Short Letter, Long Farewell

About “Short Letter, Long Farewell”

In Der kurze Brief zum langen Abschied, a 1972 novel by Peter Handke, a young Austrian man travels across the United States while fleeing from and searching for his wife, Judith. During his journey, he meets Claire and participates in a discussion about the relationship between theater and reality after a performance of Schiller’s Don Carlos. He also encounters his brother, who remains deeply connected to his childhood, and speaks with John Ford about nature and history. The protagonist’s sadness and sense of hopelessness contrast with the different rhythms and lifestyles of the foreign country. The novel is a contemporary coming-of-age story, blending the adventure of a separation with the tension of a detective story.