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The force of the mountain: Esther Angst's new novella “Teufelsberg” about the Elm rockslide

  • Writer: Patrick
    Patrick
  • Feb 4
  • 3 min read

For anyone interested in the history of the canton of Glarus, the Elm rockslide on September 11, 1881, is a pivotal and tragic event. Illustrator and author Esther Angst has now approached this defining moment in Glarus history in a manner that is as powerful as it is innovative. Her graphic novel “Teufelsberg,” published by Baeschlin Verlag, offers a captivating and visually impressive account of the disaster and is a valuable addition to any literary collection on the region.

 

The historical context: greed and ignorance on the Tschingelberg

 

The Elm landslide was not purely a natural disaster, but a tragedy caused in part by human activity. In the 19th century, the mining of slate, which was needed for slate boards, among other things, promised economic prosperity. Driven by the hope of quick prosperity, locals with no mining experience undermined the Plattenbergkopf so extensively that the stability of the mountain was compromised. Warning signs were ignored until September 11, 1881, when around ten million cubic meters of rock crashed down into the valley, killing 114 people and changing the village forever.

 

A graphic novel as a warning

 

Esther Angst, herself a native of the canton of Glarus, chooses the form of a graphic novel for her narrative and masterfully weaves together historical facts and personal destinies. She uses real people as protagonists and gives them a voice through her vivid illustrations. Readers encounter Fridolin “Fridli” Hauser (1832-1902), for example, who was responsible for the safety of the workers as the manager of the slate quarry, and experience the tragic fate of the Nigg-Elmer family: On the morning of the fateful day, Kleophea (1850-1881) and Matthäus Nigg-Elmer (1837-1882) had their son Johann Heinrich baptized, only to lose mother and child in the rock masses a few hours later.

 

The book is more than just a retelling of events. As the publisher aptly puts it, it is a “warning to our time.” The themes addressed in Teufelsberg—the ruthless exploitation of nature for economic gain, the deliberate ignoring of warning signs, and the question of responsibility—are as relevant today as they were then.

 

Reviewer Miriam Frei praises the work as a “powerfully moving masterpiece” that strikes a masterful balance between narrative and illustration. The imagery is so powerful that you can almost physically feel the force of the mountain. Angst succeeds in portraying the universal themes of a mountain village – the conflict between tradition and progress, rivalries with neighboring communities, and the stubbornness of some residents – in a way that immediately touches the reader.

 

Conclusion

 

Esther Angst's “Teufelsberg” is an outstanding new publication that makes the Elm rockslide accessible to a wide audience while also provoking thought. The combination of careful historical research and artistic execution makes this graphic novel a clear recommendation for anyone interested in the history of the canton of Glarus and looking for a modern, in-depth examination of this formative event.

 

 


Further reading on the subject

 

For a more in-depth examination of the Elm rockslide and its literary treatment, we also recommend the following works:

 

Franz Hohler: Die Steinflut (2000, DTV): This novella describes the disaster from the perspective of seven-year-old Katharina Rhyner-Disch, the only member of her family to survive the tragedy. A very personal and moving narrative.

 

Emil Zopfi: Kilchenstock. Der Bergsturz in den Köpfen (1996, Limmat Verlag): Zopfi examines how the event shaped the collective memory of the region and what traces it left in people's minds.

 

Ernst Buss & Albert Heim: Der Bergsturz von Elm (The Elm Landslide) (1881, Wurster): The first scientific analysis of the disaster, written in the year of the accident itself by Elm's pastor Buss and geologist Heim. An important historical document for understanding the causes and course of the landslide.

Antiquarian: ZVAB



 

 

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