The Twilight World
AuthorWerner Herzog
Original titleDas Dämmern der Welt
TranslatorMichael Hofmann
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman
GenreNon-fiction novel
PublisherHanser Verlag
Publication date
2021
Published in English
2022
Pages144
ISBN9781529116243

The Twilight World (German: Das Dämmern der Welt) is a book written by Werner Herzog. It was published in German by Hanser in 2021. The English translation by Michael Hofmann was published by Bodley Head in 2022. The book is based on the life of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier, stationed in Lubang during World War II, who refused to surrender until 1974.

Background

Except for The Twilight World, books published by Herzog have been diaries (Of Walking in Ice, Die Eroberung des Nutzlosen) and a memoir (Every Man for Himself and God against All, 2022).[1] Although based on real events, The Twilight World is the first of his books not focused on Herzog's personal experience ; it may be considered his first novel.[2]

The book opens by a preamble in which Herzog recalls how he met Onoda in real life in 1997 in Tokyo.[2][3]

Reception

The book has received positive critical response, with reviews in Die Zeit.[4], The New York Times[5] (that dedicated two articles to the publication[6]), The Wall Street Journal[7] and The Guardian,[2] among others. A review in Die Welt, however, found that "sentimentality was never far from this story", regretting the lack of ethic distance from Onoda's deeds during the war, but adding: "So poetry is reactionary. And yet remains breathtakingly poetic."[8]

Theatrical adaptation

The Twilight World was adapted for the stage by Lili Riesenbeck. It was performed at the Schauspiel Köln in February 2023, directed by Michael Königstein, with Kei Muramoto portraying Onoda.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog: 9780593490297 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  2. 1 2 3 Byers, Sam (2022-07-08). "The Twilight World by Werner Herzog review – a film-maker's eerie debut". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  3. ↑ "The Twilight World by Werner Herzog — a director's literary debut". Financial Times. 2022-07-18. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  4. ↑ "ZEIT ONLINE | Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl". www.zeit.de. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  5. ↑ Schillinger, Liesl (2022-06-10). "Two Men of the Jungle Meet in Herzog's First Novel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  6. ↑ Alter, Alexandra (2022-06-08). "Werner Herzog's Fever Dreams". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  7. ↑ Tonkin, Boyd. "'The Twilight World' Review: World War II's Last Combatant". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  8. ↑ "Roman von Werner Herzog: Der einsame Krieg des Leutnants Onoda - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  9. ↑ Köln, Schauspiel. "Das Dämmern der Welt, von Werner Herzog - 30.05.2023, 20.00 - 21.10 | Schauspiel Köln". www.schauspiel.koeln (in German). Retrieved 2023-05-14.
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