The Twilight World

A Novel

De: Werner Herzog, Michael Hofmann - translator

Narrado por: Werner Herzog

“A potent, vaporous fever dream; a meditation on truth, lie, illusion, and time that floats like an aromatic haze through Herzog’s vivid reconstruction of Onoda’s war.” —The New York Times Book Review

The national bestseller by the great filmmaker Werner Herzog.

The great filmmaker Werner Herzog, in his first novel, tells the incredible story of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier who defended a small island in the Philippines for twenty-nine years after the end of World War II

In 1997, Werner Herzog was in Tokyo to direct an opera. His hosts asked him, Whom would you like to meet? He replied instantly: Hiroo Onoda. Onoda was a former soldier famous for having quixotically defended an island in the Philippines for decades after World War II, unaware the fighting was over. Herzog and Onoda developed an instant rapport and met many times, talking and unraveling the story of Onoda’s long war.

At the end of 1944 on Lubang Island, with Japanese troops about to withdraw, Onoda stayed behind under orders from his superior officer. For years, Onoda continued to fight his fictitious war—at first with other soldiers, and then, finally, alone, a character in a novel of his own making.

In The Twilight World, Herzog immortalizes and imagines Onoda’s years of absurd yet epic struggle in an inimitable, hypnotic style—part documentary, part poem, and part dream—that will be instantly recognizable to fans of his films. The result is a novel completely unto itself: a glowing, dancing meditation on the purpose and meaning we give our lives.

©2022 Werner Herzog and Michael Hofmann (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

One of The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2022

“[A] potent, vaporous fever dream; a meditation on truth, lie, illusion and time that floats like an aromatic haze through Herzog’s vivid reconstruction of Onoda’s war . . . Hofmann’s resonant translation conveys the portentous shimmer of Herzog’s voice.”—New York Times Book Review

“[A] wondrous first novel . . .”—The New Yorker

“[A] spare and lyric tale . . . In his feverish search for ecstatic truths, Herzog has given readers a portal into human folly, self-discipline and domination—surely his life’s work.”—Washington Post

This is a great book, wonderfully read

There is no one in the world like Werner Herzog. His voice is so unique and expressive and this is exactly his kind of story. A great pleasure to listen to this tale.

Truly enthralling

This is the only way to make the book better is to have been read it by the author himself. A truly magnificent masterpiece

Top ten anime anti heros

Fascinating book, written and read by my favorite anime hearthtrob Verner hertzog. Just wish it was longer but it’s short and sweet.

Hauntingly beautiful.

Beginning with clarity, over the years in the dense jungle he gradually slips into a fever dream - feeling like he's never completely awake nor asleep. Time loses all meaning. Companions who died years before walk with him through the dark trees. After nearly 30 years, the world he finally steps out into is nearly unrecognizable. The one he left behind when he first entered the jungle is a place he will never find again. The threads connecting him to his past have been severed, one after the other, until only a few precious touchstones remain.

In Our World Full Of Know It Alls… There Is So Much We Don’t Know

After reading this I realized I knew very little about what it truly means to be honorable.

Immersive and captivating

A beautiful vignette of a rare moment in time and history. Onoda had to be full of both purpose and hubris to stick to the plan so perfectly. A testament to the Japanese WW2 mindset.

Wow great story!

This is a short listen and well worth listening to this story of those who stayed and defended the island.

The Joongeel

That voice, he must know people love it when he says jungle. I’d like to read it next.

Incredible story!

I had heard of Hiroo Onoda but never really gave his story much thought. This book by Werner Herzog brings his story to light and tells the amazing story of his continued fight and dedication for years after the war ended. 5 stars all around!

A Testament to False Conviction

All of us are capable of self deception, not all of us can truly commit.