4 Devils

by Herman Bang, Guy Fowler (Novelized by)

Οι "Τέσσεροι Διαβόλοι" είναι δύο ζευγάρια ακροβατών που παρουσιάζουν ένα νούμερο με αυτήν ακριβώς την ονομασία: δυο αδελφοί και δυο αδελφές που συνδέονται κι ερωτικά μεταξύ τους, μετά από χρόνια επαγγελματικής συμπόρευσης. Η διασάλευση της σχέσης σ'εναν από τα ζευγάρια δίνει στον Μπανγκ την ευκαιρία να εκθέσει την αυστηρή του άποψη για τ' ανθρώπινα.

Genres: Scandinavian Literature, Classics, Fiction

236 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1890

About the author

Herman Bang wrote his very first book back in 1880, it was called "Haabløse Slægter".

Herman Joachim Bang (20. april 1857 – 29. januar 1912) var en dansk kritiker, forfatter og journalist. Han blev født i Asserballe på Als i hertugdømmet Slesvig som søn af sognepræst Frederik Ludvig Bang (1816-1875) og hustru Thora Elisabeth Salomine Blach (1829-1871) og blev student i 1875 fra Sorø Akademi. Herman Bang er kendt for sin impressionistiske skrivestil. Herman Bang døde i Ogden i Utah i USA under en oplæsningsturné og er begravet på Vestre Kirkegård i København.

Reviews

[Vichy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Αν ήταν ταινία θα ήταν μαυρόασπρη. Σε τόσο λίγες σελίδες τόσα πολλά συναισθήματα και ένας διαφορετικός κόσμος. Ο κόσμος του τσίρκου εξάλλου πάντα μου δημιουργούσε ένα αίσθημα απόκοσμο.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love! Lust! Despair! Murder! Suicide! Acrobats!

[Profumo Di · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mamma mia che noia, non mi è piaciuto per niente, l'idea sarebbe stata anche carina ma è stata resa in modo pessimo sia dal punto di vista linguistico che narrativo.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fyra noveller: De fyra djävlarna, En underbar dag, Irene Holm, Fröken Caja.
Alla i Herman Bangs impressionistiska stil. Mycket filmiskt bildmässigt.

Problemet är att halva boken upptas av 'De fyra djävlarna', som jag inte alls tycker om, och inte kan relatera till. Tragedi, Känslostyrt, kärleken är en djurisk drift som tar vår mänsklighet ifrån oss. Nej. Inte för mig. först gjorde det att hela boken fick tre stjärnor.
Däremot älskar jag de andra tre novellerna, i synnerhet 'En underbar dag'. Den är femstjärnig.
Och då jag nu läst om dessa tre noveller (i annan upplaga på originalspråket danska), förhöjs känslan än mer, så jag höjer hela omdömet till 4 stjärnor.

[rachy · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Four Devils’ is a classic Danish novella, recently available as an ebook in the ‘Very Short Classics’ series. As the second I’ve read of this series, I remain impressed with both the concept and the execution of making these underrated European classics more readily available. The story follows Fritz and Adolf, brothers who are sold to the circus following the death of their parents, and sisters Aimée and Louise who together form The Four Devils, going from an acrobatic act to high flying trapeze artists. When Aimée’s feelings for Fritz become deeper and Fritz’s interest in a rich, married patron intensifies and becomes returned, tensions within the troupe become too much, threatening to destroy all they’ve built.

The prose was lovely, simple yet deep, occasionally opaque but otherwise a joy to read. The characters were well written and fleshed out appropriately given the length of the book. I definitely sometimes wanted a little more from some of the characters, but I understand the focus and time spent more with Aimée and Fritz as they are the two protagonists. I did get a good sense of some of the more minor characters, and of Adolf and Louise but more in a sense of their role in our main character’s lives than in their own right. Again, given how short this novella was, I understand why there wasn’t more time for them to shine themselves, I’m just greedy and when something is good, I always want a little more. The story itself was also very good, it was paced mostly well with the ending feeling a little rushed to get to the final point. I felt like it could’ve benefitted from being just a little longer, either that or maybe just a little shorter, it being a little less slow in the middle leading up to the inevitable maybe would have evened out the pacing that little bit more. This is a little nitpicky tbough, and otherwise the story itself was very good and well executed.

Overall, I feel similarly about ‘The Four Devils’ as I did about the previous very short classic that I read (‘Childless’ by Ignat Herrmann), with this one being just slightly better in terms of story. That being said, I feel that ‘The Four Devils’ is a strong palate cleanser in that same way, being a great little read full of intrigue that is so easy to absorb when you’re between other books or need some help getting out of a reading slump. Both of these novellas would honestly be hard not to recommend to almost anyone.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trevlig läsning. Hade inte riktigt väntat mig en så pass hög litterär kvalité. Dock tillförde den inte särskilt mycket, därav tre stjärnor.

[Fabiana P. - fabi.goodwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stelle.

[Sickdog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Racconto su amore gelosia in uno sfondo di circensi e trapezio.
Scritto un pò antiquato e non con un bellissimo messaggio

[Edxfvl · Rating 2 out of 5]

sono estremamente confuso

[Martine Matre · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

molto figo

[Niccoló Natali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella l’impostazione a 4 personaggi principali, temi interessanti soprattutto il ricordo di di Fritz sull’ammaestratore di cani, finale che brucia in poco tempo e concludente

[Lu ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really boring

[Paolo Rinco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensualità, attrazione per lo stesso sesso velatamente ma meravigliosamente espresse da un grande scrittore danese di meta '800 poco conosciuto (ma di grande talento).