Het leven van de ander

by Hugo Hamilton, Dirk-Jan Arensman (Translator)

1945. At the end of the Second World War, a young mother loses her two-year-old boy in the bombings of Berlin. She flees to the south, where her father finds among the refugee trains a young foundling of the same age to replace his grandson. He makes his daughter promise never to tell anyone, including her husband--still fighting on the Russian front--that the boy is not her own. Nobody will know the difference. 2008. Gregor Liedmann is a Jewish man now in his sixties. He is an aging rocker who ran away from home, a trumpet player, and a revolutionary stone-thrower left over from the 1968 protests. On a single day spent gathering fruit in an orchard outside Berlin with family and friends, Gregor looks back over his life, sifting through fact and memory in order to establish the truth. What happened on that journey south in the final days of the war? Why did his grandfather Emil disappear, and why did the gestapo torture Uncle Max? Here, in the calmness of the orchard, along with his ex-wife Mara and son Daniel, Gregor tries to unlock the secrets of his past.

Genres: Fiction, World War II, Irish Literature, War, Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Hugo Hamilton is an Irish writer.

Hamilton's mother was a German who travelled to Ireland in 1949 for a pilgrimage, married an Irishman, and settled in the country. His father was a militant nationalist who insisted that his children should speak only German or Irish, but not English, a prohibition the young Hugo resisted inwardly. "The prohibition against English made me see that language as a challenge. Even as a child I spoke to the walls in English and secretly rehearsed dialogue I heard outside," he wrote later.

As a consequence of this, he grew up with three languages - English, Irish and German - and a sense of never really belonging to any: "There were no other children like me, no ethnic groups that I could attach myself to".

Hamilton became a journalist, and then a writer of short stories and novels. His first three novels were set in Central Europe. Then came Headbanger (1996), a darkly comic crime novel set in Dublin and featuring detective Pat Coyne. A sequel, Sad Bastard, followed in 1998.

Following a year spent in Berlin on a cultural scholarship, he completed his memoir of childhood, The Speckled People (2003), which went on to achieve widespread international acclaim. Telling the story through the eyes of his childhood self, it painfully evoked the struggle to make sense of a bizarre adult world. It "triumphantly avoids the Angela's Ashes style of sentimental nostalgia and victim claims," wrote Hermione Lee in the The Guardian . "The cumulative effect is to elevate an act of scrupulous remembering into a work of art," commented James Lasdun in the New York Times. The story is picked up in the 2006 volume, The Sailor in the Wardrobe.

In May 2007, German publisher Luchterhand published Die redselige Insel (The Talkative Island), in which Hamilton retraced the journey Heinrich Böll made in Ireland that was to be the basis of his bestselling book Irisches Tagebuch (Irish Journal) in 1957. Hamilton's most recent novel, Disguise was published on June 6, 2008.

Hugo Hamilton lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ham...

Reviews

[Jelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Disguise” is a poignantly precise title for a novel focused on the various personae our selves consist of.

Sliding smoothly over several decades from the protagonist’s early childhood in World War II, his youth and elderly age, this account is rich in events, but clearly dominated by reminiscence and questioning. Despite some forceful wartime images and lyrical still-life shots, the plot pivots around a deeply personal matter: the protagonist’s pursuit of his own possibly lost identity and the doubt about whether his life can be called his own.

As a contrast to the consuming uncertainty about one’s own self, the controlled pace of the narrative, brought on by a nuanced, patiently constructed language, is haunting. The lack of extreme highs and lows and melodrama helps shed a brighter light on the protagonist and his relationship to other significant characters. So in this sobriety he cannot rely on the reader’s sympathy, but has a rather disagreeable personality, emotionally instable and incapable. So instead of overwhelmed with pathos, we are confronted with the dilemma how we shape our identity and how much of who we are is predeterminated (or inherited through our biological background) or rather our own choice in the search of who we want to be or become. It is just as much a question of history vs. identity or, if you will, identity as the outcome of one’s personal history.

At the end of the road, we would still have to look back with the question if an emotional shut-down is the result of a loss in the past or if the presumable loss is an excuse for self-indulgence.

[Jo Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting idea for the plot, but I couldn't handle the writing style. It felt self-indulgent. I don't normally get frustrated with an author, but I barely made it to the end of this book.

Hated the ending. Rushed, unbelievable, and the ultimate non-reward for getting through to the end.

[Ingrid Fasquelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texte austère sur un sujet grave, Comme Personne s'ouvre sur un champ de ruines dans le Berlin dévasté de la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. C'est là que vit Maria Liedmann, là qu'elle assiste à la fin tragique de Gregor, son fils unique de 3 ans, emporté dans son sommeil pendant un bombardement. Maria décide alors de quitter cette ville, qui n'est autre que le tombeau de son fils et où plus rien ne la retient désormais. Elle rejoint son père, Emil, en route pour le Sud de l'Allemagne, où ils espèrent trouver une paix relative. De la foule des réfugiés surgit un petit garçon qu'Emil recueille et confie à sa fille. "Il venait de trouver sa mère et elle avait retrouvé le fils qu'elle avait perdu." écrit l'auteur. Tout est dit. Maria nomme l'orphelin du nom de son fils défunt et fait à Emil le serment de ne jamais révéler à quiconque sa véritable identité.

Gregor grandit dans les faubourgs de Nuremberg. Mais à l'âge trouble de l'adolescence, il apprend incidemment qu'il a été recueilli à Berlin, à l'âge de 3 ans. S'enclenche alors la quête identitaire d'un homme hanté par ses véritables origines. D'où vient-il ?! Est-il juif comme il semble en être persuadé ?! Comment vivre avec le mensonge qu'a constitué son éducation ?! Autant de questions qui resteront sans réponse et qui pousseront Gregor à abandonner sa famille pour parcourir les routes d'Europe. D'abord à Berlin, à Londres, puis à travers l'Irlande et jusqu'en Grèce, on assiste alors à l'errance d'un homme dans la tourmente, d'un homme sans visage, fragile et perturbé, qui "a grandi avec l'idée qu'il avait été empaillé, tel un animal mort". Vagabondant désespérément dans un monde où il ne trouvera jamais sa place, vivant de petits boulots et s'accrochant désespérément à sa guitare et à la musique, seules capables de lui procurer un refuge et un réconfort, le récit de la vie de Gregor est poignant, bouleversant.

Entre ces pages, qu'habite une perpétuelle tension, les descriptions d'une sympathique partie de campagne entre amis offrent une bulle d'oxygène salvatrice, une respiration bienvenue. On y retrouve Gregor, la cinquantaine avancée, son ex-épouse leur fils et quelques amis communs pour la cueillette des pommes dans la campagne berlinoise. L'écriture, la description des lieux sont superbes, apaisantes. Comme si Gregor, en dépit de trouver les réponses aux questions qui l'ont obsédé toute sa vie, trouvait enfin le chemin d'une paix intérieure au contact de la nature... Ne dit-on pas après tout que la nature est mère de toutes choses ?!

Comme Personne est une confession bouleversante, un roman grave, secret, qui, s'il ne se lit pas facilement, marque profondément celui qui prend le temps de le découvrir. Je remercie Partage Lecture et les Editions Points de me l'avoir fait découvrir.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty damn close to brilliant. It is set in the aftermath of the Holocaust and centers on the life of one man, Gregor, who was a small child during the war and who was raised by his Christian parents in Southern Germany. When he is a teenager, Gregor is told by a family friend that he is not actually the biological child of his parents - that, in fact, the "real" Gregor was killed as a young boy when a bomb hit his home in Berlin and that, in fact, Gregor was a Jewish boy who was found wandering about and adopted by the woman who he has always known as his mother, as a substitute for the Gregor who died, when she flees to the South. (you got that? I'm trying to make this as clear as possible without taking too long). This discovery causes Gregor to redefine himself, to run away from home and create a new life with this new persona as a Jewish foundling of sorts.

The book follows an older Gregor as he examines the life he created for himself and examines his memories to determine what is fact and what is fiction. It explores the nature of identity - how much of who we are is created by us, and how much is, well, who we ARE? - and raises some pretty fascinating questions. This book is a gem, and one that should not be overlooked.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book! Catching style of writing and you start thining about your own identity. Loved it!

[caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is taking me entirely too long to read this book, which leads me to believe I don't really like it even thought I think I like it.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book! Way better than his new stuff!

[Mitchell Waldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting well-written book. The first book I've read by this author. One of the problems I encountered was that the first chapter was so engaging and well-written that the second and those that followed seemed to fall flat. The premise being -- and this is no surprise, given away in that very first chapter -- is that a boy dies in a bomb raid on Berlin in WWII and is substituted by another boy, perhaps a Jewish orphan, under a deep and unwavering secret, leaving the boy wondering throughout his life, and all those around him, as well, who he really is. Is his discovery through memory, without "proof" that he is not the person people think, a fantasy or reality?

After the first, intense chapter, the reading went slow, but picked up speed and became more engaging towards the end of the book, when the reader is looking to see how all the emotional loose ends will be tied up. An emotional read at times, but sometimes the narration seems a little distant. Still, all in all, this is a book I would recommend.

[Mariele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was impressed by the writer's thorough and pervasive insight into this chapter of German history, which is known as The Zero Hour, right after WW II ended, and how the damage done by the Nazis has shaped the survivors for decades to come. Even though he has a German mother, Hamilton was born and raised in Ireland. Nevertheless, his understanding of the emotional turmoil in post-war Germany is profound and stirring. In this respect, the novel is quite a feat.
However, I never quite warmed up to the characters, but this is mainly due to Hamilton's almost 100% omniscient narration. Its effect is a considerable detatchment from the events and characters in the story. Perhaps this was intentional, but it could also be that he prefers to write in this rather old-fashioned style. I liked his autobiography though, and I want to read more of his books - at least one more, to see if he maintains this way of expression throughout. I would give this 3.5 stars if I could, leaning towards four, but not quite.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story taking place at the end of WWII. A young mother loses her child in a bombing in Berlin and finds a child of the same age who has been separated from his Jewish parents. She raised him as her own and keeps the secret. Like most secrets, they come to light at some point and the boy spends his life trying to fit in, find out who he really is all the time his mother who raised him denies the truth.

It was very interesting to see the war from the standpoint of the German people who lost everything.

[OT · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very "real" story. The flashbacks and crossing over of generations going from the main character's grandfather and father who had suffered during WWII, down to children and grandchildren using cell phones is interesting: Time seems to be flexible. It is basically a post-war novel with some of its ramifications: identity seeking, how to cope with trauma, return, loss, silence and secrets.

[Patricia Bracewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tale set in post WWII Germany written by a man with a German mother/Irish father. He grew up in Ireland and was allowed to speak only Gaelic, and his struggles with his own sense of identity are reflected in this novel.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointing after the brilliance of his memoir, The Speckled People. Badly structured - too much undigested 'history' (albeit fascinating), 2D characters, and weak resolution. Hugo can write, but he needs a good editor!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

sol·ip·sism
1 The theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist.
2 Extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one's feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction book about a boy in WWII who may or may not be a German or a Jewish survivor. Good writing, but not as good as the two memoirs by this Irish/German author.

[Ciaran Mcfadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange kind of book from Hugo Hamilton. Struggled through to the end, but not a book I particularly enjoyed. Just seemed to have no real sense of direction and storyline wasn't that interesting.

[Brian Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, with interesting character, and an intriguing timeline.

[Denali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton starts with a simple idea and builds around it so beautifully.

[Marie Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading at page 49! Bored