The measurement of the world
The measurement of the world -or Die Vermessung der Welt, by its original German title, is a fictional double biography written by the Munich professor, translator and author Daniel Kehlmann. The work was first published in 2005 by the publishing house Rowohlt Verlag. In 2006, Maeva released an edition translated into Spanish by Rosa Pilar Blanco.
The novel has received mostly positive reviews from the specialized press., especially in German and English media. However, some scientists have complained about the text's historical and mathematical inaccuracy, as well as its simplification of the personalities of the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and the astronomer Carl Friedrich Gauss.
Synopsis of The measurement of the world
The explosion of experimental science in Europe
It took Europe a century and a half of success to consider experimental science as a profitable form of progress. Its development between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century convinced the society of the time thanks to its measurement capacity. In pursuit of this growing need to measure everything, the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and the astronomer and mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss undertook a journey.
This was not just any journey, but an eventful intellectual ride. His personal challenge was to work on the largest possible measurement: that of the world. In this way, Daniel Kehlmann draws the work environment that surrounded the period of enlightenment. Although the context is historical and belongs to the intellectuals of the time, the author takes quite a few creative liberties regarding the process.
A portrait of Humboldt and Gauss
The measurement of the world revolves around the lives of two great men of the German Enlightenment: Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss. The work does not attempt to make literature about the scientific triumphs of each, but rather to show the more human nature of both geniuses, delving a little into their values, will and spirit, especially because both tried to measure the world.
However, the two characters did it in very different ways. Humboldt did so through his countless travels, while Gauss dedicated himself to studying in seclusion in his beloved and forced sedentary lifestyle. During his maturity, in Berlin in 1828, The experts met again to nostalgically review the direction of their lives, your old dreams, adventures and achievements.
The reason for the media victory of The measurement of the world
There are several reasons to highlight in terms of the great popularity that this novel by Daniel Kehlmann has had, among them: the mix between biography and fiction, the close relationship between rooted rationality and magical realism and the presentation of the archetype of the scientist. along with the aspect of the human being. These factors are involved in a sweet lens of melancholy combined with irony and humor.
Due to the construction of the work itself, it appears to be simple, but Its plot is based on the psychological profile of its characters rather than on their scientific achievements. The measurement of the world It is based on a diverse list of voices, which enter and leave at every moment, so it is necessary to pay attention to the names, characteristics and roles of each one so as not to lose sight of the story.
reviews of The measurement of the world
The novel reached number 1 on the list of bestsellers of the Spiegel in Germany and remained in this position for 37 weeks. It was also a huge international success: on April 15, 2007, el New York Times listed it as the second best-selling book in the world in 2006. As of October 2012, 2,3 million copies had been sold in Germany alone.
Its global circulation statistics place it at around 6 million readers. In 2012, the book was made into a film directed by Detlev Buck and starring Albrecht Schuch, Florian David Fitz and Vicky Krieps. The script, written by Kehlmann himself, respects the dynamics of the novel and takes it to more visual dimensions, emphasizing the most curious details of the protagonists' lives.
Psychological profile of Humboldt and Gauss According to The measurement of the world
The novel begins in 1828 with a trip by Gauss, the "Prince of Mathematics", from Göttingen to Berlin on his way to the historically documented 17th meeting of the Society of German Naturalists and Physicians, where Humboldt invited him. Since this visit, The two scientists corresponded and exchanged information about their projects.
Integrated into this framework are the biographies of Gauss and Humboldt, told alternately in chapters. Carl Friedrich Gauss grew up in poor conditions under the great care of his mother. Therefore, her image of his wife is greatly influenced by her. Due to his good performance in school, Gauss received a scholarship from the Duke of Braunschweig. Since he hardly got along with less intelligent people, he spent most of his time alone.
About the Author
Daniel Kehlmann was born on January 13, 1975, in Munich, Germany. His literary activity began at a very early age. Already in his university years he had written his first novel. In 1997, he wrote several reviews for media such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Rundschau, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung y literature.
Your book The measurement of the world became the best-seller in the German language since The perfumeby Patrick Süskind. Throughout her career she has received several awards, including the Kleist Prize (2006). The author has also worked as a professor at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.
Other books by Daniel Kehlmann
- Beerholms Vorstellung / The Night of the Illusionist (1997);
- Unter der Sonne (1998);
- Mahlers Zeit (1999);
- Der fernste Ort (2001);
- Ich und Kaminski, 2003 / Me and Kaminski (2005);
- Die Vermessung der Welt, 2005 / Measuring the world (2006);
- Wo ist Carlos Montúfar? (2005);
- Diese sehr ernsten Scherze (2007);
- Ein Roman in neun Geschichten / Fame. A novel in nine stories (2009);
- F (2013);
- Tyll, 2017 / Tyll (2019)