Das Ende einer Welt

The immensely rich Marchesa Montetristo has ordered an artificial island to be created in the lagoon near Venice, as she feels the mainland a threat to her mental equilibrium and she has found nothing suitable among the existing islands.
She is now esconced on “San Amerigo” and celebrates ‘culture’. She has issued invitations to one of her celebrated soirées: her guest list includes illustrious names from the spheres of art, science and politics. Not included in any of these circles, but also among today’s invited guests, is Mr Fallersleben to whom the Marchesa is particularly indebted as he has recently sold her the very bathtub in which the famous Marat was murdered.
The highlight of the evening is the performance of a reputedly rediscovered flute sonata from the 18th century, actually a fake. The Marchesa herself accompanies the flautist Beranger on the harpsichord. During the concert, a tremor is felt through the palazzo: its fortifications have been washed away by the sea, but the musical performance continues regardless. “San Amerigo”, the artificial island and its world of artificiality sinks slowly – and with it all the illustrious guests. Only Fallersleben is able to save himself – in Marat’s bathtub.

"The world in which Wolfgang Hildesheimer’s loveless novella is set only sank in part at the time; the number of artificial islands has been reduced, but snobs are ubiquitous. To Hildesheimer’s uncharitableness, my own is added which is not dissimilar to that of the poet. It is not the world itself which is sinking, but a particular world which is minutely and accurately depicted and it is this world which infuriates us as it provokes unease and even horror."