William T. Vollmann's 'Central Europe' Explores Totalitarianism Through Art
William T. Vollmann's 1,000-page novel 'Central Europe' examines 20th-century totalitarianism by focusing on artists like composer Dmitri Shostakovich. The book contrasts Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union from WWI to the Cold War's end. Vollmann uses hyperbole, caricature, and postmodern narrative techniques, treating historical figures like Stalin and Hitler as cartoonish monsters. The work is framed as a moral treatise for 20th-century Europe. A companion text, 'Décentrer la Terre, Copernic et les révolutions des sphères célestes,' published by Tristram, recounts Copernicus's heliocentric revolution. Vollmann is compared to Paul Auster and Jim Harrison as a monumental figure in contemporary American literature.
Key facts
- William T. Vollmann's 'Central Europe' is a 1,000-page novel.
- The book compares Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union from WWI to the Cold War's end.
- It explores totalitarianism through the lives of artists, notably Dmitri Shostakovich.
- Vollmann uses hyperbole, caricature, and postmodern narrative styles.
- Stalin is called 'the realist' and Hitler 'the somnambulist' in the novel.
- A companion text 'Décentrer la Terre' about Copernicus is published by Tristram.
- Vollmann is considered a major figure in American literature alongside Paul Auster and Jim Harrison.
- The novel is described as a 'moral treatise for 20th-century Europe'.
Entities
Artists
- William T. Vollmann
- Dmitri Shostakovich
- Paul Auster
- Jim Harrison
- Roman Karmen
- E. Konstantinovskaya
- Copernicus
- Alain Badiou
Institutions
- Actes Sud
- Tristram
Locations
- Central Europe
- Germany
- Soviet Union
- United States
Sources
- artpress —