''Abismoj'' ( en, italic=yes, Abysses) is a 1923 novel written by
Jean Forge
Jan Fethke (26 February 1903 – 16 December 1980) was a German-Polish film director and, under the pen name Jean Forge, a successful author. He also was a famous proponent of the language Esperanto.
Life
Born in Oppeln, Silesia, Jan Fethke ...
, the first he wrote originally in
Esperanto
Esperanto ( or ) is the world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Created by the Warsaw-based ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, it was intended to be a universal second language for international communi ...
. It describes and profoundly analyzes conflicts in the soul. Already there appear the greatest strengths of Forge's work, the original form, the figures themselves speak about themselves and about their problems; the form and the inventive narration style give this work important significance in Esperanto literature.
The core of this novel is a daily repeating story, but Forge is able with his masterful pen to make it interesting to the last word ... Strikingly clear style, popularly deep psychology and in absolutely classical Esperanto. (Jobo, ''Literatura Mondo
''Literatura Mondo'' (''Literary World'') was a literary Esperanto periodical and publishing house in Budapest, Hungary between 1922 and 1949. It became the focal point of the so-called Budapest School of Esperanto literature. It was founded by T ...
'' 1923, p. 140).
Contents
The novel uses a
frame narrative
A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent.
Frame and FRAME may also refer to:
Physical objects
In building construction
*Framing (con ...
, and the main plot of the story is said to be written based on the visions the unlucky author(in the story outside the main plot) saw while being captivated in the magic of an indian monk.
Ernesto Muŝko (pron. Mushko) behaved badly indulging in alcoholism and women going around cafes and spent all his wealth on his indulgence, leaving him huge amount of debt as a result. A means of salvation suddenly appears: to marry Halino Borki, the sole daughter of a rich neighbor who through boredom and a yearning for love at first accepts his proposal. Mateo Ardo, an orphan, has been educated with Zonjo, and they get engaged. But Mateo by chance, having arrived at Mr. Borki's house, appeals to his daughter and is almost seduced by her. Muŝko burns his house in despair after confusing the landlord with Ardo, while Mateo manages to escape from the sinful passion and return to his first love.
Main characters
*Ernesto Muŝko, country estate owner in Karlovo
*Halino Borki, daughter of a neighboring country estate owner in Nivi
*Mateo Ardo, art painter
*Zonjo Biringo, his fiancée
Adaptation for the theater
The novel was adapted by
Arno Lagrange for the theater under the title ''Trajna sonĝo'' (~Train dream) and offered for an international production at the 72nd
World Convention of Esperanto in Warsaw in 1987. The production however did not take place.
References
{{reflist
Sources
*The first version of this article is a translation from the
article "Abismoj" in Esperanto Wikipedia.
*Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto, 1887-2007 by Geoffrey Sutton · 2008
Esperanto novels
1923 German novels
Esperanto in Germany
Novels by Jean Forge