Bottom's Dream discussion

Let us know what you've read of Schmidt. What you know of Schmidt. Why the h-e-l-l you're h-e-r-e. Kind of thing.

But seriously, welcome.

To help get yourself oriented, check out some of the other Schmidt=stoff on gr ::

@Completist Club :
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

@ The BURIED Book Club :
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
&
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And the gr Community Book Pages have some great stuff. Esp. of the BookPorn variety :
Bottom's Dream
Evening Edged in Gold

Well, Nathan brought him to my attention a year or so ago, and I read The Collected Stories of Arno Schmidt (Schmidt, Arno, Selections. V. 3.) and enjoyed it immensely. I have more of the Dalkeys on my shelf and intend to read them soon.

I am here simply to share the delight.

Can't say for sure when I first heard about Arno Schmidt, must be years ago. But I never actually read him. It's a shame, I know. Last June I found the facsimile edition (used) of Zettel's Traum on used books site for a affordable proce, ordered it, and...failed to get it because the provider, this Poe=hole, withdrew the offer. So I ordered the next best (in terms of price) copy, and this time I succeeded. Before I'm going to read ZT I have to read some other books, and I made a special shelf for this called zt-and-preparation.
Up until know I only read two novels from the collection Geschichten aus Deutschland: Aus dem Leben eines Fauns and Brand's Heide. I also have Die Gelehrtenrepublik and Arno Schmidt als Fotograf.
Looking forward to discuss all Schmidt-related stuff here.

Thanks for the invite, Nathan!

Welcome Michael! Excellent to have a veteran Schmidtianer among us!

Also, welcome to Jonathan and Matt! And all others joining.

Hi! I have a read a number of books by Our Dear Arno, and am currently reading-not-reading School For Atheists (sidetracked!). My Arno Schmidt claim to fame is that I possess an Evening Edged in Gold signed by John E. Woods hisdamnself. I haven't looked forward to a book release as much as I am looking forward to Bottom's Dream in I dunno how long. This will be a very pleasant group indeed.

I just started reading Schmidt this year and have already enjoyed Faun, Stony Heart, and am half way through M/Boondocks - which depicts in part what would happen to Western culture in the event we were forced to colonize the moon but forgot to bring any James Joyce with us. I'm looking forward to our communal bewilderment.

Mark wrote: "Nothing, but not for lack of trying. Already had two copies of one of the Dalkey volumes lost in transit, so joining the group to combat superstition."

It's a conspiracy! I had a shipment of Evenings Edged in Gold canceled on me too.

Heard about him through the Nathan-grape-vine on here, and have since seen him pop up as a point of reference, most pleasantly surprisingly in Bolaño's 2666. I picked up Nobodaddy's Children as well as the Two Novels (The Stony Heart & B/Moondocks) for deep discounts at The Strand ($6 a pop, since they have probably been sitting in Strand since they were initially published). So far I've only read Scenes From the Life of a Faun, but enjoyed Schmidt's prose (and punctuation) immensely. Will be finishing up Nobodaddy's Children and onto the rest soon—my alumni library privileges at CUNY seems to promise me access to one of the scarce copies of Evening Edged in Gold which I will hopefully be able to take advantage of pre-Zettels Traum.

I used to read Arno Schmidt fervently back in my teenage days (which was... some time ago), and actually gave Zettels Traum as a present to myself on finishing my A-levels. He was a huge influence on me back then, and I can cite his opinion on a wide range of subjects even today. I haven't actually read anything by him for a long time now, which is rather sad and which I've been meaning to remedy for quite some time; hopefully joining this group will inspire to finally dust off some of those Schmidt volumes and give them another read. :)

I read Faun back in the 90's and have not returned to Arno since, yet I have 2 volumes sitting on my bookshelf. Time to reverse this unfortunate course I am on...

I've just commented over in the Evening section, but thought I ought to properly say hello!

I've been reading Schmidt off and on in haphazard fashion for a number of years, although I'm not really sure when or how I first came upon him. I've read most of the short stories and novellas, all the available radio dialogues (wasn't Green Integer to put out a third volume at one time?), B/Moondocks, and am currently enjoying School for Atheists.

I work at an academic library, and have access to all of Schmidt's books in German. I don't read German, mind you, but it's still nice to look! That said, I've dutifully pre-ordered Bottom's Dream, and like everyone else am hoping Dalkey does not delay it yet again.

Hello all. After over half a dozen years of regular checking in on Bottom's Dream news, I was very happy to see it has what appears to be a for-real Amazon page, unlike that ISBN red herring last year (which also included a trick Evening ISBN - the shame!). I noticed today that the current one lists it as a "Big edition," which sounds promising (and implies an adulterated mini-version?).

I've read Woods's translations many times over - even switched out my old Dalkey editions for the better-looking redesigns when they came out (I am a sucker for a good-looking book).

And this seems like the crew to ask: I recall Woods saying that after ZT, he's done with the Schmidt translations. Is there evidence of any brave and foolhardy persons out there who intend to tackle Schmidt's remaining work?

Well=come all!

Between Coasts wrote: "I recall Woods saying that after ZT, he's done with the Schmidt translations. Is there evidence of any brave and foolhardy persons out there who intend to tackle Schmidt's remaining work? "

I've seen no such evidence! But, too, how much more is there to trans? There's the incomplete Julia and there's a bunch more Radio pieces. But I think most of the fiction's been done.

Here's the article where he says he's retiring after ZT :
http://www.thelocal.de/20100610/27489
Which is appropriate ;; beginning his career with Evening and ending in a Dream.

I guess it's primarily Julia I'm thinking on. I want all the Big Books! Unfinishedness has never discouraged me, untranslatedness another business. But I feel like there are some untranslated stories, as well? I could be mistaken there, it's been a minute since I've looked at those.

I wouldn't be opposed to simply seeing Evening reissued. Some of us Schmidtians are paupers (in the true Schmidtian mode)!

In fact, I emailed Dalkey about five years ago asking about that very topic and got the following response: "We don't have any immediate plans [to reissue it,] though it's certainly on our 'to-do' list. Will be a few years, I imagine, before we can get to it."

And hey, here we are, a few years later, with the long-awaited ZT here to distract us while they sneak in a reissue...

Hello,

I am Klaus and a german.

I was especially interested if the nonsense of Schmidt about logarithms in Die Wundertüte, are true. They are true but far from clear. He does not want us to join. I know only one other logarithm interested person. Therein Die Fremden /The Strangers are the best novel. A juvenile transporting his Kant under his arm is a picture of me.

Then I like Fouqué, a georgous biography.
Nobodaddy's Children is ok. Especially the explosion in Brands Haide
I cannot afford Zettels Traum. My reachable exemplar is 435 km away. We would be glad if it costs only 70,- but here it is 350,-. That is not popular.

I am not keen in discovering Schmidts quotes as I do not esteem them constituting as others do. Now I suppose a Call and Response like approach: Schmidt calls - a Quote answers an vice versa.

I just tried some schmidtlike post in my blog.

I am still reading the Heart of Stone.

The only thing about Zettels Traum I know now, is that it is about Poe (some kind of logic), translation und schmidtdumb erotics.

My interesst is more in Schmidt being an upright man, somehow humourous and what is Camus to the French, telling us to have no fear.

Cheers K.

Will=komme, Klaus! Happy to have another German among us. And I'll be setting to work back trans'ing ZT into proper translator's Deutsch-ah very soon ;; with a pfenny paperback edition from that Gelbe Verlag.

Klaus wrote: "Then I like Fouqué, a georgous biography."

Who was born today in 1777. Happy Birthday, Motte :)

Hey, everyone. Cheers for the invite. I haven't found anyone IRL that has heard of Schmidt, so it's cool to get to talk about him here. I got his name from Bolaño's 2666, in the Archimboldi section. That section led me to another Germanic, Alfred Döblin, for which I'm truly grateful. Schmidt seems more of the Döblin type than the Thomas Mann type. I was wholly unprepared for The Collected Novellas but managed to chew into The Egghead Republic and found it a very interesting and joyous experience, different than the average novel that exists. Evening Edged in Gold might be one of my favorite titles ever. Impossible to find however. Maybe this is about to change?

Cymru wrote: "I got his name from Bolaño's 2666, in the Archimboldi section."

One of my all time favorite name=drops!

Wellcome.

We've just recently come to hope for a Dalkey of Evening. Would be sweet!

Hi there! I'm Bernie, from Ireland, living in Hamburg.

I have been a Schmidt-enthusiast for some time and read (I think) all the translations, and some again in the original. A few years ago I had the idea of making a radio and/or tv documentary on Schmidt to coincide with the release of BD - I spent about a year (2010-2011) unsuccessfully pitching the idea to Irish, British, American and German international channels (it was too "niche-interest" for their viewers/listeners). I backed off from the project in the end in the hopes that someone else would run with it. My concept was a bit too "artsy" as I suggested some dramatic recreations of key moments in Schmidt's life and work.

I did a good amount of research, however, and have met with John E. Woods, the Stiftung, various academics and fans. I am looking to present the "backstory" of BD in mid-September as a simplified essay on my blog. I am hoping the Stiftung will agree to my "Schmidt for Idiots" approach, but I would like to see his work gain wider understanding and appreciation.

In 2011 I recreated the protagonist's bike ride from "Dark Mirrors" - Lüneburg Heath to Hamburg - reading the novella along the way. I haven't given up on the idea of a radio piece, just shelved.

I'll keep you posted!

Bernie

Bernie - have you looked into anyone sponsoring a sort of short-run Schmidtian podcast? The idea sounds really interesting and I'd love to know if you're ever able to get it off the ground.

Bernie wrote: "I'll keep you posted!"

Yes=yes please do!

I'm jumping on board, with only a month until "Bottom's Dream" gets mailed to the pre-order crew I'm starting to get a little excited.

As a blogger who primarily focuses on fiction that is translated into English, another "challenge" for me now awaits. Blog is Messybooker.blogspot.com for those who are interested.

I am thinking of setting up a multi contributor blog (outside of here) for readers of "Bottom's Dream" to encourage each other, post questions, progress, media links etc. a sort of notebook for those of us who will take a significant time to get through this work. More on that another time.

So basically I'm here to see other's thoughts, progress, frustrations, wins etc. May 23 September soon arrive!!

Tonymess wrote: "I'm jumping on board, with only a month until "Bottom's Dream" gets mailed to the pre-order crew I'm starting to get a little excited. "

Welcome!

Hello fellow Schmidtheads!

I am brand spanking new to the world of AS; N.R. has never led me astray with new writers and I'm very much looking forward to joining you stalwarts on this journey.

Question: should I break my cherry on Bottom's Dream or should I start with another of his works - and if that is the right course, which one should I read? Thanks!

Brian wrote: "Question: should I break my cherry on Bottom's Dream or should I start with another of his works - and if that is the right course, which one should I read? Thanks! "

Both! Reading Bottom's Dream, so I've heard, is probably closest to reading an encyclopedia. I wouldn't really suggest break=necking it from beginning to end. Any of Dalkey's four volumes would do well. The novella "Republica Intelligensia" collected in Collected Novellas: Collected Early Fiction 1949-1964 is pretty classic Schmidt (as are others in there). His The Collected Stories of Arno Schmidt provides a nice developo=chronological reading, landing you more or less at the dense doorsteps of BD. And just to be complete here, both Two Novels: The Stony Heart and B/Moondocks and Nobodaddy's Children: Scenes from the Life of a Faun, Brand's Heath, Dark Mirrors are excellent places to start. And of course School for Atheists: A Novella = Comedy in 6 Acts is a great/readable entry into Schmidts' massive type=script novels (which is what BD is too). {and for good readers like yourself, I like to always remind of Schmidt=AS=Reader ; his two Radio Dialogue books :: Radio Dialogs I: Evening Programs.}

"Both" is the correct answer. I also fully advocate breaknecking through BD (before going through it again at regularneck speed).

I like the Collected Novellas or Nobodaddy's Children as an intro to Schmidt in general and The School for Atheists as a prep for BD, being something of a little baby brother to it.

I haven't read any Schmidt yet, so started School for Atheists as my prep for BD. I picked up the Collected Novellas, but figured there wasn't time for both before BD, so thought I might as well get used to the format.

Hi, I'm Reuben.

I'm here because I love wading through dense, obscure, arcane books & I really really enjoyed the Collected Novellas of Schmidt. ZT should be arriving at my door-step less than a week before my 20th birthday, and a whole 8 days before I begin university. There's little doubt that I will have to wait until Christmas break to actually start reading this thing, but I consider spending my 20th Christmas with Schmidt to be an exciting prospect.

In the mean time, what would you suggest my next step be: The Collected Stories? Either of the novels? Just something to tide me over the coming months while ZT sits on a shelf at home.

Read the complete Poe if you haven't

Oh! I was meaning to do that anyway but thank you for the reminder, there's a nice copy in my local used book shop.

Is there any particular Schmidt you'd recommend for the interim period though?

Guten Tag, heavyweights of Goodreads. Availing myself of the opportunity to here, publicly and in writing, thank you for inspiring me to abandon my slackerhood. Your updates flow over my feed and I ask myself, "When will I pull up my sox and, like, give myself scoliosis carrying around the big ones?" Well friends, the answer is that Bottom's Dream is when. Placing my order presently.

Seriously though, for people I don't actually know, you show up in my thoughts a lot. In the best ways.

hello all. I feel as though I am way over my head with this but I see no better time to jump in than when excitement for this work is at a high and English readers everywhere will be tackling this beast at the same time. I just received BD in the mail today and it is certainly a monolith.

I've never read AS before; BD arrived today and it's huge!!!

Paul wrote: "I've never read AS before; BD arrived today and it's huge!!!"

Welcome aboard! Diving in the deep end!

Well I sort of have water wings as I've ordered Langbehn's analysis as it's now out in paperback.

Paul wrote: "Well I sort of have water wings as I've ordered Langbehn's analysis as it's now out in paperback."

I know I mentioned this in my review of it - but personally I'd recommend checking if you can inter-library-loan the Arno Schmidt Review of Contemporary fiction. You'll find it more helpful than the Langbehn (though, by all means read that as well).

Ronald wrote: "Paul wrote: "Well I sort of have water wings as I've ordered Langbehn's analysis as it's now out in paperback."

I know I mentioned this in my review of it - but personally I'd recommend checking i..."

I just put in for the ILL because I've been looking to purchase a copy for 2 years now and am just going to have to deal with it...

I'm going to scan the entire book.

Nothing but smiles from me as I opened BD for the first time today! Excited to be following along with all of you.

I'm still waiting for more back-up in the ranks... I appear to be one of the only ones reading it right now (except Ronald, who is a beast and has already finished the damn thing).

Nick I am only fifteen pages into my journey and am more than happy to swap notes, thoughts, confusions, motivations. I will get to another 10-15 pages in the coming days, planning on that sort of pace every week.

I too could promise a good 15-20 pages weekly on top of other reading if you all are really interested in getting a discussion/airing-out-of-ideas going.

Feel free to start Threads in the Folder for the first chapter ::
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
for organizational purposes I suggest beginning the Thread title with a page number so we know where you're at. I'll be late joyn'in y'all.

I sent in a request to Dalkey Archive to consider putting out the calculations from the Review of Contemporary Fiction on their website as a casebook. No reply yet, but I figured it couldn't hurt. I just sent the email to their general contact email.

Good hello all...

As my copy of BD should be arriving tomorrow...I thought I might seek out a group of similarly insane individuals getting ready to plumb and pillage this prose-work. Although this is my first exposure to Schmidt...I was drawn by the fact that many reviews mentioned Finnegans Wake...

Having swum the Wake quite a few times...I was curious about BD. As to "Etyme" I have found much enjoyable playtime in the past in such notions...didn't realize Schmidt had coined the term. (As an aside...I can't help but play devils advocate and make the comment: etyme?emtye)
kidding kidding :)

I don't know what I can bring to the table besides my somewhat skewed way of thinking (joycean)...but hell...that might come in handybasket

I'm about 30 pages in and am enjoying the ride. Using the Untranslated blog for a guide, not as daunting as I thought. Sure it's dense, but it's a hell of a laugh. More so than FW. Helped that I'd just finised a complete Poe :)

I've a PDF of the Langbehn knocking about somewhere if anyone fancies it.

My copy came today...thru Amazon. Unfortunately the top corner and all pages inside at top are dented about 2 inches circumference ...bottom cover is dented, but pages inside at bottom are ok. I would normally complain but seeing as my copy was free for me...can't really say much. Will commence reading tomorrow.

I decided NOT to use any guides...or the weekly reviews from 'the untranslated'. I find, for me, that if i have a guide besides me i will accept THEIR interpretation...which tends to then lock my brain into not thinking further and make my OWN connections. Perhaps after my first readthrough i may go back and cull info from other sources...

Its my belief that NO ONE has a complete, 100% insight into a work..besides the author him/her self. People (and brains, for that matter) tend to create connections because its how we are hard-wired....we HAVE to create a complete pattern...even if one doesn't truly exist. The brain is insidious that way. So...by not using anyone else's particular "map"...i am then free to create my own interpretation...free from outside influence. I might be severely wrong when i post my thoughts..but thats the nature of a discussion group anyway...right? PLEASE feel free to point out my errors...i respect and welcome them...

That said...let's get this train rolling!