Thus, the reviewed Chapters in Sebald’s book can be best described within the context of the author coining up a philosophical justification for what he appears as being very good at – self-lynching. However, as Sebald proceeds with his walk, it dawns upon him that it is no longer appropriate to talk about Nazism as a historical phenomenon, but rather as something that naturally derives out of European mentality, which causes the author to feel even more pain from being unable to escape from the fact that he is German by birth. Then, Sebald is being struck with the vision of a German town being set ablaze by British and American bombers, which author’s twisted way of thinking relates to the notion of so-called “historical guilt”, on the part of Germans. He talks about George Wyndham’s idea of pacifying rebellions in India with the means to sending their hungry Irishmen, in order to make use out of Irish “mental destructiveness”. For example, he mentions Samuel Peto’s “industrial enthusiasm” in conjunction with British colonial subjects in Africa being mercilessly exploited. 3).ĭuring the course of his walks in Chapters I and II, the author meditates on a variety of seemingly unrelated subjects and events, which help Sebald to come to terms with his existential frustration. Sebald indulges in lengthy contemplations on what represents the link between today’s reality and the events that had taken place in the past, and the fact that he grows to recognize this link, in its various emanations, causes Sebald to become afraid of surrounding reality: “Several times during the day I felt a desire to assure myself of a reality I feared had vanished forever by looking out of that hospital window” (Sebald, p.

The rings of saturn book