Why people recommend it
School for Atheists by Arno Schmidt is a dense, linguistically inventive novel by the pioneering German postmodernist writer, offering a satirical and intellectually demanding exploration of post-World War II Germany, religion, and philosophy. The book was recommended during an episode of Conversations with Tyler, where host Tyler Cowen welcomed literary critic Michael Orthofer to discuss the landscape of untranslated and translated fiction. When discussing the monumental and notoriously challenging works of Arno Schmidt, Orthofer advised that for readers who eventually want to tackle Schmidt's massive magnum opus Bottom's Dream, School for Atheists serves as the ideal starting point, noting that it is one of the few major texts by the author currently accessible in English translation. Orthofer's recommendation provides a practical gateway for adventurous readers interested in exploring Schmidt's radical typographical experiments and vast erudition without immediately getting lost in his largest and most complex creation. This insightful podcast discussion highlights the ongoing efforts to make avant-garde German literature available to a wider global audience.
Who recommended it
- Michael Orthofer Recommended
Michael Orthofer — 1 mention
“well if you eventually want to read bottoms dream then the school for atheists is the one term that's in English now”