The Happy Moment

New essays by one of the most important German-language poets

Jan Wagner is not only gifted but also an enthusiastic poet even in his prose. His passionate portraits of fellow poets such as Dylan Thomas and Inger Christensen are so compelling that they make you want to buy and read their complete works on the spot. Whatever Wagner writes about – whether it is the relationship between poetry and photography, motor scooters or “ghost money” in Vietnam, passports and borders or something as simple as the hoopoe bird – his open, marvelling view of the world turns these casually elegant essays into wonderful lucky draws. In each one, masterfully crafted stories and ever-surprising insights can be found.