Author Peter Stamm Commissions Work titled 'The Archive of Feelings'
In our complex, often bewildering world, everyone tries to make some semblance of sense by examining life through various lenses. This includes reading, private journals, conversations with friends, and even psychoanalysis. Swiss writer Peter Stamm, in his latest novel The Archive of Feelings published by Acilado/Quaderns Crema, introduces a man who meticulously catalogs his existence in a series of files. One particular filing cabinet, the protagonist's most guarded, is dedicated to Franziska, a renowned singer he went to school with. This file, spanning two kilograms, symbolizes a love that endures unabated. After much contemplation, the narrator decides to reach out to his cherished former flame. Yet, this decision could potentially disrupt the serene life he's constructed for himself. He questions whether affection can be preserved like his immaculate files, a testament to his ponderings that Peter Stamm seeks to unravel within this enchanting love story.
Stamm opens up about his creative process during an interview with the 'Página Dos' team at the Kornhausbibliothek in Bern. Surrounded by the wealth of historical information, he draws inspiration from a friend working in an important official archive. In a digitalized age, Stamm wonders about the significance of the accumulated documents. He concludes that they merely represent an incomplete world, as the internet only captured a minute fraction of human experience.
Stamm perceives his novel as showcasing the protagonist's imagined memories, a dreamlike escape he has constructed. The character must ultimately learn to re-enter reality, finding solace in literature as an archive of feelings but recognizing that it's essential to engage with the real world at some point. Switzerland, with its nearby and overwhelming nature, keeps the author grounded and awake.
Peter Stamm, born in 1963, pursued studies in English Philology, Psychology, Psychopathology, and Computer Science in Zurich. He has spent extensive periods in Paris, New York, and the Scandinavian countries and began his literary career in 1990. Acilado has published his novels, such as Agnes (2001), Approximate Landscape (2003), Today is the Same (2007), Seven Years (2011), Night is the Day (2016), and Through the Mountain (2019). Additionally, the publisher has released his short story collections, including Ice Rain (2002), In Other Gardens (2006), The Divers (2010), and At the Lake's Back (2014).
- The intricate world of relationships, including love-and-dating, is a significant focus in Peter Stamm's novels, often serving as a lens through which he explores themes such as personal-growth and emotional connections.
- Stamm's approach to writing, as shared in interviews, frequently involves drawing inspiration from various sources, such as education-and-self-development, psychology, and even books.
- In his latest work, The Archive of Feelings, Stamm uses the metaphor of physical archives to delve into the complexities of human relationships, suggesting that our memories, like books or files, are incomplete representations of our lived experiences.
- Throughout his career, which spans across multiple disciplines and countries, Stamm has produced a substantial body of work that includes novels and short story collections, demonstrating a dedication to exploring the average lifestyle and the human condition through his writing.
