65 pages • 2 hours read
Austerlitz
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Book Brief
320
Novel • Fiction
Europe • 20th century
2001
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald follows Jacques Austerlitz, an architectural historian who recounts his life story to an unnamed narrator. Evacuated as a Jewish child from Czechoslovakia in 1939, Austerlitz is raised in Wales by foster parents who never speak of his past. As an adult, he uncovers his family's fate during the Holocaust, revealing fragments of his repressed history. Topics related to World War II and the Holocaust are presented.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Mysterious
Nostalgic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
23,883 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
W.G. Sebald's Austerlitz is a deeply moving exploration of memory, history, and identity. Critics praise its lyrical prose and evocative imagery, though some find its dense, digressive narrative challenging. The novel's blend of fiction and autobiography is lauded for its originality, though its melancholy tone may not appeal to all readers.
Who Should Read Austerlitz?
A reader who would enjoy Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald appreciates introspective, historical fiction heavy with memory and identity themes. Comparable to works like The Emigrants by Sebald or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, this audience favors dense, reflective narratives that intertwine personal history with broader historical events.
23,883 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
320
Novel • Fiction
Europe • 20th century
2001
Adult
18+ years
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