well i'm leaving
well i'm leaving is a non-fiction and travel book written by German television presenter, actor, comedian, singer and author Hape Herkeling. The work was published in 2009 by the publisher Free Press - currently known as Simon & Schuster - who translated it into English. The same year, the text had a translation into Spanish by the Suma de Letras label. After its release, it sold millions of copies not only in his native country, but also around the world.
Roughly, It is a diary where Hape Herkeling narrates his journey towards the Camino de Santiago or Jacobean route, a round of pilgrimage that believers follow to venerate the apostle Santiago de Compostela. Thanks to the great impact of well i'm leaving Many more people have had the opportunity to live this spiritual experience, either through reading or through the path of the starry sky.
Synopsis of well i'm leaving
Who was Santiago de Compostela?
James is known as one of the apostles who was sent by Jesus to preach. His mission was to travel to the end of the world, which, according to his beliefs, was in Spain. Upon arriving, he was supposed to evangelize the locals, but he was not listened to by the latter and was forced to return to his land. When he was near the shore of the Ebro Sea, in Zaragoza, the holy Virgin Mary appeared before his eyes..
Consequently, it is there where the Basilica del Pilar de Zaragoza was built. However, The apostle did not have much better luck on his journey, because when he set foot in Palestine, Santiago was beheaded by orders of King Herod. The body of the follower of Jesus was picked up from the ground by two of the monarch's disciples. Later, he was taken to Spain and buried there. Over time, thanks to constant wars and conquest, the site was forgotten.
Before the Apostle's Way
The XNUMXth century was an important period for European Christianity. During that time the hermit Palaius made an observation of the stars in the sky. These were illuminating Mount Libredón, so the man decided to turn and inform Bishop Teodomiro, and he identified the land as the resting place of Santiago. Meanwhile, the clergyman contacted King Alfonso Segundo de Casto, who ordered build a temple.
Then, Pope Leo is notified of the events, and the news spreads throughout Europe. This is how the tomb of Santiago becomes Compostela, named after the Latin conjunction stelae campus, which means star field. In this sense, the Camino de Santiago is the route taken to revere this tomb, and it was one of the great tourist and religious attractions of the Middle Ages, as well as a world heritage site according to the UNESCO.
Hape Herkeling's vision of the Camino de Santiago
For pilgrims and those curious about the history of Catholicism and its traditions, the road to Santiago It is more than a route. It is a spiritual approach to God and to themselves, of going through the test of loneliness, fatigue, the cold of the night, the heaviness of a backpack on one's back and other variables, etc. Some anecdotes related to this journey tend to be quite romantic, which has led other individuals to want to experience the star path.
However, Hape Herkeling narrates his encounter with the Camino in a hilarious way that has bothered some and delighted others.. The author does not stick to half measures to create his story about untied laces, bags that are too heavy or the temptation to return to a sedentary lifestyle. No. He narrates the secular perspective of it matter-of-factly, with complaints that have all sorts of origins. well i'm leaving It is a book about improvement and the ability to adapt.
Who should read this story?
It is possible that well i'm leaving It's not for everyone. On the one hand, the most fervent might consider that Hape Herkeling approaches the Camino de Santiago with cynicism, and who, moreover, develops exaggerated stories where there are unfounded complaints even when he lives a more privileged experience than that of many pilgrims. Likewise, the writer tends to skip stages of the trip and stay in very comfortable places. Also, as a general rule, he eats well.
However, The secular population might find the Hape Herkeling march inspiring and moving. This path begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, from which the author must travel almost 800 kilometers until reaching Spain, and then, specifically, Santiago de Compostela.
His trip lasts six weeks, with an eleven kilo backpack on his shoulders and a distance to travel that includes the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees, the Basque Country, Navarra, La Rioja and Castilla y León. In conclusion, Hape Herkeling manages to reach the tomb of Santiago.
About the author, Hans Peter Wilhelm
Hans Peter Wilhelm
Hans Peter Wilhelm was born in 1964, in Recklinghausen, West Germany. When he was in high school he formed a band and recorded an album. But his fame came later, between 1984 and 1985. During this time, At just 19 years old, he got his first role in roo, a television comedy show. Later, he was chosen to participate in other productions, such as Extratour.
In 1989 he started his own program called Normal Total, which was a satire that made fun of the productions of that time. The Hape Herkeling show made history, as the production style was very new, and the sections that were presented resulted in the interest and admiration of the public, which ensured several awards, such as the Goldene Kamera or the Bayerischer.
Hape Herkeling also sat in the director's chair with the film No sorry, released in 1992. As a writer, His best-known book is his pilgrimage diary, which he began writing in 2001., when he decided to leave for Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. This work was originally published in 2006 with the title I'm off then, and topped Spiegel magazine's best-seller list.