A pyschological study of German character and dry humour, 2007-12-31This is one really weird book - but I suppose weird in both a good and bad way. The book centres on two Germans in the early 19th century called Count Alexander Von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss. Humboldt is an explorer who wants to understand the earth by exploring it (mainly Spain and South America) and measuring it, with the assistance of his partner Bonpland.
Gauss on the other hand is a mathematician and astronomer who prefers to stay home in Germany and understand the world (and how it works) by calculating mathematical equations and sitting in his observatory gazing at the stars all day.
Eventually the lives of these two men converge and they meet. Initially they don't get on but eventually they realise they are made for one another.
This is weird in a bad way because first of all, the book tends to ramble on and on, which may get you flicking through some pages. It is also weird because there are no direct speech marks when someone speaks. It's just one big rambling dialogue! So it can also be a bit difficult to understand some of it.
However the book totally rocks with the dry wit and humour in it. Humboldt comes across as the serious dry boring Prussian so his scenes tend to be a bit boring. But when Gauss enters the picture, the book livens up immediately!
Gauss is definately my favourite character which surprised me because everyone I have spoken to said that it was Gauss that turned them off this book!!! I on the other hand loved his arrogant superior nature and sharp comments. I found it great that he tried to bargain with the Duke of Brunswick for a professor title and a salary ("One does not bargain with a German Duke!") and when his male colleague comes to visit, Gauss turns to his daughter and says "pity you're so ugly and he already has a wife!!".
The ending was very disappointing as it just stopped. We never find out what ultimately happened to Humboldt and Gauss and for that I felt let down. But you will love the dry spot-on humour.
Reviewed By A122YULX9NDNVBGauss on the other hand is a mathematician and astronomer who prefers to stay home in Germany and understand the world (and how it works) by calculating mathematical equations and sitting in his observatory gazing at the stars all day.
Eventually the lives of these two men converge and they meet. Initially they don't get on but eventually they realise they are made for one another.
This is weird in a bad way because first of all, the book tends to ramble on and on, which may get you flicking through some pages. It is also weird because there are no direct speech marks when someone speaks. It's just one big rambling dialogue! So it can also be a bit difficult to understand some of it.
However the book totally rocks with the dry wit and humour in it. Humboldt comes across as the serious dry boring Prussian so his scenes tend to be a bit boring. But when Gauss enters the picture, the book livens up immediately!
Gauss is definately my favourite character which surprised me because everyone I have spoken to said that it was Gauss that turned them off this book!!! I on the other hand loved his arrogant superior nature and sharp comments. I found it great that he tried to bargain with the Duke of Brunswick for a professor title and a salary ("One does not bargain with a German Duke!") and when his male colleague comes to visit, Gauss turns to his daughter and says "pity you're so ugly and he already has a wife!!".
The ending was very disappointing as it just stopped. We never find out what ultimately happened to Humboldt and Gauss and for that I felt let down. But you will love the dry spot-on humour.
This review was cited from Amazon.de.
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