading. Also included are the two plenary lectures about the state and future of English in the academy by Elizabeth Traugott (language) and Helen Vendler (literature). A common feature unites this diverse collection: English literature and language as a vital concern for real people, all over the world and in the past as well as the present. Here 'English' reaffirms its human credentials, moving forward with fresh confidence and enthusiasm. (Lund Studies in English 112, ISBN 978-91-976935-0-9) Contents Order from skriftserier@ht.lu.se

The Brontës in Context (hardback)

900.00 kr
Edited by: Marianne Thormählen, Lunds Universitet, Sweden Very few families produce one outstanding writer. The Brontë family produced three. The works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne remain immensely popular, and are increasingly being studied in relation to the surroundings and wider context that formed them. The forty-two new essays in this book tell 'the Brontë story' as it has never been told before, drawing on the latest research and the best available scholarship while offering new perspectives on the writings of the sisters. A section on Brontë criticism traces their reception to the present day. The works of the sisters are explored in the context of social, political and cultural developments in early-nineteenth-century Britain, with attention given to religion, education, art, print culture, agriculture, law and medicine. Crammed with information, The Brontës in Context shows how the Brontës' fiction interacts with the spirit of the time, suggesting reasons for its enduring fascination. The Brontës in Context, hardback The Brontës in Context, paperback

Reviews so far

'General readers will enjoy it as much as Brontë students and fans, and its careful avoidance of anything too topical or controversial will keep it fresh for years. Thormählen's high-quality contributors, assembly of reliable facts and data, pertinent commentary, maps, illustrations, splendid chronology and further reading lists make it everything that one could wish for.' Times Literary Supplement 'The high quality of scholarship in combination with the clarity of the jargon-free writing make it a book accessible to all. Those new to the Brontës will receive a solid introduction; those familiar with the Brontë story will be surprised by new information and fresh insights. Much of the knowledge one gains over the years from reading many disparate books is gathered together into this one volume, helping the reader to develop a coherent and comprehensive understanding of this literary family's life and historical contexts. I would recommend The Brontës in Context not only to those interested in the Brontës, but to anyone studying literature in the Victorian age. /---/ [It] will serve current and future generations of Brontë readers, students and scholars admirably; it will also prompt new avenues of study as readers delve deeper into the variety of issues that this volume covers. The Brontës in Context exemplifies the best writing, communicating not only information but also pleasure to the reader who enters its pages, ensuring that it will have a lasting contribution to make to the world of Brontë studies.' Brontë Studies 'Readers of The Brontës in Context will gain fresh insights into the writings of the sisters, and also how those writings relate to the concerns of their time and contribute to our understanding of the nineteenth-century mindset. Already my copy is getting thumb-marked, and I'm sure the book will be a valued handbook for years to come.' Emerald Insight

Verksamhetsberättelser

120.00 kr
Ytterligare 13 konturskarpa berättelser. De nya berättelserna visar på en breddning av Thormählens litterära register. Förutom inslaget av svidande samhällssatir, som känns igen från de tidigare böckerna, ingår tre sinsemellan mycket olika kärlekshistorier i denna samling. Vidare finns reflexioner kring skeendena inom och utom den tysk-svenska verklighetens råmärken och en avslutande, klassisk julberättelse som suddar ut gränser av mer än ett slag. "Berättelserna präglas av Thormählens finurliga infallsvinklar och ironiska distans och försätter läsaren omväxlande i en road och eftertänksamt allvarlig stämning." Monika Ivarsson, Skånska Dagbladet "Inte minst den skenbart paradoxala föreningen av satir och solidaritet, av lekfull distans och djup humanitet, gör läsningen till ett oavbrutet nöje." Magnus Eriksson, Svenska Dagbladet "Hans verksamhetsberättelser vill värna det skapande momentet i människors liv." Göran Lundstedt, Sydsvenska Dagbladet Beställ via förlagets hemsida, www.ellerstroms.se

Wilhelm

120.00 kr
Banktjänstemannen Frieder K. är en vanlig familjefar som ställs inför ett ovanligt problem. Vissa tecken tyder på, att hans just avlidne far Wilhelm inte utan vidare låter sig bringas ur världen. Wilhelm dyker upp på det mest oväntade platser, och vissa handlingar finns inte där de borde vara. Frieder offrar dyrbara semesterdagar för att lösa "mysteriet Wilhelm" men blir bara alltmer osäker. Hans välordnade värld hänger helt plötsligt inte ihop längre. Frieder förändras under sitt sökande efter Wilhelm. Han börjar accepteraockså det ovissa och skrämmande i tillvaron, och gränsen mellan hans och faderns identiteter blir alltmer diffus för honom. Ur hans synvinkel blir tankegångar och handlingarsom för utomstående ter sig absurda, för att inte säga groteska, enbart logiska och nödvändiga. Romanen om Frieder och hans far utspelar sig inom en generations nutid och förflutna, en generation vars första år sammanföll med Tredje Rikets Tyskland. Beställ via förlagets hemsida, www.ellerstroms.se

De närvarande

120.00 kr
Innehåller åtta sträva, intensiva berättelser ur samtiden som präglas av en illusionslös psykologi, där medkänsla ändå är utgångspunkten, och en ovanlig förmåga till satir och svart humor. Om sitt författarskap skriver Thormählen själv: Det ställer människan och möjligheterna i medelpunkten. Med varje gestalt börjar för mig en ny livserfarenhet, jag följer den och det ofta absurda försöket att fylla tillvaronskorta tidsrymd med en innebörd. För att kunna finnas till, måste man först beröra jorden; ett par av de gestalter jag beskriver glöder och förkolnar vid försöket. Andra finner åtminstone hoppet om ett fotfäste. Beställ via förlagets hemsida, www.ellerstroms.se