Tag Archives: German

A rose is a rose is a rose

Posted on 20/07/2021 by alasdairflett

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco is presented to the reader as the text of an authentic medieval manuscript form the fourteenth century. Its author’s love for the time period radiates from every page; beyond passion, beyond fascination, … Continue reading →

Posted in Review | Tagged culture war, German, Literature, maximalism, medieval, middle ages, postmodernism, Review, The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco | 1 Comment

2019 in retrospect

Posted on 01/01/2020 by alasdairflett

In January work began in earnest on my German dissertation. I was comparing the 1950s poetry of two of East Germany’s leading literary figures: Bertolt Brecht and Heiner Müller. The latter had been charged with unoriginality in contemporary criticism of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience | Tagged dissertation, exams, German, life, Neolithic, Orkney, Shakespeare, The National Student | Leave a comment

Burger flippin’

Posted on 28/08/2018 by alasdairflett

You find me at the end of a month in the role of grillmaster at Eusa’s Gilded Garden burger outlet. After an unshaven dressinggowned week or so with a short intermission in Stirling for my brother’s brass band course concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience | Tagged burgers, Edinburgh, Eusa, Fringe, German, Gilded Balloon, Leipzig, Literature, Teviot | Leave a comment

Blog zum Semesterende

Posted on 28/08/2018 by alasdairflett

Do you know when an interior seems to suggest a certain lifestyle? Well here it’s in full effect and by here I mean this interim address post-student halls in Leipzig. I’ve found myself drinking herbal tea, reading niche German books … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience | Tagged German, Germany, Goethe, journal, Leipzig, life, Rousseau, Semesterende, Werther | Leave a comment

German & the Neutral Language?

Posted on 08/04/2018 by alasdairflett

Since I last committed pen to paper with the intention of publishing a blog nearly a whole month of me living in the city of Leipzig has passed. Tomorrow my first lectures and seminars begin after what I have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience | Tagged Buchmesse, English, Europe, German, language, Leipzig, University | 1 Comment

Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Flett

Posted on 25/02/2018 by alasdairflett

Ah, Sunday. A fine day for reflection and calm, quiet contemplation. In Germany a brief respite from consumerism (also perhaps an inconvenience). Additionally, and purely coincidentally, you understand, optimal for the garnering of likes as the weekend’s accomplishments tie together … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience | Tagged British Council, German, Germany, Hamburg, indie, journal, journalism, laundry, Leipzig, life, Literature, news, Sunday, University, work | 1 Comment

On Orwell

Posted on 28/01/2018 by alasdairflett

I don’t know if you know or don’t know but I’m currently living and, ostensibly, working in Germany as part of my Year Abroad from the University of Edinburgh. Hence weird gushing praise of Burns, hence the invocation of glorious … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Personal experience, Politics | Tagged Burns, Edinburgh, George Orwell, German, Germany, life, philosophy, Vikings, work, year abroad | 1 Comment

The rise of hyphenates and the demise of icons

Posted on 29/12/2016 by alasdairflett

As the concluding hours tick down on what to many has seemed a fairly dismal lap around the sun politically and in terms of “iconic” deaths I thought it was time to add my evaluation to the numerous top tens, … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Life, Music, Politics | Tagged 2016, Berlin, Edinburgh, exams, flats, Frankenstein, Fringe, German, Glasgow, Honeyblood, journalism, life, Motion Poets, Orkney, St Magnus Festival, Twin Peaks, Warpaint, We Were Promised Jetpacks, work | Leave a comment

Salutations from the Solstice

Posted on 21/12/2016 by alasdairflett

December. Brown leaves linger – decomposing streaks on recomposing streets whose lights and likenesses change to suit the season. I’m set to return soon, where no such sodden mulch is to be found. Another semester past. Another set of exams … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Tagged Auslandsjahr, December, Edinburgh, English literature, German, Germany, Hemmingway, humanities, leaves, Leipzig, Orkney, science, Solstice, Spain, University, year abroad | Leave a comment

Reise nach Deutschland

Posted on 15/09/2016 by alasdairflett

For the past fortnight I have enjoyed the pleasures and borne the anxieties of solo travel. I’ve always considered myself an uncultured swine for not having seen enough of the world, nor consumed adequately of its literature to compensate. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal experience | Tagged 2016, Berlin, Brandenburg, Burg, Cottbus, German, Germany, journal, journey, Prague, Spreewald, travel | Leave a comment