My First Wife
My First Wife by Jakob Wassermann, published by Penguin Books in 2013, is a poignant exploration of a marriage and its eventual disintegration. This edition, available in English and spanning 275 pages, presents the story of Alexander Herzog, a young writer who relocates to Vienna to escape his financial troubles and a past romance. There, he encounters Ganna, a spirited and unpredictable woman whose devotion and substantial dowry initially attract him. However, as their relationship unfolds, Herzog realizes that he cannot control Ganna’s intense passions, leading to a tumultuous marriage.
Readers will find a narrative steeped in biographical elements, reflecting the author’s own experiences. The novel delves into themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships, showcasing the emotional turmoil that arises when expectations clash with reality. With its vivid character portrayals and dramatic developments, My First Wife offers a detailed account of the struggles within a marriage, ultimately revealing the depths of Ganna’s determination and the consequences of Herzog’s choices. This translation by Michael Hofmann brings Wassermann’s intense storytelling to a new audience, inviting them to engage with the intricacies of love and loss.
Official synopsis Publisher
My First Wife is Jakob Wassermann’s intense, powerful account of a marriage – and its ruinous collapse – translated by the award-winning translator of Alone in Berlin, Michael Hofmann.
It is the story of Alexander Herzog, a young writer, who goes to Vienna to escape his debts and a failed love affair. There he is pursued by book-loving Ganna: giddy, girlish, clumsy, eccentric and wild. Dazzled and unnerved by her devotion to him, and attracted to the large dowry offered by her wealthy father, he thinks he can mould Ganna into what he wants. But no-one can control her troubling passions. As their marriage starts to self-destruct, Herzog will discover that Ganna has resources and determination of which he had no idea – and that he can never escape her.
Posthumously published in 1934 and based on the author Jakob Wassermann’s own ruinous marriage, My First Wife bears the unmistakable aura of true and bitter experience. It is a tragic masterpiece that unfolds in shocking detail. Now this story of rare intensity and drama is brought to English readers in a powerful new translation by Michael Hofmann.
Reviews:
‘Like something out of Chekhov – it’s all there, the ennui, the preening etiquette, the intellectual posturing … painfully heartfelt … My First Wife is a devastating indictment of the choices we make out of convenience against our hearts and instincts, and the tragedies that ensue’ Independent
‘You won’t find a more agonising, fascinating literary account of a marriage hitting the rocks’ Mail Online
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