© Coiscéim, 2007
With searing honesty, tempered by a sense of humour and self-irony, Günter Kunert confronts his own mortality head-on without ever taking refuge in the consolations of religion. Many of his poems are saturated with word play, biblical quotes, mythical references and allusions to literary precursors, particularly Goethe's Faust - the tragedy of the old man par excellence. Tricky for translators, but rewarding for readers who enjoy a poet's productive engagement with literary tradition.
This edition was translated into English by Hans-Christian Oeser and into Irish by Gabriel Rosenstock. The book is part of a series of trilingual poetry collections published by the Irish language house Coiscéim.
Wallstein Verlag 2006
Translated into: English & Irish
Coiscéim
Tig Bhríde
91 Bóthar Bhinn Éadair
Baile Átha Cliath 13
Ireland