45 pages • 1 hour read
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
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Book Brief
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Adult | Published in 1910237
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
Paris, France • 1900s
1910
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge follows Malte Laurids Brigge, a young Danish man living in Paris who documents his observations and reflections on life's sufferings in a series of 71 notebook entries. He dwells on his impoverished existence, childhood illnesses, fragmented family memories, encounters with the supernatural, and philosophical musings about life and death, all while grappling with existential despair and a search for meaning. Themes of death, illness, and familial dysfunction are present.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke is praised for its poetic language and profound introspection but critiqued for its fragmented narrative and challenging structure. Readers admire its exploration of existential themes and vivid imagery, though some find it difficult to engage with due to its non-linear storyline and dense prose.
Who Should Read The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge?
A reader who appreciates introspective and existential literature would enjoy The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge by Rainer Maria Rilke. Fans of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time and Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis will be captivated by Rilke’s poetic prose, philosophical ruminations, and exploration of memory and identity.
Brigge's Mother
Brigge's Mother
The central figure in Brigge's childhood memories, symbolizing love and care, as she spent much time comforting him during his frequent illnesses.
Brigge’s Father
Brigge’s Father
A distant and emotionally uninvolved figure in Brigge's life, highlighting the devotion of Brigge's mother through his indifference.
Abelone
Abelone
Brigge's unmarried aunt who becomes an emotional substitute for him after his mother's death, developing a complex, supportive relationship with him.
Cousin Erik
Cousin Erik
A character from Brigge's past, similar in age and background to Brigge, whose presence highlights Brigge's struggle to understand himself and the world.
237
Novel/Book in Verse • Fiction
Paris, France • 1900s
1910
Adult
18+ years
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