What do you think?
Rate this book
Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine | Summary & Study
The novel opens in Paris, near the time of World War I, in 1914. Surrounded by the music of a military parade, a young Frenchman, Ferdinand Bardamu, decides, in a moment of heroism, to enlist in the army and join the fight against the Germans. Once at the front, faced with the horrors and absurdity of war, he quickly loses his enthusiasm. Bardamu cannot understand why he is supposed to shoot at the Germans, who have never personally harmed him. Bardamu also realizes he is, in the eyes of his countrymen, something of a coward.This study guide includes the following Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.
73 pages, ebook
First published January 7, 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 21, 2014
one of the best books
November 24, 2011
"The Journey to the End of the Night" is an important book in the french litterature history. Immediatly after its publication in 1932, it made a big scandale about using the popular speaking language and also the denonciation of a society mind-destroying and humiliating people.
The style surprizes and scares.
The Journey is the outcome and maturity of a style. Its author worked on it for a long time.
The Journey is the story of the revolt and repulsion. It's a long nightmare.
Philippe Sollers said " we need to read again Celine. Celine said the truth of the century, what is here is here, irrefutable, idiotic, seldom dancing and livable"
Leon Trotski said " Celine's style is subordinated to his perception of the world. Through his style, fast, looking slovenly, incorrect, passionate, lives, gushes out and flutters the real value of french culture, the intellectual and emotional experience of a great nation in all its wealth and its finest nuances. In an other way, Celine is writing as if he was the first to deal with the language. The artist moves totally the vocabulary of the french litterature.
The style surprizes and scares.
The Journey is the outcome and maturity of a style. Its author worked on it for a long time.
The Journey is the story of the revolt and repulsion. It's a long nightmare.
Philippe Sollers said " we need to read again Celine. Celine said the truth of the century, what is here is here, irrefutable, idiotic, seldom dancing and livable"
Leon Trotski said " Celine's style is subordinated to his perception of the world. Through his style, fast, looking slovenly, incorrect, passionate, lives, gushes out and flutters the real value of french culture, the intellectual and emotional experience of a great nation in all its wealth and its finest nuances. In an other way, Celine is writing as if he was the first to deal with the language. The artist moves totally the vocabulary of the french litterature.
March 24, 2011
Guys; this is a fascist author, an anti-semite and chauvenist
par excellence.
I know, I know, one must separate the person from his writing.
I just can't do this
par excellence.
I know, I know, one must separate the person from his writing.
I just can't do this
November 26, 2015
Stunning!
Read
July 11, 2018At times very disturbing, and at times hilarious, I could have continued reading Journey for many more pages. The protagonist should be unlikable but due to his honesty and self deprecation is one of the most relateable characters in literature.
Think Catcher in the Rye meets Dirty Snow with a dash of Heart of Darkness.
Think Catcher in the Rye meets Dirty Snow with a dash of Heart of Darkness.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews