Silvio Blatter
Encyclopedia
Silvio Blatter is a Swiss writer.
, canton Aargau. He worked as a primary school teacher for six years in Aarau
, the capital of canton Aargau. In 1970, he worked in a metalworking company.
In 1972, Blatter began his college education at the University of Zurich
in literature and language studies, matriculating after six semesters. In 1974, he was employed as a machinist in the plastics industry. The following year, he completed training for directors of audio plays at the Swiss Broadcast (Schweizer Radio DRS, part of SRG SSR idée suisse
).
After long stays in Amsterdam
and Husum, Blatter finally settled in Zürich
as a freelance writer. Currently, he resides in Oberglatt (canton Zurich)
.
. In his early works, he described every-day life and the monotony of industrial work in a very haunting and detailed manner. The author became known due to his Freiamt-Trilogie ("Freiamt trilogy") comprising the following novels that were published in Blatter’s home region that is called "Freiamt
" (a certain part of Aargau):
These thick books paint a wide picture of the Freiamt region and its inhabitants. They are realistic family novels. In "Das sanfte Gesetz" for example, Blatter portrays four generations of the fictional family Wolf, a family of entrepreneurs. They suffer tragedy. After a car crash, one family member needs leg amputation, another family member is shot by the police and the son loves his young stepmother, who gets pregnant and the reader doesn’t know by whom. In another volume of the trilogy, a little boy observes hand grenades stolen from a small Swiss army depot at a drill ground/shooting range.
Blatter’s narrative style is very realistic and modern. He mentions the boy playing Nintendo
Game & Watch
hand-held games and names of pop songs and singers (Herbert Grönemeyer
, Level 42
and others). Even He-Man
from Masters of the Universe
plays a role. The child discusses religion with a nun and compares He-Man with Jesus
, coming to the conclusion that Jesus, who was a "transformer," wouldn’t have a chance against his enemies, when he – after the Christian belief - becomes man in Judgment Day. Man’s body was weak because it was of flesh, so Jesus shall stay a roadside granite sculpture.
Despite the realistic style, some of Blatter’s books contain a slight trace of everyday magic that Blatter seemingly doesn’t want destroy. In "Das sanfte Gesetz," there is a totemist thinking of Nina, the mysterious nun and the great-grandfather talking to his donkeys, sending light beams into space. Blatter himself sometimes seems to describe life in esoteric terms.
During the 1990s, Blatter stopped writing, as he had taken up painting. Since 2000, writing and painting again have the same importance for him.
Centre (from 1984 to 1986 he was its chairman) and of the club "Autorinnen und Autoren der Schweiz".
Life
Silvio Blatter was born into a working-class family. He attended school at the "Bezirksschule"-level in his hometown. From 1962 to 1966, he attended the teacher’s seminar in WettingenWettingen
Wettingen is a residential community in the district of Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau. With a population about 20,000, Wettingen is the largest municipality in the canton.-Geography:...
, canton Aargau. He worked as a primary school teacher for six years in Aarau
Aarau
Aarau is the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The city is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aar, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura...
, the capital of canton Aargau. In 1970, he worked in a metalworking company.
In 1972, Blatter began his college education at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
in literature and language studies, matriculating after six semesters. In 1974, he was employed as a machinist in the plastics industry. The following year, he completed training for directors of audio plays at the Swiss Broadcast (Schweizer Radio DRS, part of SRG SSR idée suisse
SRG SSR idée suisse
SRG SSR is the Swiss public broadcasting organisation, founded in 1931 as SRG-SSR. Headquartered in Bern, SRG SSR is a non-profit organisation, funded mainly through radio and television licence fees and making the remaining income from advertising and sponsorship.Switzerland's system of direct...
).
After long stays in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Husum, Blatter finally settled in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
as a freelance writer. Currently, he resides in Oberglatt (canton Zurich)
Oberglatt
Oberglatt is a municipality in the district of Dielsdorf in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley . Zürich Airport is partially in Oberglatt.-Geography:...
.
Work
Silvio Blatter mostly writes proseProse
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
. In his early works, he described every-day life and the monotony of industrial work in a very haunting and detailed manner. The author became known due to his Freiamt-Trilogie ("Freiamt trilogy") comprising the following novels that were published in Blatter’s home region that is called "Freiamt
Freiamt
Freiamt is a town in the district of Emmendingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
" (a certain part of Aargau):
- Zunehmendes Heimweh (literally: "Increasing homesickness")
- Kein schöner Land (literally: "No beautiful land". Note: The German title stems from an old fixed phrase that uses land with a male article, although the neuter article would be the correct use today.)
- Das sanfte Gesetz (literally: "The soft law").
These thick books paint a wide picture of the Freiamt region and its inhabitants. They are realistic family novels. In "Das sanfte Gesetz" for example, Blatter portrays four generations of the fictional family Wolf, a family of entrepreneurs. They suffer tragedy. After a car crash, one family member needs leg amputation, another family member is shot by the police and the son loves his young stepmother, who gets pregnant and the reader doesn’t know by whom. In another volume of the trilogy, a little boy observes hand grenades stolen from a small Swiss army depot at a drill ground/shooting range.
Blatter’s narrative style is very realistic and modern. He mentions the boy playing Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Game & Watch
Game & Watch
is a line of handheld electronic games produced by Nintendo from to . Created by game designer Gunpei Yokoi, each Game & Watch features a single game to be played on an LCD screen in addition to a clock and an alarm ....
hand-held games and names of pop songs and singers (Herbert Grönemeyer
Herbert Grönemeyer
Herbert Grönemeyer is a German musician and actor, popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He starred as war correspondent Lieutenant Werner in Wolfgang Petersen's movie Das Boot, but later concentrated on his musical career...
, Level 42
Level 42
Level 42 are an English pop rock and jazz-funk band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s.The band gained fame for their high-calibre musicianship—in particular that of Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the...
and others). Even He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
from Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
plays a role. The child discusses religion with a nun and compares He-Man with Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, coming to the conclusion that Jesus, who was a "transformer," wouldn’t have a chance against his enemies, when he – after the Christian belief - becomes man in Judgment Day. Man’s body was weak because it was of flesh, so Jesus shall stay a roadside granite sculpture.
Despite the realistic style, some of Blatter’s books contain a slight trace of everyday magic that Blatter seemingly doesn’t want destroy. In "Das sanfte Gesetz," there is a totemist thinking of Nina, the mysterious nun and the great-grandfather talking to his donkeys, sending light beams into space. Blatter himself sometimes seems to describe life in esoteric terms.
During the 1990s, Blatter stopped writing, as he had taken up painting. Since 2000, writing and painting again have the same importance for him.
Memberships
Silvio Blatter is a member of the Swiss-German PENInternational PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
Centre (from 1984 to 1986 he was its chairman) and of the club "Autorinnen und Autoren der Schweiz".
Awards and tributes
- 1972 Assisting price of Zürich city
- 1974 Conrad-Ferdinand-Meyer-PreisConrad-Ferdinand-Meyer-PreisThe Conrad-Ferdinand-Meyer-Preis is a literary award in memory of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer.The prize is given annually to up to three recipients by the Conrad Ferdinand Meyer-Stiftung in Zurich.-Laureates:*1938 Max Frisch*1939 Franz Fischer...
- 1978 Assisting price of Zürich city
- 1979 Price of the “Neue Literarische Gesellschaft”
Books
The literal English translations of the book titles are given in brackets- Brände kommen unerwartet, Zürich 1968 (Burnings come unexpected)
- Eine Wohnung im Erdgeschoß, Aarau 1970 (A flat on ground floor)
- Schaltfehler, Zürich 1972 (Switching Error(s))
- Mary Long, Zürich 1973
- Nur der König trägt Bart, Zürich 1973 (Only the King wears a beard)
- Flucht und Tod des Daniel Zoff, Aarau 1974 (Escape and death of Daniel Zoff)
- Genormte Tage, verschüttete Zeit, Frankfurt am Main 1976 (Normed days, buried time)
- Zunehmendes Heimweh, Frankfurt am Main u.a. 1978 (Increasing homesickness)
- Love me tender, Frankfurt am Main 1980
- Die Schneefalle, Zürich u.a. 1981 (The snow trap)
- Kein schöner Land, Frankfurt am Main 1983 (No beautiful country)
- Die leisen Wellen, Zürich 1985, together with Ulrich Anderegg (The silent waves)
- Wassermann, Frankfurt am Main 1986 (Aquarius)
- Das sanfte Gesetz, Frankfurt am Main 1988 (The soft law)
- Das blaue Haus, Frankfurt am Main 1990 (The blue house)
- Avenue America, Frankfurt am Main u.a. 1992
- Der blinde Fleck, Zürich 1992 (The blind spot)
- Die Glückszahl, Frankfurt am Main 2001 (The lucky number)
- Zwölf Sekunden Stille, Frankfurt am Main 2004 (Twelve seconds of silence)