This podcast features a captivating 1903 translation of Étienne Pivert de Senancours seminal work, Obermann. Initially overlooked by the reading public when it was first released during the tumultuous Napoleonic Wars in 1804, the novel experienced a revival nearly three decades later, earning accolades from literary giants such as Balzac, George Sand, and even Franz Liszt. Obermann is an epistolary novel presented in the form of a personal diary, where the protagonists inner turmoil takes center stage over physical action. Spanning a decade, the narrative captures Obermanns reflections on historical events, the evolution of philosophical thought, and, most poignantly, his emotional journey. Translator A.E. Waite beautifully conveys this poignant work, bringing to life haunting themes of solitude, existential despair, and a quest for direction. - Summary by Carolin