Austerlitz

by WG Sebald
Austerlitz cover
Good Books rating 4.58
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 599
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780241956908
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2013-07-04
  • Reviews: 3

Austerlitz is a profound and melancholic novel that delves into the life of Jacques Austerlitz, a man who, as a child, was sent to England on a Kindertransport to escape the horrors of Nazi-occupied Europe. Raised by foster parents who erased all knowledge of his past, Austerlitz grows up unaware of his true identity. As an adult, he becomes an architectural historian, but his past resurfaces, compelling him to confront the traumatic events of his childhood and the devastating impact of the Holocaust. /n/n W.G. Sebald's masterpiece is celebrated for its unique blend of history, memory, and personal narrative, offering a poignant reflection on the human experience of displacement and loss. The novel's haunting prose and intricate structure have earned it widespread acclaim, making it a timeless exploration of identity and the lingering shadows of history.

Reviews
Tony's Reading List · Tony · 2013-11-07
captivating 4.50

Austerlitz is a superb book that defies description and categorization, offering a unique and captivating reading experience.

Tony finds Austerlitz to be a superb and defying book that transcends traditional categorization. The reviewer appreciates the book's unique narrative style and the way it challenges conventional storytelling. Despite the difficulty in describing the book, Tony highlights its captivating and thought-provoking qualities, making it a standout read. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to evoke deep emotions and provoke introspection.

Quick quotes

    Austerlitz is another superb book that defies description and categorisation.

    The book offers a unique and captivating reading experience.

    Austerlitz challenges conventional storytelling and evokes deep emotions.

The New York Times · 2001-10-26
moving 4.75

The book transports readers to a twilight world of half-remembered images and ghosts, creating a deeply moving and introspective journey.

The reviewer describes Austerlitz as a haunting exploration of memory and loss, noting its unique ability to transport readers to a fogbound world of half-remembered images. The book's introspective and deeply moving narrative is praised for its emotional resonance and the way it delves into the complexities of European history. The reviewer highlights the book's atmospheric and reflective qualities, making it a memorable and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    With WG Sebald's haunting new book, 'Austerlitz,' we are transported to a memoryscape -- a twilight, fogbound world of half-remembered images and ghosts.

    A deeply moving and introspective journey that delves into the complexities of European history.

    The book's atmospheric and reflective qualities make it a memorable and impactful read.

The Guardian · 2001-09-30
haunting 4.50

The book provides a hypnotic sense of the power of history. It transcends traditional narrative forms to create a haunting and reflective experience.

The reviewer finds Austerlitz to be a mesmerizing exploration of history's impact, noting its unique narrative style that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. The book's ability to evoke a sense of the past in a way that feels both immediate and distant is particularly praised. The reviewer suggests that Sebald's work is profound and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Quick quotes

    It may or may not be fiction, but WG Sebald's wartime narrative, Austerlitz, provides a hypnotic sense of the power of history.

    A book that transcends traditional narrative forms to create a haunting and reflective experience.

    Sebald's work is profound and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Appears in Lists