So, this week is like Lake Constance out here, in these parts of the blogosphere. Like Lake Constance brings together three countries – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – through its shores, this week brings together German Literature Month, Joseph Roth Week and the Literature and War Readalong into one beautiful event. And the book which is the star of that event is called ‘Flight Without End’ by Joseph Roth.
Lake Constance
I got Roth’s book last month and I had to really resist the temptation to read it earlier. I repeatedly opened the book and read the first few lines, but then decided not to ‘cheat’ and wait for this week to arrive, before I read it. So, I finally picked it up yesterday and read it in one sitting. I even switched off my TV after dinner (something which I almost never do – I love watching TV series after dinner) and read Roth’s book till I finished the last page.
So, what is this book about?
‘Flight Without End’ follows the life of Franz Tunda, First Lieutenant in the Austrian army, during the First World War. Tunda is captured by the Russians and sent to a prisoner of war camp. He escapes from there and ends up in Siberia where he becomes friends with a Pole. This man Baranowicz takes him under his wing and Tunda lives in his place and helps him with his work. At some point the war ends and Tunda decides to leave and go home to his native Austria and find out whether his fiancée Irene is still waiting for him. But on his way back he discovers that the Russian Revolution is in full swing. He is captured by the Red Army and after a few tense moments he becomes a part of them. And instead of going home, he becomes a revolutionary who is fighting for the communists. He meets a girl called Natasha there, who educates him on revolutionary principles. Before he knows it, Tunda is in love with her and forgets all about his fiancée. But a love forged during the times of war and revolution is not sustainable. Once the revolution gets over and Tunda and Natasha end up in Moscow, they discover that they are very different people and fall out of love. Tunda writes articles for papers and after a while ends up in Baku, working on literary and cinematic projects for the government. He meets a local girl there and gets married to her. But after a few years of life in Baku, the yearning for home gets to him and one day he just leaves Russia and goes to his native Austria. But there is no grand welcome for him. Austria has changed drastically and is a different place now. He meets old acquaintances, his brother and sister-in-law, tries to search for Irene (who is by now married to another man), goes to Paris – the rest of the book follows Tunda’s adventures through different cities and how he discovers that the world he encounters now is very different from the world that he left when he went to war. Is he able to find Irene? Is he able to adapt himself to the new world that he encounters? You have to read the story to find out.
So, what do I think about Joseph Roth’s book?
It is less about war and more about the society of that time, the post First World War time, when the old order changed and the new one was starting to occupy its place. How one man who loses his way after the war can get lost in the new world – the book beautifully depicts that.
I got hooked into ‘Flight Without End’ after the first three pages. They describe mostly Baranowicz’ life and what he does. In a few sentences Joseph Roth paints a beautiful picture. There is a character called Ekaterina Pavlona who is described in just a few sentences in the second page and then in a couple of sentences at the end of the book. Roth describes and develops that character so beautifully and I fell in love with her, though she makes just the briefest of brief appearances and she is not really important to the story. It is such a rare talent – to be able to sketch a fully fleshed out complex character with just a few deft strokes. It was magical, to see a master in action. There were many beautiful passages in the book, which described the world of that era – the people, their attitudes, their way of thinking, their value systems – offering insights and painting beautiful sketches of that period with a few broad brushstrokes. They were a pleasure to read.
It was also interesting to see the author come as a character in the book and make us believe that the story is true. (I don’t know whether Franz Tunda was a real person and whether his story was actually true or whether the author was just making a guest appearance in the fictional story like Somerset Maugham used to do in some of his books like ‘The Razor’s Edge’).
I liked Joseph Roth’s book very much. I would definitely be reading my favourite passages from this book again. I also would love to read more of Roth’s books.
I will leave you with some of my favourite passages from the book
Between the two there now existed that distance which exists between the man who gives help and the one who accepts it, a distance different from that between an older and a younger man, a native and a foreigner, someone powerful and someone who, though weak, is still independent. Although there was no contempt in the President’s gaze, it no longer showed that quiet preparedness for respect, the open-minded hospitality, which distinguished people reserve for foreigners. It may be that Tunda had touched his heart. But they were no longer as free with each other as they had been. Perhaps, after this, the old man would have trusted Tunda with one of his secrets, but he would no longer trust him with one of his daughters.
It takes a long time for men to acquire their particular countenances. It is as if they were born without their faces, their foreheads, their noses or their eyes. They acquire all these with the passage of time, and one must be patient; it takes time before anything is properly assembled.
Then, one evening, he sat in a train travelling westward and felt as if he was not making this journey of his own free will. Things had turned out as they always had in his life, as indeed much that is important does in the lives of others, who are deceived by the more noisy and deliberate nature of their activities into believing that an element of self-determination governs their decisions and transactions. However, they forget that over and above their own brisk exertions lies the hand of fate.
In all probability the love which had developed on this basis would not have survived the attainment of legal majority, the end of the war, the Revolution, had Tunda returned. But missing persons have an irresistible charm. One may deceive someone who is not missing, a healthy man, a sick man, and under certain circumstances even a dead man. But one waits as long as is necessary for someone who has mysteriously disappeared. A woman’s love is inspired by various motives. Even waiting is one. She loves her own yearning and the substantial amount of time invested. Every woman would despise herself for not loving the man she has waited for.
Have you read ‘Flight Without End’? What do you think about it?
Other reviews :
I’m so glad you liked it. I was a bit worried because right before I started reading it I came across a few harsh reviews but they are utterly wrong. I think it’s a wonderful book and like you I’ve read it very quickly.
Sure, it’s not very plot-driven and not typical Roth in the sense of being more sarcastic, less emotional maybe but none the less it’s a great book.
I don’t think Tunda existed. I found Roth’s intrusions amusing. Sometimes I like it when an author does that.
I hope you will read more of him. I want to re-read The Radetzky March and think it would be a great readalong title. Maybe next year.
I was wondering after I finished whether it was a good choice as a Literature and War readalong title but I think it does say a lot of the effect of war on a society and an individual. I loved how he captured Tunda’s homelessness.
I loved the book, Caroline. I think ‘Flight Without End’ was a wonderful readalong title, because of its size and because of its theme. Thanks for featuring it in the Literature and War readalong series. As you have written, it is not very plot driven, but it had beautiful descriptions and insightful passages, which I loved. It is sad that some reviews were harsh on the book. I can’t imagine why. Nice to know that you found Roth’s intrusions amusing 🙂 I did so too. Have you read Somerset Maugham’s ‘The Razor’s Edge’? Maugham makes an occasional appearance in the story and it is quite interesting. I liked what you said about how he captured Tunda’s homelessness.
I will make a Joseph Roth reading list soon 🙂 I will ask you for recommendations.
I really have to go back to reading more Roth, that’s for sure. Thank you both for whetting my appetite!
I hope you get to read this book and like it, Marina. This is my first Joseph Roth book and I liked it very much.
Lovely review, Vishy. I feel I’ve missed out by not reading Joseph Roth for this year’s German Lit Month. I didn’t have any of his books to hand, but I’ll try to rectify that next year.
Thanks Jacqui. I hope you get to read Joseph Roth’s books and like them. This is the first book of his that I have read and I liked it very much. His prose is deceptively simple and he writes beautiful passages.
[…] Flight Without End by Joseph Roth […]
Great review Vishy! (I’ve only just got round to reading it as it got a bit manic near the end of GLM4). I think I’m going to aim to read several books by Roth & Zweig in 2015. This one sounds really good – plot is generally over-rated IMO.
Thanks Jonathan. Hope you are liking ‘Flight Without End’. Yes, Philip Roth is really wonderful. I am also hoping to read more of his works in 2015.