Re: Birthdays and Insects

[Thomas Friese <tfriese@intergate.bc.ca>]

Denis Wall wrote:
> 
> _Der Spiegel's_ annual tribute to the centenarian, Ernst Junger, this year
> reads:
> "Ernst Junger, 102, deutscher Schriftsteller ("In Stahlgewittern"), der
> dieser Tage seinen Geburtstag zu feiren gedenkt, fuhlt sich so rustig wie
> lange nicht mehr.  Wieder einmal machte er sich als--auch von der Fachwelt
> anerkannter--Kaferkundler auf die Pirsch.  Auf der Kafermesse in Berkheim
> bei Esslingen erstand der Wilflinger Ecrivain 30 der Krabbeltiere,
> darunter einen fast handtellergrossen Goliathkafer aus Afrika.  Die
> Kafersammlung Jungers, der auch Spazierstocke, Sandhuren und
> Hinterglasbilder zusammentragt, umfasst mittlerweile 40 100 Exemplare."
> _Der Spiegel, 31/3/97, page 233.
> 
> Nice hobbies if you have the time (does anyone where Junger keeps his
> impressive sounding collection of beetles--i.e does he make the collection
> available to the public?).
> 
> Denis Wall
> University of Toronto

I know that at least a good portion of this collection is in his home in
Wilflingen. I was once priviledged enough to spend a couple of hours
with Herr Junger in his home - he briefly (and very proudly) showed me
some of his collection. They are beautifully - and I do mean beautifully
- mounted and arranged in those large old map cabinets with the shallow
stacked drawers -drawer upon drawer upon drawer. Seeing the incredible
meticulousness of the presentation of these insects was as revealing an
insight into the nature of this man as any of his literature. 

I can imagine that all 40 000 are in fact in his home.