Well, astonishingly enough, not only have I read some non-fiction for November, I have also managed to read a book which ticks two boxes at once for this month’s challenges! The work in question is “The Legend of the Holy Drinker” by Joseph Roth (translated by Michael Hofmann) – a contender for not only German Literature but also for Novellas in November! Truth be told, at 49 pages of reasonably large sized type, “Legend…” could almost qualify as a short story! But as my copy is published in a separate volume on its own, we’ll count it as a novella, won’t we? ;D
Roth is an author who’s made a number of appearances on the Ramblings; as well as reading his works “The Hotel Savoy” and “Confession of a Murderer (told in one night)“, he also featured in “Summer Before The Dark” and of course has connections with both Irmgard Keun and Stefan Zweig. I have several other works of his lurking on the TBR, but “Legend…” intrigues for a number of reasons. Firstly, its brevity (many of the Roth books are quite long); then there’s the fact that it was Roth’s last work, written just before his death in May 1939. Add to this the fact that the story seems to draw from Roth’s own alcoholism and it becomes irresistible!
The holy drinker of the title is Andreas, a homeless alcoholic living in poverty under the bridges over the Seine in Paris. One evening, a well dressed gentleman presents him with a gift of 200 francs; why, we never know, although the benevolent man seems to be a recent Christian convert. He asks nothing of Andreas except that he repay the debt if he can by returning the money to the Chapelle de Sainte Marie des Batignolles; here, there is a statue of St. Therese of Lisieux, instrumental in the well dressed gentleman’s conversion. This single act of charity seems to transform Andreas’s life; and every time it appears he has lost his money, or is in a difficult situation, a small miracle will save him. Remembering his beneficiary’s kindness, he does indeed try to turn his life around and return the money, although events intervene at every point. Andreas’s life may be edging closer to its end, but at least his last days will be happier ones…
“Legend…” is a quick read, but one which certainly raises more questions than it gives answers! Really, you could interpret the story however you want, because Roth gives no hard and fast explanations for what happens, nor the motivation of Andreas’s benefactor in choosing who to gift the money too. At times it seems that the fates (or the angels or luck or whatever you happen to believe in) are watching out for Andreas – and it was lovely to see him taking joy from his experiences – but nothing is spelled out. Whether these events really *were* miracles, or whether they’re being related by a drink-fuddled unreliable narrator isn’t really clear; but the story certainly makes fascinating reading.
I was left pondering for a long time after reading this; about luck and fate, whether we should try to take control of our lives or just go along with the route events send us on, and whether it’s better to live fast and burn out young. “The Legend of the Holy Drinker” is a fascinating story, particularly as it’s the work Roth chose to spend his last few months writing and refining; and I’m drawn now to explore some of the other books of his I have on the shelf. A fascinating read and I’m glad I picked this up for these two November challenges!
Tredynas Days
Nov 16, 2020 @ 08:07:17
I thought the title was the best thing about this story, and found it less than engaging. Maybe I should have thought about it a bit more, as you evidently have…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 09:59:52
Well, we all respond in different ways, and indeed at different times, to books. I found it thought-provoking and I liked its undefined character – though there’s always the risk, as with any book, that I’m reading too much into it! 😀
Tony
Nov 16, 2020 @ 10:17:09
I really should try some more by Roth as I enjoyed the two I’ve tried (‘Hotel Savoy’ and ‘The Radetzky March’) – maybe next year 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:12:30
I loved Hotel Savoy too, and I have an intriguing collection of his non-fictions – I wonder if I could squeeze that in before the end of the month??
Tony
Nov 16, 2020 @ 21:58:59
Kaggsy – Well, it’s a flexible deadline 😉
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 17, 2020 @ 06:38:22
🤣🤣🤣
It’s Novellas in November time! #NovNov
Nov 16, 2020 @ 12:24:19
heavenali
Nov 16, 2020 @ 13:12:19
A very thought provoking little read. Well done for ticking off two challenges with one book, something I have managed a couple of times this month.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:11:46
It was – a lot to think about for such a small book. And always good to tick off two challenges! 😀
A Life in Books
Nov 16, 2020 @ 13:43:44
This sounds almost like a parable. I know next to nothing about Roth and wondered if he might have known he was dying when he wrote it.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:11:21
It does a bit. And perhaps he sensed the end was near. It certainly is a fascinating tale.
Julé Cunningham
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:08:45
It’s been a long time since I read Joseph Roth and this sounds intriguing in the ideas and questions it raises. Interesting too that it’s the work he spent the time with at this point in his life.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:10:18
It certainly intrigued me, and the fact that it was so short compared with the other works of his I’d read was particularly interesting. As you say, it must have been something significant for him to have focused on it at such a stage of his life.
Novellas in November Begins! | Bookish Beck
Nov 16, 2020 @ 16:42:03
JacquiWine
Nov 16, 2020 @ 17:20:21
Like Susan, I too am wondering about the notion of this being a parable. It certainly sounds very thought-provoking – sobering even (if you’ll forgive the pun). Another author I know I ought to read at some point…Hotel Savoy is the one I’ve thought about in the past, so it’s good to see from the comments that you’d recommend it.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 17:21:28
I think it’s certainly meant to be allegorical, and with the religious element in it it kind of moves into parable territory. It really is wonderful, and I loved Hotel Savoy so hopefully you’ll get to read this one day! 😀
madamebibilophile
Nov 16, 2020 @ 17:34:54
This sounds very clever. I’ve never read Roth, I really should give him a try.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 20:19:47
Definitely! I’ve read a few now and they’ve all been good!
hopewellslibraryoflife
Nov 16, 2020 @ 17:49:38
Excellent review.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 20:19:24
Thanks! 😀
Jane
Nov 16, 2020 @ 17:50:48
Another new author for me but I love the sound of this, I must look out for Hotel Savoy as well
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 20:19:13
He’s definitely worth checking out, I think. Happy hunting!
1streading
Nov 16, 2020 @ 19:52:21
I do love Roth – though his work is not always top quality! Unfortunately I have now read all his fiction – perhaps a re-read in order might be an idea?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 16, 2020 @ 20:18:39
That sounds like fun! I own quite a lot of his work but have read only a few – so I do need to explore a bit more!
cirtnecce
Nov 17, 2020 @ 05:12:10
What a great review! I have never read Roth so thank you for introducing me! This novella is very interesting and yes we never really know how fate intervenes or does it? Thought provoking questions.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 17, 2020 @ 06:37:59
Thank you! I’m sorely tempted to try to fit in another Roth this month!
Caroline
Nov 17, 2020 @ 08:13:02
You again – make me want to and buy another book. But possibly I already have it in my kindle.
I’m not sure why I thought this was far longer. Roth is wonderful anyway and this sounds like a novella well worth reading.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 17, 2020 @ 09:21:15
LOL – sorry! It’s a good one, though, and it’s made me want to read more Roth sooner rather than later!
Caroline
Nov 17, 2020 @ 09:47:47
I have his collected works on the kindle. I usually don’t like using it but for a short story – why not.
We organized two Roth readalongs in the past and people enjoyed them very much.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 17, 2020 @ 10:08:12
Absolutely! I could just about cope with a short story in electronic format! 😀
BuriedInPrint
Nov 18, 2020 @ 19:14:52
Hunh…I just reread a book that I loved as a girl, about Armand, who lived underneath the bridges of Paris over the Seine, by Natalie Savage Carlson (published in 1958); I wonder, now, if she would have read this and had his life in mind while writing her children’s story. It was a whole lot of moralizing despite her attempt to be sympathetic (those in poverty have chosen their condition, etc.) but I loved the happy ending and supposed freedom of the story when I was young.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 18, 2020 @ 20:50:04
How interesting! I have a romantic attraction to Paris anyway, but it’s very intriguing to consider whether Roth influenced this book!
Liz Dexter
Nov 18, 2020 @ 22:01:15
Well done getting two challenges done – I might just have a couple of books that do both in one go but am not sure if I will get to them. This sounds like a real one to make you think – what fascinating things you find!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 19, 2020 @ 09:45:37
I love a book that ticks off two reading events! And this one was a quick read, but definitely one which lingered!
German Literature Month X Author Index – Lizzy's Literary Life
Dec 17, 2020 @ 06:33:14
Denise
Dec 31, 2020 @ 22:54:29
As it’s holiday time, I finally got round to reading this (in German so I had to have a run up to it). There is a HP Lovecraft story a bit like this (one of my foreign student lodgers introduced me to Lovecraft). This was a great find, the words were simple enough for me to understand but so open to interpretation. Many thanks for combining Translation and Novellas with this result. Happy New Year.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jan 01, 2021 @ 13:41:02
I’m so impressed you read this in German! And happy new year to you too! 😀