Rombo

In May and September 1976, two earthquakes ripped through north-eastern Italy, causing severe damage to the landscape and its population. About a thousand people died under the rubble, tens of thousands were left without shelter, and many ended up leaving their homes in Friuli forever. The displacement of material as a result of the earthquakes was enormous. New terrain was formed that reflects the force of the catastrophe and captures the fundamentals of natural history. But it is far more difficult to find expression for the human trauma, the experience of an abruptly shattered existence. In Rombo , Esther Kinsky’s sublime new novel, seven inhabitants of a remote mountain village talk about their lives, which have been deeply impacted by the earthquake that has left marks they are slowly learning to name. From the shared experience of fear and loss, the threads of individual memory soon unravel and become haunting and moving narratives of a deep trauma.

In May and September 1976, two earthquakes ripped through north-eastern Italy, causing severe damage to the landscape and its population. About a thousand people died under the rubble, tens of thousands were left without shelter, and many ended up leaving their homes in Friuli forever. The displacement of material as a result of the earthquakes was enormous. New terrain was formed that reflects the force of the catastrophe and captures the fundamentals of natural history. But it is far more difficult to find expression for the human trauma, the experience of an abruptly shattered existence. In Rombo , Esther Kinsky’s sublime new novel, seven inhabitants of a remote mountain village talk about their lives, which have been deeply impacted by the earthquake that has left marks they are slowly learning to name. From the shared experience of fear and loss, the threads of individual memory soon unravel and become haunting and moving narratives of a deep trauma.

Im Mai und im September 1976 erschüttern zwei schwere Erdbeben eine Landschaft im nordöstlichen Italien . An die tausend Menschen sterben unter den Trümmern, unzählige sind ohne Obdach, viele verlassen ihre Heimat. In Esther Kinskys preisgekröntem Roman berichten sieben Bewohner eines abgelegenen Bergdorfs, Männer und Frauen, von ihrem Leben, in dem das Beben tiefe Spuren hinterlassen hat. Von der gemeinsamen Erfahrung von Angst und Verlust spleißen sich bald die Fäden individueller Erinnerung ab und werden zu eindringlichen und berührenden Erzählungen tiefer, älterer Versehrung.

”Senere vil alle tale om lyden. Om romboen. Som det hele begyndte med. Som med ét slag forandrede alt, som man siger, selvom det snarere var et stød, som den dumpe, stumpe ende på en bevægelse, der er rullet nærmere langt borte fra.” I maj og september 1976 hærger to voldsomme jordskælv Friuli-regionen i det nordøstlige Italien og forårsager voldsomme skader på landskabet og dets beboere. Næsten tusind mennesker mister livet under murbrokkerne og mange må forlade deres hjem. I Esther Kinskys roman fortæller syv indbyggere i en lille bjerglandsby om deres liv, som er blevet dybt præget af jordskælvet. Langsomt lærer de at sætte ord på de spor, naturkatastrofen har sat i deres liv, og trådene i deres erindringer væves sammen til bevægende fortællinger om et fælles traume og en pludseligt rystet eksistens.