the roamerWalter Benjamin in 1936, in exile, published a small book, Deutsche Menschen (German Men & Women), a collection of letters by German literary figures of the past. He wanted to hold up examples of honest writing in a time when it seemed that all language had turned false.
Here's a letter from Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-87), written after the death of his wife:
--
"My wife is dead. Now I have had that experience, too. I am glad there cannot be many more such events in store for me --- that lightens my spirit. It is also a comfort to rely on your condolences, and those of our other friends in Braunschweig."
--
What a letter! Benjamin quotes it as an example of the humanity of laconic style. The call to laconism may be even more urgent in today's world of oversharing and automated eloquence.
#laconism #GottholdEphraimLessing #WalterBenjamin #DeutscheMenschen #letters
itbeobachter
Lesering.de
Judy Elfferich
