NZZ columnist's futile search through 'Der Rabe' archives
Manfred Papst, a columnist for NZZ am Sonntag, recounts his failed attempt to find a specific list of humorous word translations from the literary magazine 'Der Rabe', published by Haffmans-Verlag from 1982 to 2001. He spent an hour searching through his collection of sixty red paperback volumes stored in the passage between his laundry room and wine cellar, which also houses his jazz and blues records. Despite bringing a chair, coffee, and listening to ABBA's 'Arrival' on a portable CD player, he only discovered a collection of phrases for writing pompous reviews, such as 'The ambiguity oscillates in the perspectival narrative.' The only entry he remembers from the lost list is 'Kilimandscharo', etymologically explained as a compound of 'to kill' and 'mangiare', meaning 'man-eater'.
Key facts
- Manfred Papst searched for a list of humorous word translations from 'Der Rabe' magazine.
- 'Der Rabe' was published by Haffmans-Verlag from 1982 to 2001.
- Papst owns about sixty red paperback volumes stored between his laundry room and wine cellar.
- He listened to ABBA's 'Arrival' on a portable CD player during the search.
- He found a collection of phrases for writing pompous reviews instead.
- The only remembered entry is 'Kilimandscharo' as 'man-eater' from 'to kill' and 'mangiare'.
- The article was published in NZZ am Sonntag.
- Papst is a columnist for NZZ am Sonntag.
Entities
Artists
- Manfred Papst
Institutions
- NZZ am Sonntag
- Haffmans-Verlag