W.G. Sebald’s The Emigrants is an incredibly vivid and affecting account of four Jewish refugees, all of whom are searching for a sense of belonging. Through four distinct yet interconnected narrative perspectives, Sebald offers up a gripping, humane exploration of displacement, trauma, and memory.
The novel itself intertwines the lives of four protagonists who, in the aftermath of World War II, are seeking to make sense of their shattered lives: Max Ferber, an elderly doctor; Paul Bereyter, a retired schoolteacher; Dr. Henry Selwyn, a Harvard lecturer; and Adele Niethammer, a lecturer at the University of Bamberg. Each of these individuals were displaced from their countries of origin during the war, and Sebald meditates upon the psychological effects of that displacement, as well as the circumstances that led to their departure.
Max Ferber’s narrative serves as the foundation, introducing us to the personal history of all four protagonists and recounting his own experience as somewhat of a “youthful exile” following the Nazis’ rise to power. He is driven by a desire to escape, to find a home in a land free from the horrors of the past. Paul Bereyter, on the other hand, seems to have found solace in his adopted homeland of Sweden, but his story reveals how permanently scarred he remains from his past and how the haunting memories of the terrors of war continue to haunt him.
The third major perspective belongs to Dr. Henry Selwyn, a learned Harvard professor. His account reveals his traumatic past, as he recounts how he narrowly escaped from the Nazis by fleeing to America and finding the safety of Harvard’s campus. Lastly, Adele Niethammer, a teacher of German language, finds herself in Bamberg, and her story illustrates the effects of her displacement in a formerly hostile country.
Through this collection of interconnected stories, Sebald paints a devastating picture of how each of these individuals’ lives were forever changed by displacement. He adeptly captures the sense of displacement, alienation, and rootlessness that becomes a part of the lives of those who are forced to flee for one reason or another. This poignant narrative is enriched by Sebald’s profound insights into the psyche of the narrator, as well as his unique ability to interweave personal, historical, and philosophical reflections upon the subject material.
The Emigrants is a profoundly affecting work, and one that will linger with readers long after the last page is read. It is an intimate exploration of displacement, trauma, and memory, and serves as a powerful reminder that though thepast cannot be undone, it must still be remembered. Through this thoughtful and heartbreaking narrative, Sebald presents us with an unforgettable portrait of displacement, teaching us that it is possible to move forward and find meaning, even in times of immense pain.
