Post-scriptum

by Alain Claude Sulzer

Dans les années 1930, Lionel Kupfer, star du jeune cinéma allemand, vient se reposer dans un palace des montagnes suisses pour attendre son prochain tournage. C'est l'hiver et il s'ennuie, jusqu'au jour où il rencontre Walter, le postier du village, qui devient très vite son amant. Ce qui pour Kupfer est une simple aventure sera pour Walter la grand amour de sa vie.
Mais Hitler vient de prendre le pouvoir et bientôt Kupfer apprend qu'il ne pourra plus tourner car il est juif. Il s'exile alors aux États-Unis, en même temps que les célèbres cinéastes juifs allemands qui feront la gloire d'Hollywood. Après la guerre, les amants d'un jour se croiseront dans un avion mais l'un comme l'autre, par élégance ou par sagesse, préféreront ne pas se reconnaître.
Alain Claude Sulzer retrouve ici l'empathie avec ses personnages qui faisait le charme poignant d'Un garçon parfait. Il sait comme personne décrire avec délicatesse les amours impossibles ou la différence est moins dans le sexe que dans l'âge et la condition sociale.

278 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2015

About the author

Alain's first novel was published in 1983 and he has since written four furthur novels, including Annas Maske (2001) and numerous short stories. A Perfect Waiter is his first novel to be published in English. He lives in the Alsace region of France.

Reviews

[Claudio Saavedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite make my mind about this book. Somehow it was much more difficult to read through than other of Sulzer's novels. The different storylines felt too disconnected from each other, and while they were all interesting in themselves, the looseness made it difficult for me to see the wholeness of it all. I was ready to give this book two stars at most, until I read the postscript, which managed to convince me that this book deserved a bit better.

As usual with Sulzer novels, homosexual romance in times of rampant homophobia and taboo are a central part of the story. There is also grieving and loss, another common component of his works, as well as simple people whose lives see a sudden romantic high come and go, leaving them in their solitude and simpleness again. While the characters, settings, and circumstances vary considerably, the underlying feel of the book repeats, making me feel that I have read this book already in his previous works.

If my memory and my limited command of German serve me well, I have to admit that Sulzer's prose and language are growing rich and more challenging for a non-native like myself. While Zur falschen Zeit and Ein perfekter Kellner were easier to read, 'Postskriptum' was definitely more challenging. Perhaps one day I'll read this book again, if my German has developed enough for me to give this book a more educated chance. We will see how I feel about it then.

[anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 sterne


ich fands actually bisschen langweilig und low paced aber es hat halt auch keinen wirklichen plot, weshalb ich das nicht so als kritischen point sehe

die character waren sehr ahnbar und generell auch sehr real gehalten. ich habs schon enjoyed aber es hat bisschen der sparkle gefehlt

[Niccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr ergreifend, melancholisch und für mich auch ein wenig deprimierend. Sprachlich sehr schön. Der Schluss hat mir nicht so zugesagt, hat meiner Meinung nach die Stimmung der Geschichte zu sehr aufgebrochen.

[Thomas Heimgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Künstlerroman über das Vergebliche und das Vergängliche, das Verlangen und das Vergessen. Fein gearbeitet.

[Jari Del Sorbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lionel Kupfer raccontato come bambino che assiste alla morte del fratello, star del cinema tedesco all'apice della notorietà in villeggiatura sulle alpi svizzere in quel fatale inverno del 1933 ed attore prima in declino e alla fine di nuovo sui palcoscenici nella New York nel dopo guerra. Figura tormentata fra amori passionali e contrastanti, logorato da ricordi e aspettative tradite. C'è un senso di amara tristezza e disillusione che serpeggia fra le pagine di questo romanzo di godibilissima lettura. Meritano le frequenti citazioni e richiami a film, registi e attrici dell'epoca.

[Gilles Russeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel écrivain...A partir d'une rencontre furtive entre un comédien célèbre et un postier dans la Suisse des années 1930, il trace une fresque intimiste sur le XXe siècle, le temps qui passe, les solitudes qui se frôlent