Own death

More about the book

In this short story, a man shares his innermost thoughts as he experiences a heart attack on the street, only to be revived after three and a half minutes. It presents a compelling narrative that intertwines the appalling and the ordinary, exploring themes of pain, fear, and acceptance while navigating the delicate boundary between life and death. The swift nature of this near-death experience contrasts with a series of photographs documenting a wild pear tree in the author's garden over a year, capturing its transformations under varying light conditions. This juxtaposition highlights the differences between immediate experience and the concept of the hereafter, while also reflecting on the passage of mortal time. Péter Nádas, born in Budapest in 1942, began his career as a press photographer before turning to writing. His first collection of stories was published in 1967, followed by the bestselling novel A Book of Memories in 1986. Recognized as one of the most significant authors of his time, Nádas has received numerous accolades, including the Austrian State Prize for European Literature and the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding. Steidl published his work Etwas Licht in 1991.