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Das Ende des Liedes
German
156 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Galsan Tschinag
64 books73 followersGalsan Tschinag (Чинаагийн Галсан), born Irgit Shynykbai-oglu Dshurukuwaa (*26 December 1944 in Bayan-Ölgii Province, Mongolia) is a Mongolian writer of novels, poems, and essays in the German language, though he hails from a Tuvan background. He is also often described as a Shaman, and is also a teacher and an actor.
Born in the upper Altai Mountains in western Mongolia, the youngest son of a Tuvan shaman, Galsan majored in German studies at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig, East Germany (1962-1968). He did his thesis work under Erwin Strittmatter, and upon graduation began to work as a German teacher at the National University of Mongolia. In 1976 his teaching license was revoked because of his "political untrustworthiness". He continued to work twelve-hour shifts, shuttling between all four of the Mongolian universities. In 1980, at the age of 36, Galsan was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He later recovered from the condition and credits his "shamanic powers" and plenty of exercise for saving his life.
Today, the author spends most of the year at his home in the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bator, together with his family of nearly 20. He also spends much time giving readings in the German-speaking world and across Europe, as well as seeking to get closer to his Tuvan roots in the western Mongolian steppes. Though he still writes mainly in German, his books have been translated into many other languages. In addition to his writing, Galsan is an activist for the Tuvan minority and practices shamanistic healing.
Born in the upper Altai Mountains in western Mongolia, the youngest son of a Tuvan shaman, Galsan majored in German studies at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig, East Germany (1962-1968). He did his thesis work under Erwin Strittmatter, and upon graduation began to work as a German teacher at the National University of Mongolia. In 1976 his teaching license was revoked because of his "political untrustworthiness". He continued to work twelve-hour shifts, shuttling between all four of the Mongolian universities. In 1980, at the age of 36, Galsan was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He later recovered from the condition and credits his "shamanic powers" and plenty of exercise for saving his life.
Today, the author spends most of the year at his home in the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bator, together with his family of nearly 20. He also spends much time giving readings in the German-speaking world and across Europe, as well as seeking to get closer to his Tuvan roots in the western Mongolian steppes. Though he still writes mainly in German, his books have been translated into many other languages. In addition to his writing, Galsan is an activist for the Tuvan minority and practices shamanistic healing.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 6, 2022
Beaucoup aimé ce roman qui nous entraîne dans une tribu nomade de la Mongolie au 20e siècle.
August 31, 2024
Un roman fascinant sur les traditions de ce peuple nomade, qui se perdent peu à peu. À la fois beau et dur, c'était une plongée dans un monde inconnu.
December 21, 2025
A beautifully told story, showing the traditions, beliefs, and way of life of the nomadic Mongolian people. It is also a story of hardship, suffering, and resilience, with beautiful descriptions of the landscapes. The problem is that the plot jumps back and forth in time, where present and past blend into the same paragraph, making it confusing at times. The author's intention is not to tell the saga of a family or group, nor of a specific person, and it remains unclear for much of the book what the main theme is. The ending, although it speaks of an apparently common destiny for these people and their traditions, connecting with what has been told throughout the book, seemed frustrating to me, as it focuses on minor characters in the main story.
Uma história belamente contada, mostrando tradições, crenças e o modo de vida do povo nômade mongol. É também uma história de dificuldades, sofrimento e resiliência, com belas descrições das paisagens. O problema é que o enredo tem várias idas e vindas no tempo, onde presente e passado se mesclam no mesmo parágrafo, fazendo com que soe confuso algumas vezes. A intenção do autor não é contar a saga de uma família ou grupo, nem de uma pessoa específica, não ficando claro durante boa parte qual seria o tema principal. O final, ainda que fale de um destino aparentemente comum desse povo e de suas tradições, encadeando com o que foi contado durante todo o livro, me pareceu frustrante, já que se foca em personagens menores da historia principal.
Uma história belamente contada, mostrando tradições, crenças e o modo de vida do povo nômade mongol. É também uma história de dificuldades, sofrimento e resiliência, com belas descrições das paisagens. O problema é que o enredo tem várias idas e vindas no tempo, onde presente e passado se mesclam no mesmo parágrafo, fazendo com que soe confuso algumas vezes. A intenção do autor não é contar a saga de uma família ou grupo, nem de uma pessoa específica, não ficando claro durante boa parte qual seria o tema principal. O final, ainda que fale de um destino aparentemente comum desse povo e de suas tradições, encadeando com o que foi contado durante todo o livro, me pareceu frustrante, já que se foca em personagens menores da historia principal.
January 20, 2024
Początkowo lektura przyciąga egzotycznością. Jest pierwsza połowa XX wieku, poznajemy pasterski, koczowniczy naród Tuwińców zamieszkujących zamieszkujących pogranicze Mongolii, Syberii i Chin. Wraz ze swoimi stadami zamieszkują piękne, choć trudne tereny. W miarę lektury zauważyłam taze, że autor opisuje swoich różnorodnych bohaterów z dużą życzliwością. Nawet nieco poboczne postacie mają coś co je wyróżnia, oraz czas "szczytu życia", w którym są szczęśliwe, żyją jego pełnią, czy to w dzieciństwie, czy w późniejszym okresie. Dodatkowo główna historia, nie jest wcale zdeaktualizowana, mimo opowiada bowiem o procesie powstawania patchworkowej rodziny. Mimo wielu opisanych zbrodnii- wojny, niewoli gwałtów - autor wierzy, że życie przetrwa, choć być może w zmienionej, nietradycyjnej już formie.
Autor - Galsan Tschinag (ur. jako Irgit Shynykbai-oglu Dshurukuwaa) urodził się w górach Ałtaju w rodzinie pasterskiej, jako najmłodszy syn tuwińskiego szamana. Ukończył szkołę średnią w Ułan Bator, a następnie w latach 1962–1966 studiował germanistykę w Lipsku (NRD) na tamtejszym uniwersytecie. Pisze w języku niemieckim i mongolskim.
Autor - Galsan Tschinag (ur. jako Irgit Shynykbai-oglu Dshurukuwaa) urodził się w górach Ałtaju w rodzinie pasterskiej, jako najmłodszy syn tuwińskiego szamana. Ukończył szkołę średnią w Ułan Bator, a następnie w latach 1962–1966 studiował germanistykę w Lipsku (NRD) na tamtejszym uniwersytecie. Pisze w języku niemieckim i mongolskim.
May 31, 2017
[#42 Mongolia] I really liked this read, mainly because of its atmosphere. Since the beginning of this book world tour, I've been particularly touched by the mountainous landscapes of Central Asia, from the Himalaya to the Caucasus passing by the Pamir. So I felt pretty confident starting this book which takes place both in the steppe of Mongolia and on the slope of the Altay mountains.
I really liked learning more on the Mongolian culture, their habits, their belief, but also on the struggle against hunger and war. The characters were endearing although they were a little too many for a book this size, which prevented me to really connect to the story because the point of view kept going back and forth.
I really liked learning more on the Mongolian culture, their habits, their belief, but also on the struggle against hunger and war. The characters were endearing although they were a little too many for a book this size, which prevented me to really connect to the story because the point of view kept going back and forth.
August 22, 2021
Un récit beau et dur, où surgissent des figures de mères qui meurent et de mères qui tuent. Le rêve et la mémoire s'entrelacent pour raconter un monde qui disparaît lentement — les chants perdurent mais n'agissent plus, le temps des chamanes est révolu, des peuples s'en vont et d'autres s'en viennent... mais la terre reste, comme une consolation.
December 7, 2022
3.5 wydaje mi się, ze nie zrozumiałam tej książki w całości wiec za jakiś czas będę czytała ja jeszcze raz aby zobaczyć co mi umknęło
February 17, 2016
3.5/5, according to my memories. Should reread it soon!
Update: still 3.5/5, but more enthusiastic than previously.
Update: still 3.5/5, but more enthusiastic than previously.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews