An excellent book about a journey—through space and time—along the Danube. The author travels hundreds of kilometers, from the river’s source to its mouth. He passes through several countries, and during his visits to different towns, writers, local scholars, landscapes, artistic monuments, and the author’s own reflections on various topics come to light, woven naturally into the narrative.
This book lies somewhere between an essay, autobiography, diary, and the cultural history of the countries he visits—a travel book... Reading it requires serenity; a slow, thoughtful pace is recommended. It's not essential to be familiar with the places and people mentioned in the story; Magris makes them feel close to the reader.
Each sentence is polished, measured; the whole work proves enriching for Western European readers, who are often unfamiliar with Central and Eastern Europe. The map at the end of the book helps to locate, at each moment, the geographical stage of the journey we’re following.
The initial pages may be harder to read. Whoever holds the book must adapt to the author's style and rhythm; they may discover whether it is the right moment to take on this reading.