The Writer in Her Writing

Patricia H. Stanley is Professor, The Florida State University.

This collection of stories translated from the original German of the Swiss writer Adelheid Duvanel (1936-1996) is preceded by an introductory biographical essay that should help the reader to understand the connections between Duvanel's life and her subjects. The apparent lack of love in the lives of all her subjects can be traced back to Duvanel's extremely complex and chaotic life. The subjects of Duvanel's stories, which were mostly women or children, included single mothers without financial or emotional support from the biological father; elderly, lonely women; illegitimate children; men and women afraid of relationships. These short stories deal with one situation, presented with (sometimes surreal) imagery that seems to reside in the unconscious: yet an undercurrent of wry Neo-Expressionism. Instead of dialogue we read the thoughts and dreams of a subject, thanks to imagery reminiscent of the art of Max Ernst. In fact, several stories are nothing but the retelling of a dream.

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 List of Abbreviations Chapter 3 Introduction: A Biographical Sketch Chapter 4 The Stories: Chapter 5 The Nose Chapter 6 A Little Operation Chapter 7 Since Martin's Death Chapter 8 The Angel Chapter 9 The Eyeglass Museum Chapter 10 At the Psychiatrist's Office Chapter 11 Sabel Chapter 12 Inner Tumult Chapter 13 The Yawn Chapter 14 Taddea Chapter 15 Catalina Chapter 16 Marie-Lou Chapter 17 A Dream Chapter 18 The Stranger Chapter 19 The Fox Chapter 20 A Chance Meeting Chapter 21 Loneliness Chapter 22 The Sketch Chapter 23 The Suicide Chapter 24 The Gold Watch Chapter 25 On a Quiet Side Street Chapter 26 My Grandchild, Blanca Aldea Chapter 27 Appendix I. Scriptotherapy Chapter 28 Appendix II. Historical Overview of Switzerland and Basel and the Role of Women in Swiss Society Chapter 29 Endnotes Chapter 30 Bibliography Chapter 31 Index of Names Chapter 32 About the Author