Corona, Corona

Corona, Corona is a poetry collection published in March 2021 by Michael Hofmann during the global pandemic. The poems capture observations and reflections from the first months of lockdown in the UK. The collection documents everyday moments and scenes as ordinary life shifted under pandemic restrictions. Hofmann records both personal experiences and broader societal changes through precise, unadorned language. Written in free verse with minimal punctuation, the poems move between domestic spaces, empty streets, and virtual connections that defined the early pandemic period. The work explores themes of isolation, uncertainty, and how meaning is created in times of crisis, without offering easy answers or forced optimism. Through close observation of a historic moment, the collection examines how humans adapt to radical change while maintaining connection to the ongoing rhythms of daily life.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Michael Hofmann's overall work: Readers value Hofmann's precise translations, noting his ability to maintain authors' distinct voices while making the text accessible in English. Poetry readers appreciate his sharp observations and dark humor, though some find his style too detached or cerebral. Liked: - Translation clarity and accuracy, particularly of Kafka and Joseph Roth works - Ability to capture nuanced cultural contexts - Critical insights in essays and reviews - Poetry that examines displacement and cultural identity Disliked: - Poetry sometimes viewed as emotionally cold - Dense academic language in criticism - Translations occasionally criticized for being too literal - Essays can be confrontational in tone Ratings: - Goodreads: "Selected Poems" - 3.8/5 (42 ratings) - Amazon: "Where Have You Been?" - 4.2/5 (15 reviews) - "Behind the Lines" averages 4.0/5 across review platforms One reader noted: "His translations breathe new life into German classics without losing their essence." Another commented: "His poetry requires work but rewards close reading."

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel This post-apocalyptic novel traces interconnected lives before and after a pandemic transforms civilization.

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd A speculative tale follows survivors in a world where people's shadows disappear, taking their memories with them.

The Wall by John Lanchester The story unfolds in a climate-changed future where nations erect walls to keep out environmental refugees.

Weather by Jenny Offill A librarian chronicles the mounting anxiety of living through environmental collapse and political uncertainty.

Notes from an Apocalypse by Mark O'Connell A nonfiction journey explores how different societies and individuals prepare for potential global catastrophes.

🌟 The collection of poems, written during the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, was composed entirely in Hofmann's London apartment. 🌟 Michael Hofmann is known for his dual identity as both a German and English poet, writing exclusively in English despite German being his first language. 🌟 The book's title is inspired by the Latin word "corona," which can refer to both a crown and a ring of light around the sun during an eclipse. 🌟 Several poems in the collection explore the strange phenomenon of usually bustling London streets being completely empty during lockdown. 🌟 Hofmann, besides being a poet, is also one of the most respected translators of German literature into English, having translated works by Franz Kafka and Joseph Roth.