"Terribly amusing - but without me in future"
He only came third in the competition for the most beautiful male legs on board. But for his attempt to write the best (and most amusing) cruise book ever, David Foster Wallace deserves my personal first place.
"Terribly amusing - but in the future without me" is the title of his work, which was first published in German in 2005. Ten years after the genius US author's suicide, a beautifully illustrated new edition has now been published that has lost none of its topicality. Quite the opposite: if you look at the new megaliners and their audiences today, you can be sure that people on board will continue to ask whether you will really get wet on a snorkeling trip or what time the midnight buffet is served ...
Even worse: the "what does the world cost and what are we supposed to do here anyway" mentality of many (mostly American) cruisers ashore. Just in time for the start of this year's Mediterranean season, I experienced this live in Barcelona last week: crowds of passengers pushing their way through the streets of the old town, recklessly and noisily, as well as cruise excursionists reaching into the shop window at the market to have their photo taken with a fish head or asking for the nearest Disney store on the Passeig de Gracia...
It's all terribly amusing - but without me in future, please!
P.S. The book with illustrations by Chrigel Farner has been published by Edition Büchergilde, is available for € 20.60 and is highly recommended as a summer read!
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