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The Black Spider
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
8 posts | 8 read | 8 to read
An NYRB Classics OriginalIt is a sunny summer Sunday in a remote Swiss village, and a christening is being celebrated at a lovely old farmhouse. One of the guests notes an anomaly in the fabric of the venerable edifice: a blackened post that has been carefully built into a trim new window frame. Thereby hangs a tale, one that, as the wise old grandfather who has lived all his life in the house proceeds to tell it, takes one chilling turn after another, while his audience listens in appalled silence. Featuring a cruelly overbearing lord of the manor and the oppressed villagers who must render him service, an irreverent young woman who will stop at nothing, a mysterious stranger with a red beard and a green hat, and, last but not least, the black spider, the tale is as riveting and appalling today as when Jeremias Gotthelf set it down more than a hundred years ago. The Black Spider can be seen as a parable of evil in the heart or of evil at large in society (Thomas Mann saw it as foretelling the advent of Nazism), or as a vision, anticipating H. P. Lovecraft, of cosmic horror. Theres no question, in any case, that it is unforgettably creepy.
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Therewillbebooks
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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Pickpick

New episode just posted! This week we discuss “The Black Spider“ by Jeremias Gotthelf. This little known book, reprinted by the fabulous people over at NYRB, packs quite a punch in little over 100 pages. Gotthelf writes a tale with a little bit of everything, from idyllic country sides, to a menacing black spider all within a Christian allegory that makes for a rewarding reading experience.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gV1ulTIGgsxFsFVmUbdRw

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Therewillbebooks
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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Happy Halloween!

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Therewillbebooks
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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We begin this week with Matt trolling, Peter vowing to nominate sad books for six months, and end with our annual October tradition of nominating scary books. And as is wont to happen from time to time, we add more than one book this month! Thanks for listening. Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sNsVgcQTSifI1E7D9Ec4D

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BarbaraBB
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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So this happened. With two more months to go in 2020. It‘s the only good thing that has come from corona and staying at home. #GoodReads #2020ReadingChallenge

CaliforniaCay Wow! Congrats 🥳 4y
Ruthiella Excellent! Well done 👍😀. 4y
eeclayton Congrats! 🎉 4y
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squirrelbrain Congratulations! 🎉😘 4y
Cathythoughts Nice work 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
LeahBergen Wow! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Hooked_on_books Hurrah! Nice job!! 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Congrats! 👏💪 4y
Tanisha_A Aha! 💃 4y
Birdsong28 Congratulations 🎊 🎉 📚 📖 4y
Librarybelle Congratulations! 4y
batsy Well done! 👏🏽👏🏽 4y
valeriegeary Wow! 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Jas16 🙌🏽 4y
MaureenMc 👏 4y
LauraBrook Congratulations! I hit my goal (the same as yours!) this week too, and it feels nice to have some “free” reading time. 4y
BarbaraBB @LauraBrook That is such a coincidence! Congrats to you too 💕 4y
britt_brooke 🙌🏻🙌🏻 4y
Redwritinghood Way to go! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
Freespirit Well done💯👏🏼👏🏼 4y
Gezemice Great job!👍👏🏻 4y
73 likes21 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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Somewhere in the #Swiss mountains there is this idyllic village of happy and deeply religious people. It hasn‘t always been that way. Centuries ago the villagers sold their soul to the devil and we all know that means trouble 😈. A black spider prepares its arrival... A very creepy novella and a fun read.

#ReadingEurope2020🇨🇭

Ruthiella That cover is creepy! 😱 4y
squirrelbrain What @Ruthiella said - very scary! 😱 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Creepy cover indeed! 4y
Librarybelle A perfect story for this time of year! 4y
Freespirit I agree it‘s a creepy cover💀 4y
68 likes5 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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#WeeklyForecast 42/20

I am in the middle of The House of the Mosque and also started Constellation after so many peers here recommended it. Looking forward to it!
I also try to fit in the tagged book for #ReadingEurope2020 and The North Water in order to finally get a #Bookspinbingo 😀

TrishB Ambitious 👍🏻 good reading. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm 👋 Barbara! Please look out for a delivery from Book Depository in the next week or so. Do not open till your birthday! 4y
BarbaraBB @erzascarletbookgasm That is so sweet! I will look out for it! ❤️❤️ 4y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen That‘s good to know. I‘ve been postponing it for years! 4y
64 likes5 comments
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AbakusTheCat
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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german edition wird gilt edge, 1952

#cat #spider #blackspider #theblackspider #devil #classic

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vivjm
The Black Spider | Jeremias Gotthelf
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arachnophobes - look away now!! My next pick for #germanlit month