{"id":531,"date":"2015-03-03T09:06:13","date_gmt":"2015-03-03T08:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/?p=531"},"modified":"2025-09-06T22:33:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T20:33:54","slug":"ein-letzter-tag-unendlichkeit-lucien-deprijck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/2015\/03\/ein-letzter-tag-unendlichkeit-lucien-deprijck\/","title":{"rendered":"Ein letzter Tag Unendlichkeit \u2022 Lucien Deprijck"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

It wasn\u2019t that long ago that I read my first book by Lucien Deprijck. The Islands Where I\u2019m Stranded<\/em> was published by Mare Verlag, which for me was already a mark of quality \u2014 a promise that the book would be excellent. And that turned out to be true, so I was eager to read Deprijck\u2019s latest novel, this time published by the Swiss Unionsverlag. And it\u2019s right at home there, for the novel revolves around a pleasure cruise on Lake Zurich.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The book spans exactly one day, during which the poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock embarks on a boat excursion across Lake Zurich together with a group of ladies and gentlemen. A single day on the lake \u2014 can that possibly work as a novel? Yes, it can \u2014 and it does so beautifully.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Let\u2019s say it plainly: Deprijck can write. This book once again proves it impressively. His command of language, the long, elegant sentences, his ability to conjure a vivid scene from nothing \u2014 using not too few, but not too many words \u2014 make this novel an absolute pleasure to read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ein letzter Tag Unendlichkeit<\/em> is also a painting of sorts, for it strongly evokes the art of the 18th century \u2014 the era in which the story is set. Deprijck skillfully weaves his exquisite descriptions of nature, of the lake, of the small Au Peninsula, and of the shifting times of day into the social mood of his pleasure-seeking characters. For the reader, the book itself becomes a delightful excursion \u2014 one feels transported to another place and time, savoring the summer view across the lake toward the Alps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

But Deprijck goes a step further. He doesn\u2019t merely guide the reader through nature and into the company of these pleasure travelers; he also offers philosophical, theological, and metaphysical reflections, brought to life in vivid dialogues between the poet Klopstock and his companions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One especially striking conversation takes place between Klopstock and Anna, discussing the paradox between Abraham\u2019s unfulfilled sacrifice of Isaac and the destiny of the Messiah. It ties beautifully to Klopstock\u2019s own epic poem The Messiah<\/em>, which the poet \u2014 the most prominent figure among the travelers \u2014 recites from throughout the novel. Through Anna\u2019s almost blasphemous doubts, Deprijck mirrors the borderline hedonistic tone of the pleasure cruise, with its hints of partner swapping and moral looseness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A lovely passage that perfectly illustrates how poetically Deprijck infuses nature with a philosophical touch:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Above her, there was a soft rustling. Something swirled through the branches \u2014 seemingly the wind. But it was not the wind. It was something that drifted gently with the breeze, something ancient, something eternal: the knowledge of all things. This knowledge was always there, always and everywhere; it knew everything that had ever happened and all that was yet to come, even everything that could ever have been. It whispered among the trees, inaudible to humankind, glided through the branches, and now brushed gently across Anna\u2019s face.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Anna often reminded me of Emma Bovary at the beginning of her journey \u2014 similarly enthusiastic in her faith. Of course, the novel\u2019s focus isn\u2019t on theology as such. Rather, the reader accompanies the group of pleasure travelers through light, fleeting conversations that never last long, usually interrupted by the next stop along their voyage. This makes for a charming, leisurely reading experience \u2014 the relaxed, buoyant mood and gentle sense of ease immediately wash over the reader.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to its reflections on nature, philosophy, and theology, the book also touches upon the era\u2019s social milieu \u2014 clothing, living conditions, artistic pursuits, and even the private destinies of individual travelers \u2014 but always with a light hand that invites reflection without delving too deep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here\u2019s another beautiful passage, perfectly representative of the novel\u2019s tone and the spirit of the journey it depicts:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Human beings had grown beyond nature, according to God\u2019s plan and His infinite wisdom \u2014 and yet returning to her embrace was an intoxicating feeling. It was as though one were satisfying a longing that had long gone unnoticed, a kind of desire recognized only in the moment of its fulfillment. Almost an entire life spent in enclosed rooms, in narrow streets and alleys, in studies, parlors, and carriages \u2014 and then here, in the open air, in sunshine, heat, and wind, dining beneath the open sky, beneath the luminous canopy of oaks \u2014 so beautiful, so pleasantly intoxicated by wine, with feelings of friendship and devotion in the heart, fluttering toward the fairest of the ladies. To see only beauty, to feel only beauty, to cast off all burdens, and to forget everything that was wearying or sorrowful.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Conclusion:<\/strong> Reading this book was a delight. Although not much \u201chappens\u201d and there is no grand plot, the language \u2014 the elegance of the sentences, the vivid and precise descriptions of nature and the lake \u2014 is a joy to experience. The atmosphere quickly takes hold, and one feels part of the company, longing for nothing more than to indulge in idleness, wine, and princely feasts. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book \u2014 especially in winter, when one feels that persistent longing for the beauty of summer days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Book information:<\/strong> Ein letzter Tag Unendlichkeit<\/em> \u2022 Lucien Deprijck \u2022 Unionsverlag \u2022 240 pages \u2022 ISBN 9783293004832<\/p>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It wasn\u2019t that long ago that I read my first book by Lucien Deprijck. The Islands Where I\u2019m Stranded was published by Mare Verlag, which for me was already a mark of quality \u2014 a promise that the book would be excellent. And that turned out to be true, so I was eager to read … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Ein letzter Tag Unendlichkeit \u2022 Lucien Deprijck”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Ein letzter Tag Unendlichkeit \u2022 Lucien Deprijck - lesestunden","description":"Es ist noch gar nicht so lange her, da habe ich mein erstes Buch von\u00a0Lucien Deprijck gelesen. Die Inseln, auf denen ich strande ist im Mare Verlag erschienen un"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,20],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-reviews","tag-lucien-deprijck"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/gewinnspiel_ein_letzter_tag_unendlichkeit.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}