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Rock Crystal
Rock Crystal | Adalbert Stifter
5 posts | 4 read | 5 to read
Seemingly the simplest of storiesa passing anecdote of village life Rock Crystal opens up into a tale of almost unendurable suspense. This jewel-like novella by the writer that Thomas Mann praised as "one of the most extraordinary, the most enigmatic, the most secretly daring and the most strangely gripping narrators in world literature" is among the most unusual, moving, and memorable of Christmas stories. Two childrenConrad and his little sister, Sannaset out from their village high up in the Alps to visit their grandparents in the neighboring valley. It is the day before Christmas but the weather is mild, though of course night falls early in December and the children are warned not to linger. The grandparents welcome the children with presents and pack them off with kisses. Then snow begins to fall, ever more thickly and steadily. Undaunted, the children press on, only to take a wrong turn. The snow rises higher and higher, time passes: it is deep night when the sky clears and Conrad and Sanna discover themselves out on a glacier, terrifying and beautiful, the heart of the void. Adalbert Stifter's rapt and enigmatic tale, beautifully translated by Elizabeth Mayer and Marianne Moore, explores what can be found between Christmas Eve and Christmas Dayor on any night of the year.
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jlhammar
Rock Crystal | Adalbert Stifter
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Two children set off on foot from their home in an Alpine village on Christmas Eve to visit their grandparents. On the way back they are caught in an unexpected snowstorm. This novella was first published in 1845. A great little Christmastime read.

#InTheMountains #BookMoods
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Sophronisba I have a friend who reads this every year at Christmastime. 2y
Eggs 💙❄️💙 2y
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arubabookwoman
Rock Crystal | Adalbert Stifter
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I expected to like this NYRB classic more than I did, but the above quote resonated with me. #ReadingEurope2020 Austria

BarbaraBB Beautiful quote 💗 5y
Tanisha_A Beautiful! 5y
30 likes2 comments
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sisilia
Rock Crystal | Adalbert Stifter
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3⭐️ Awww what a sweet story for Christmas Eve 🥰 Exquisite landscape descriptions, and the ending is so heart-warming and it acts as a reminder for us to be grateful for what we have. The story is also apt for today as we are ending 2019 and welcoming 2020. Happy New Year, all! 🥂 Here‘s to more books and enjoyable reads in the new year 😘

LeeRHarry Happy New Year! 🥂🎉 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Happy New Year, Sisilia! May you discover and read more NYRB books in 2020! 5y
Kalalalatja Happy New year! 5y
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Liz_M Happy New Year! I hope you find all the nyrbs you desire in 2020. 🎉 🍾🎆 5y
BarbaraBB Happy new year Sisilia, with lots of NYRB 😉😘 5y
batsy Happy New NYRBs 😉🎉 5y
LeahBergen Happy New Year!! 5y
sisilia Hahahaha @erzascarletbookgasm @Liz_M @BarbaraBB @batsy I‘m such a crazy NYRB fan 😆 I can be their international marketing staff! 5y
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