The Black Spider in NYRB Classics

Apr 29, 2023 Josh rated it really liked it

Shelves: nyrb, 2023

Highly enjoyable novella written in the early-mid 19th century that reads much better than some from the same time period. I think the translation itself is superb. I do admit that I've never seen the term 'vainglory' used as many times combined in all my reading experiences, yet that doesn't hurt it. I will also admit that with my ridiculous pedantic ways, the usual admirable NYRB book designer, Katy Homans, got me riled up with the cover; the book is "The Black Spider", not "The Black Beetle" ...more

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Sep 30, 2013 Brian Berrett rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A solid four stars for this book. I loved the creepiness. It is about good versus evil but no spoiler here for how it ends. A great read for Halloween time! Also, I'm not a big fan of spiders and am even less so now.

The book is short so you can get through it fairly quickly. It is also a very enjoyable read. Just hope you aren't reading it late at night and happen to see a spider approaching. ...more

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Oct 16, 2013 Lois rated it it was ok

Shelves: book-clubs

A thoroughly nineteenth-century morality tale with some interesting folklorish elements. The consistent sexist and feudal overtones (not surprising for the time, but still...) turned me right off, but the characterisation of the 'green huntsman' was intriguing. The encounters with the huntsman and the first development of the black spider are the only really creepy moments, and the second internal narrative felt like a superfluous bout of sermonising to me. ...more

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Oct 13, 2020 Daniel Archer rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1840s-lit

A solid 4 out 5 black spiders. 🕷🕷🕷🕷Definitely not for arachnophobes.

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Feb 13, 2016 WndyJW rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, classics, translated, indie-press, nyrb, gothic, germany-german-lit

This short tale grabbed me from the first paragraph. It starts with a family preparing for the baptism of an infant in a remote Swiss village. Once the reader has a feel for the family and traditions in this community we settle down for a meal, during this meal a guest notices a very old, charred piece of wood built into a new window frame, The story that follows, told by the old grandfather moves at a quick pace, starting with an evil Feudal lord and his abused and oppressed serfs and the horri ...more

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Oct 10, 2013 Margaret rated it liked it

Shelves: 19th-century-literature, literature, german, nyrb, the-nyrb-classics-book-club, read-fall-2013, translation

A superbly creepy Halloween selection for the New York Review Books Classics Book Club. The cover creeped me out so badly that I had to put it under a couple other books in my to read pile (there was just something unsettling about it).

Now, on to the actual plot. The frame story of The Black Spider is that of a christening, and there are certain rituals and behaviors that the people in this small Swiss village. All of these things are because there is some sort of evil creature running around, ...more

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