Gathering at Tergert Grass Anthology

Author: (German) Grass, translated by Huang Mingjia
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In the first half of the 17th century, the conflicts between various religious factions, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the princes of Germany were severe, with continuous clashes. After the Thirty Years' War, a group of literary figures gathered in the small town of Teplitz. They discussed the past and the present, speaking freely, while exploring serious academic issues such as poetry and drama, they also lamented their own and their country's fate with deep sorrow. Using literature, they plotted for the unification of their homeland, yet amidst their grand discussions, they also engaged in witty banter, used vulgar language, made lewd remarks, and even had affairs with maids and innkeepers "without restraint." Eventually, they even drafted a "peace appeal," but an accidental fire reduced their gathering place and the "appeal" to ashes, along with all their noble aspirations. The poets, playwrights, literary theorists, and others described in the novel were all real figures in German history. In the author's portrayal, behind each of them lies an important figure in contemporary German literature. For example, the protagonist Simon Dach and Grenzhauzen in the novel are respectively the of Hans Werner Richter, the leader of the famous literary group "47" in contemporary Germany, and the author Grass himself. Using the technique of drawing parallels between the past and the present, the author vividly depicts the activities of the "47" group in the 1960s and expresses his deep concern for the nation and its people. This book is one of the author's most successful novels. Published in 1979, it became a bestseller in Germany for a long time.