When Thomas
Mann was doing his research in preparation of his novel “Doctor Faustus”, he
needed examples of some Ur – German story –telling. The idea was to imitate in certain chapters of his book both the
language and the true “gothic” atmosphere of Biedermeier writings. He found what he was
looking for in a novella “The Black Spider”, written by the Swiss author Jeremias
Gotthelf in 1842.
In an
Alpine village guests gather to celebrate the christening of a newborn child in
one of the oldest and most respected farmer families. One guest is surprised that
in the new house where they seat
themselves around the food-laden table, an old black wooden post has been used to support the
framework of the construction. The merry
patrons urge the grandfather of the new –born child to tell the story of the house and the old man
reluctantly uncovers the chilling secret of the wooden beam and the ancient story of
their Alpine village which was once ripped to shreds by a demonic curse.
The story
the grandfather will tell is so horrific that it will cut the appetite and the
merriment of the guests. Thankfully and unlike the horror stories of today, a clear
message is given to ward off Evil in the future : to relentlessly praise the Almighty God and
live a simple and honest life.
Thomas
Mann, loved Gotthelf’s narration of the Homeric
battle between Good and Evil and admired the spider book "like no
other piece of world literature”
The horror
has not aged. Creepy crawlies abound. Young mothers should abstain..
Susan
Bernofsky’s translation (New York Review Books Classics ) feels awkward and
contrived at moments
