The Discovery of Heaven
The Discovery of Heaven ( larger needles " De Ontdekking van de hemel ") is the title of a 1992 novel by the Dutch writer incurred Harry Mulisch. He describes the intense friendship between two men whose biographical teeth are influenced by two angels to bring back the two tablets of the Ten Commandments in the sky, thereby relieving the biblical covenant between God and man. With his typical humor Harry Mulisch shows his seeming encyclopedic knowledge, his way of thinking and perspectives and simultaneously records an image of society in the Netherlands from the 1960s to 1980s.
Structure and content
The novel has two narrators: Navigate Two Angels and comment at the same time the lives of two Dutch friends Max Delius and Onno Quist. The earth's inhabitants do not know that they are part of a divine plan, which has the resolution of the covenant between God and man to the goal. Harry Mulisch divided the process for resolution into four sections: The beginning of the beginning, The end of the beginning and the beginning of the end and the end of the end. These are framed by each dialogue scenes in heaven, which overlap at the beginning and end of the sections with the earthly action (only at these points is a first-person narrator ).
Mainly novel tells the story of the life of four people who are in various ways related to each other:
Interpretation
Harry Mulisch interweaves various subjects and issues complexes:
- From his own biography themes such as guilt, dealing with the Nazi past, especially in the figure of Max Delius can be found.
- The coma Ada Brons ' focuses on the Active euthanasia, which was discussed involved at the time of appearing in the Netherlands.
- Cause and effect of the student revolution in the Netherlands are particularly discussed in the political career Onno Quist.
- The contrast between communism and capitalism is dedicated Mulisch about a literary excursion to Cuba, which leads to considerable complications between the world views in the form of different groups of people.
- The amorous connections and encounters are very reminiscent of the often assumed tolerance of the Dutch and leave the question of depth and foundations of family structures place on both sides of traditional marriage.
- In the figure of Max Delius Mulisch to have especially parallels incorporated from his own biography, in the figure of Onno Quist those of his friend Hein Donner.
The work provides many associations from western mysticism, reflected especially Kabbalistic traditions. These religious themes form a conspicuous contrast to the world of empirical science. In general, the work lives especially from the encounter of opposites.
Awards
On March 11, 2007 The Discovery of Heaven under any part of the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad was chosen of all time the best Dutch-language book.
Filming
Dutch director Jeroen Krabbé filmed 2001 book with Stephen Fry as Onno, Flora Montgomery as Ada and Greg Wise as Max, Neil Newbon as Quinten, 16 years old, and in other roles Gillian Barge as Onnos mother and Diana Quick. " The Discovery of Heaven", the original title of the Dutch -British co-production, is considered the most expensive Dutch film production of all time and won the Golden and Platinum Film Award at the Dutch Gold and Platinum Film Festival. He was nominated for the Golden Calf at the Nederlands Film Festival 2002. The Golden Calf for Best Screenplay went to Edwin de Vries.
Book editions
- The Discovery of Heaven. Novel. Translated from the Dutch by Martina den Hertog -Vogt. Carl Hanser, Munich, etc. 1993, ISBN 3-446-17377-3.
- The Discovery of Heaven. Novel. 22nd edition. Rowohlt Paperback -Verlag, Reinbek 2005, ISBN 3-499-13476-4 ( paperback edition ).
Audio adaptation
- The Discovery of Heaven. Radio drama editing: Valerie Stiegele, directed by Vibeke von Saher. With Udo Samel, Jochen Striebeck, Christian Baumann, Lisa Wagner, The Hörverlag, Munich 2007, 2 CDs, ISBN 978-3-86717-076-5