In Patagonia

In Patagonia ( original English title: In Patagonia ) is a 1977 published travel novel by British writer Bruce Chatwin ( 1940-1989 ).

Content

Inspired by a piece of skin of an alleged Brontosauriers, which brought the cousin of Chatwin's grandmother from a research trip from Patagonia, the narrator embarks on a journey into the landscape in the south of Argentina and Chile. He visited numerous places of historical import, including residences of emigration groups from Wales and Germany. He also seeks traces of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and toured Tierra del Fuego and Punta Arenas. The skin that had inspired him to make the trip turns out to be part of a Mylodons.

Background

Chatwin created the novel, based on a trip to Patagonia, which began in December 1974 and lasted about four months. He should have resigned his job with a telegram which said: " For four months continued to Patagonia ." During this time he visited the places and people he describes.

He had been encouraged by a 1972 meeting with the then 93- year-old Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray for such a journey.

Reception

In Patagonia in 1978 was awarded the Hawthornden Prize and the EM 1979 Forster Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The book has been described in numerous reviews the trend for the travel literature. In particular, the combination of historical research, anecdotes and lively, incisive personal description was praised. Paul Theroux said in Patagonia to his " Book of the Year ," while Graham Greene, it was one of his favorite travel books.

In contrast, there are numerous comments of interested parties. Chatwin have often interviewed under false pretenses; Facts which was reproduced falsified, and the people had been only inadequately anonymized so that it partially suffered from it today. Likewise were sensationalism, criticized a condescending attitude and the lack of a continuous theme.

Edition history

The first edition appeared in 1977 in the United Kingdom Jonathan Cape. It was the first written by Chatwin book that was published.

The first German edition was published in 1981 by Rowohlt Verlag.

Expenditure ( selection)

• In Patagonia, English, Jonathan Cape, London 1977 ISBN 0099769514
• In Patagonia, German, Rowohlt, Reinbek 1981, ISBN 9783498008543

Secondary literature

• Nicolas Shakespeare: Bruce Chatwin. A Biography. Pp. 428-476. Kindler, Reinbek 2000, ISBN 3-463-40389-7

In Patagonia | The Viceroy of Ouidah | On Black Mountain | reunion with Patagonia | Songlines | Utz | What am I doing here | Travelling | The Dream of the Restless | Winding paths

• Literary work
• Literature ( 20th century)
• Literature ( English )