The terrible greenery
A terrible greenery is a literary fiction with an essayistic structure written by the Chilean and Dutch journalist and author Benjamín Labatut. The work was published in 2020 by the Anagrama publishing house. In a period where the uncertainty of the world could be smelled for miles, the writer made it clear that he measures the separation between science and literature, with an almost unclassifiable book.
Brilliantly written, A terrible greenery reveals a strange but fascinating world that mixes concepts that, in general, avoid being together within the same sentence, and embellishes them with the most surreal anecdotes of some names that gave rise to the creation of quantum physics as a study, and to the end of science as he knew each other for so many years.
Synopsis of A terrible greenery
A mix between reality and fantasy
Through this book by Benjamín Labatut, science becomes literature, and vice versa. The text is made up of several stories exchanged with a single common thread: science, with its hypotheses., attempts, searches and experiments, and the changes that, for better or worse, it has brought to the world, as well as the way in which the common man has received these transformations.
These pages report on real discoveries that form a long chain, such as the first modern synthetic pigment: Prussian blue. This material was created in the 18th century thanks to an alchemist who was looking for the elixir of eternal youth. through cruel experiments where he used live animals. Unintentionally, his experiment became the source of hydrogen cyanide.
Contributions for future chemical warfare
Somehow, The alchemist had managed to synthesize the compound that later gave rise to the deadly gas that the German Jewish chemist Fritz Haber, father of chemical warfare, used to make the pesticide Zyklon. What this man didn't know at the time is that the Nazis would end up using his research to murder members of his own family in concentration camps.
In another essay, the author addresses Alexander Grothendieck's mathematical explorations, events that led him to mystical delirium, social isolation, and complete madness. Labatut He also talks about the letter that Einstein received from that dying friend from the trenches of the World War I, where he revealed the equations of relativity.
The foundation of quantum mechanics
Almost as if it were a science fiction story, The author portrays the struggle of egos between the two people responsible for quantum mechanics: Erwin Schrödinger and Werner Heisenberg. His constant discussions, in the same way, were what generated the uncertainty principle and the famous event in which Albert Einstein shouted a phrase at Niels Bohr that would remain recorded forever.
This not only marked the annals of science, but also those of popular culture. The iconic phrase was none other than “God does not play dice with the universe!” At that time, it was just part of a disparity of ideas, but, over time, it became a heated debate that has pitted biographers and academics against each other, and that is related to the faith of the most famous physicist in the world.
Narrative structure of the work
The book is composed of five interconnected stories, each focusing on historical scientists and mathematicians who have made significant contributions to human knowledge. This series of stories is made up of the following titles in the order set out below:
1. Prussian blue
Tells about the invention of Prussian blue and its consequences not only scientific but also historical.
2. Schwarzschild's Singularity
Focuses on Karl Schwarzschild and his work about black holes, relating his discovery to his experience in the First World War.
3. The Heart of the Heart
Explore the life of Alexander Grothendieck, a mathematician who retreated from the world in search of a deeper truth.
4. When We Cease to Understand the World
Tells the story of several scientists, including Heisenberg and Schrödinger, and how their discoveries in quantum physics affected their lives and perceptions.
5. Einstein's Brain
Although shorter, this part connects Einstein's ideas with those of other characters mentioned in the book.
narrative style of A terrible greenery
Labatut uses a narrative style that mixes historical facts with elements of fiction, weaving a plot that is both informative and deeply reflective. A notable feature is its omniscient narrator, who knows everything about the characters and their thoughts., allowing a complete view of internal and external conflicts.
Likewise, another element to mention is the author's dense prose, in which one notices a language that is both rich and evocative, which often delves into the philosophical, raising questions about the nature of knowledge and reality. Also noticeable is the melancholic tone that invites reflection on the effects of scientific discoveries on human life and on the discoverer himself.
A shower of references
The work is filled with multiple references to other books and scientific texts, which enriches it and gives it additional depth. On the other hand, The stories do not follow a strict timeline, but rather jump through time and space., reflecting the non-linear nature of thought as a tool for the discovery and evolution of collective consciousness.
Topics addressed in A terrible greenery
The book constantly reflect on the cost of knowledge, making a deep exploration of the advances in science and the way in which they can have unexpected and often destructive consequences, both on a personal and global level.
Overall, mention is made of the search for truth, many times, at the cost of loss of reputation or reason itself. Labatut It also shows how discoveries in one field can affect others., creating a complex network of knowledge and consequences.
About the Author
Benjamín Labatut was born in 1980, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The author grew up between different cities around the world, such as The Hague, Buenos Aires and Lima. However, When he was fourteen years old he settled in Chile, the country where he completed his secondary studies. and where he finally graduated in Journalism from the Catholic University.
The writer states that One of his greatest inspirations to follow the path of letters was Samir Nazal, whom he met in 2005.. The latter served as his mentor during his first steps as a literary creator. In this way, he was his guide in the preparation and publication of his first book. Other people who influenced Labatut's work were Quignard and Weinberger.
Other books by Benjamín Labatut
- Antarctica starts here, stories (2010);
- After the light (2016);
- The stone of madness (2021);
- The MANIAC (2023)