First published 2003
Stefan Hertmans positions himself on the periphery of European cities, studying their inhabitants and urban landscapes. He uncovers what he calls an archaeology of streets and faces across diverse locations. His journey takes him through marginal cities like Trieste, Dresden, and Bratislava, as well as major centers including Vienna, Marseille, Sydney, and Amsterdam. While in Salzburg, he reflects on Sarajevo. Standing in the Netherlands, his thoughts turn to Brussels. This constant movement between places creates a persistent sense of foreignness, where he loses parts of himself only to rediscover them elsewhere. Hertmans weaves together travel narratives with philosophical reflections, demonstrating that every external journey becomes an internal voyage of self-discovery.
Genres: travel, 21st-century, architecture, cities, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, internal-journey
Setting: Amsterdam, Bratislava, Brussels, Dresden, Marseille, Salzburg, Sydney, Trieste, Vienna
Period: 21st-century
248 pages · Paperback · Le Castor astral