Michael Hofmann is a poet and German translator. His most recent collection of poems is One Lark, One Horse. He is a Granta contributing editor.
‘Living on money from the government, excused our duties and our liabilities, reducing our wants to eating and sleeping and what in the eighteenth century may have passed for exercise, the alderman’s stroll.’
Peter Stamm on the Swiss referendum to join the EU. Translated from the German by Michael Hofmann.
‘For all its flimsiness, the cage takes itself terribly seriously, restricting access, glorying in the name of Fatherland.’
Peter Stamm on the oldest barber in Switzerland, and Michael Hofmann on translating Peter Stamm.
The World War began in Sarajevo, on a balmy summer afternoon in 1914. It...
‘They were fascinated / by what they seemed to have contained.’
‘In the summer, my wife and I visited the small Danish island of Møn.’
‘It has nothing to do with the question of the foreigners. No one in Eisenhuttenstadt wants the foreigners here.’
‘No, it's not easier for you than it was for us: don't let them tell you otherwise.’
‘Isn’t it already apparent how the peace movement is slowing down, flagging, impotent?’