The Antichrist and the Crucified

A gripping literary study of Nietzsche`s last and boldest experiment with myth, religion and narration.

Just a few months before his breakdown in 1888/89, Friedrich Nietzsche began to retell the story of Jesus of Nazareth in a disturbing way - under no other title than »The Antichrist«. Immediately following this he proceeded to outline his self-portrait »Ecce Homo«, in stark contrast to this image of Jesus. And in his last letters he finally appeared himself in the role of Redeemer. The poet and philosopher, who had once proclaimed »God is dead«, now triumphantly announces: »God is on Earth«. And beneath this statement he signs his name: »The Crucified«.
The changes that take place between these texts have continually been understood as symptoms of the outbreak of insanity. In his analysis of Nietzsche`s last texts, Detering goes beyond the old arguments focusing on philosophy and illness.

He sees them as elements of a long story unfolding before the eyes of the reader, a piece of work with the subject of myth at its centre, which follows its own form of literary logic.

The Author
Heinrich Detering, born in 1959, is a Professor of German and Comparative Literature Studies in Göttingen. In 2003 he was awarded the Hoffmann and Campe Critics` Prize, and in 2009 the Leibniz German Research Council Prize. He is a co-editor of the commented edition of the works of Thomas Mann, and has written books on Thomas Mann, Bob Dylan and Bertolt Brecht.

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Italy: Carocci
China: SDX Joint Publishing