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Dr Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party Verlag: Vintage Englisch 5.00 CHF ISBN: 0679720336 |
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Auch Teil des Konvoluts «5 Bücher aus Romane» |
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**Graham Greene's *Bücher Dr. Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party* (Vintage, ISBN: 0679720336)** is a darkly satirical and morally challenging novella, published in 1980. The story centers on the immensely wealthy and eccentric **Dr. Fischer**, a man consumed by bitterness and a profound sense of injustice following the death of his beloved wife. Convinced of the inherent greed and moral depravity of humanity, particularly the wealthy elite of Geneva, he devises a cruel social experiment. Dr. Fischer hosts a series of bizarre and humiliating dinner parties, which he calls his "Bomb Parties." At these gatherings, his guests - a collection of sycophantic "toadies," businessmen, and socialites - endure various forms of verbal abuse, uncomfortable silences, and psychological torment. Their reward for enduring these indignities is the promise of lavish, sometimes ridiculously large, gifts, such as expensive watches, cars, or even checks for enormous sums. The catch is that they must debase themselves and reveal their desperate avarice in the process. The narrative is told through the eyes of **Alfred Jones**, a lonely, one-armed widower who works for a chocolate company. He finds himself drawn into Dr. Fischer's orbit after marrying the doctor's estranged, good-hearted daughter, Anna-Luise, who despises her father's cruel games. Jones, unlike the other guests, is initially unmotivated by greed and finds himself repulsed by Dr. Fischer's antics, yet he is fascinated by the old man's motives and the extent of human degradation he witnesses. **Key themes explored in the novella include:** * **Greed and the corrupting influence of wealth:** Greene meticulously dissects how the promise of money can strip individuals of their dignity, self-respect, and moral compass. * **Humiliation and power dynamics:** Dr. Fischer wields his wealth as a weapon, asserting absolute psychological power over his guests. * **The nature of good and evil:** The story grapples with the existence of genuine good (represented by Anna-Luise) amidst overwhelming cynicism and despair. * **Bitterness and revenge:** Dr. Fischer's actions are fueled by a deep-seated anger at the world and a desire for revenge, particularly against what he perceives as a cruel God. * **The search for meaning in a meaningless world:** Jones, through his interactions with Dr. Fischer and Anna-Luise, seeks to understand the limits of human endurance and the possibility of genuine affection. The "Bomb Party" of the title refers not just to these grotesque social gatherings, but also to the ultimate, metaphorical explosion of Dr. Fischer's nihilism and his final, most audacious challenge to his guests' materialistic desires, which serves as a stark commentary on the superficiality of high society. Characteristically Greene, the novella is infused with moral ambiguity, a sense of despair, and a bleak, ironic humor. It's a compact yet potent work, demonstrating Greene's mastery of psychological insight and his capacity for incisive social critique, leaving the reader to ponder the true cost of human desire |
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