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Chapter 18 - Minor Writing

from Part III - Themes and Influences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2023

By
Uwe Schütte
Edited by
Uwe Schütte
Uwe Schütte
Affiliation:
Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
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Summary

This essay examines Sebald’s preference for eccentrics, amateurs and dilettantes, whose nonconformist views were incompatible with a scientific worldview or technocratic views. These were of concern to Sebald because he felt that theories and views disqualified from official discourse would offer an untapped pool of knowledge for his writing. The essay first discusses the significance and function of amateurs and dilettantes in Sebald’s narrative work as well as eccentric traits of his character. It then applies the concept of “minor writing” (Deleuze/Guattari) to Sebald’s texts and discusses the influence of academic outsiders such as Rudolf Bilz or Rupert Sheldrake. Sebald’s essays on Herbert Achternbusch and Ernst Herbeck provide examples of his use of these minor writers as inspiration for his own writing.

Keywords

Amateurseccentricsnon-conformistsheterodoxyminor writingRudolf BilzHerbert AchternbuschErnst HerbeckRobert Walser
Type
Chapter
Information
W. G. Sebald in Context , pp. 156 - 167
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Minor Writing
  • Edited by Uwe Schütte, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
  • Book: W. G. Sebald in Context
  • Online publication: 24 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052313.019
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  • Minor Writing
  • Edited by Uwe Schütte, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
  • Book: W. G. Sebald in Context
  • Online publication: 24 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052313.019
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Minor Writing
  • Edited by Uwe Schütte, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
  • Book: W. G. Sebald in Context
  • Online publication: 24 August 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009052313.019
Available formats
×