description Auto-da-Fé Overview
*Auto-da-Fé* is a 1935 German-language novel by Elias Canetti that details the intellectual and physical destruction of Peter Kien, a reclusive sinologist. Kien's structured, isolated life in his vast library collapses when he marries his housekeeper, leading to his eventual downfall. Originally titled *Die Blendung* (The Blinding), the work gained significant international recognition decades later when Canetti was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981.
insights Ranking position
Auto-da-Fé ranks #39 of 107 in the Philosophical Fiction ranking, behind The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, ahead of Man's Fate.
help Auto-da-Fé FAQ
Who is the main character in Elias Canetti's novel Auto-da-Fé?
The main character is Peter Kien, a reclusive, internationally renowned sinologist who lives entirely for his massive private library of 25,000 books. His descent begins when he makes the disastrous decision to marry his housekeeper, Therese.
Did Elias Canetti win the Nobel Prize in Literature for Auto-da-Fé?
Elias Canetti won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981. While the Nobel committee cited his broader body of work, Auto-da-Fé remains his most famous novel and cemented his legacy in modern literature.
What happens to Peter Kien's library at the end of Auto-da-Fé?
At the end of the novel, Peter Kien deliberately sets fire to his own vast library, choosing to perish among his beloved books. This catastrophic event reflects the title and serves as the ultimate physical and intellectual collapse of his world.
What does the original German title of Auto-da-Fé translate to in English?
The original German title of the 1935 novel is Die Blendung, which translates to The Blinding. English publishers later adopted the title Auto-da-Fé to emphasize the book's themes of a fiery, inquisitorial sacrifice.
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