Kierkegaard's Repetition is a multi-generational memoir starting with the California Gold Rush, recounted by a 5th generation descendent of the original ancestor. The memoir calls upon several of Kierkegaard's unique ideas to examine how it is possible to write about the past while knowing it cannot be literally duplicated. The family story includes details about the author's great grandfather who managed the all-electric Los Angeles Railway prior to the advent of freeways or automobiles in Los Angeles. The theory of memoir-writing is explored and specific examples of Kierkegaard's philosophy are employed to elucidate the value and meaning of ancestors' lives.
Kierkegaard's Repetition is a multi-generational memoir starting with the California Gold Rush, recounted by a 5th generation descendent of the original ancestor. The memoir calls upon several of Kierkegaard's unique ideas to examine how it is possible to write about the past while knowing it cannot be literally duplicated. The family story includes details about the author's great grandfather who managed the all-electric Los Angeles Railway prior to the advent of freeways or automobiles in Los Angeles. The theory of memoir-writing is explored and specific examples of Kierkegaard's philosophy are employed to elucidate the value and meaning of ancestors' lives.
The Dream
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Some years ago, while doing some research on my father’s side of the family, I woke up one morning and vaguely remembered dreaming about mining and being underground. As with most of my dreams, only a few images and feelings remained as I struggled to recall details that morning: a deep, dark underground cavern filled with luminous flecks of some shiny material, or perhaps embers from a recent fire. I had been an active participant in the dream and remembered that I was hard at work down in the mine shaft. As I transitioned from dreaming to waking, I tried to grasp some of those glowing specks in my hands, trying to bring them to the surface for examination. I was trying to hold onto something both meaningful and valuable that kept slipping away. But then as I awoke, I felt frustrated and disappointed as the bright specks began to slip through my hands and disappear from my consciousness back into the darkness.
A few minutes later I was fully awake with only a trace of the dreamwork left in my mind. I began to wonder if those glowing specs of dust from my dream were somehow related
to the California Gold Rush[1] (1848-1855) along with my family’s historic philosopher Kierkegaard, Repetition, which I had recently been reading? My ancestor and great-great grandfather on my father’s side of the family, “Uncle Jake,” had arrived alone in California at the beginning of the California Gold Rush as a teenage immigrant on an English sailing vessel. California was not yet even a state in 1848. Jake disembarked with no identity documents except the ship’s crew manifest listing him as a cabin boy. He would not become a naturalized U.S. connections to it. Or did those fiery flecks offer clues for my recent struggle trying to make sense of that enigmatic book by 19th-Danish citizen[2] for another nineteen years, after settling in Los Angeles and building his homestead on the site of the future L.A City Hall.
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush
[2] U.S. Naturalization Record Index of Los Angeles County, CA, 1852-1915, Vol 89, Page 243,
George Kuhrts wrote a deeply introspective memoir that intricately intertwines the philosophical concepts of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard with the multi-generational journey of the Kuhrts family.
He artfully weaves together personal anecdotes, historical narratives, and Kierkegaardian philosophy to explore the complexities of identity, memory, and the elusive nature of self.
At its core, the book delves into the various life stages proposed by Kierkegaard—Aesthetic, Ethical, and Religious—and how these stages resonate within the Kuhrts family lineage. Kuhrts skillfully parallels the family's experiences with Kierkegaard's philosophical notions, illustrating how each generation grappled with existential dilemmas, aspirations, and the legacy passed down through time.
At a time when my French grandparents are struggling to come to terms with the changing world and my grandmother has decided to write her memoir, at my great encouragement — she is a writer by nature — reading this book could not have come at a better time.Â
The narrative unfolds as a profound reflection on the intricacies of human existence, emphasizing the challenges of reconciling past experiences with present circumstances. Kuhrts navigates through the family's successes, failures, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing poignant parallels to Kierkegaard's ideas of repetition and recollection.
One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to seamlessly merge philosophy with personal storytelling. Kuhrts not only dissects Kierkegaard's intricate concepts but also showcases their relevance in navigating life's complexities, offering readers a profound introspection into their own existence. It invites readers to contemplate the significance of memory, the challenges of preserving familial narratives, and the impact of individual choices on the collective heritage.
I was thrilled to keep turning the pages of this memoir. I imagined what would be written if one of my ancestors had done that. I imagined writing something similar for my descendants, several generations later on, to read, capturing in words the unimaginable for them — as the world they would inhabit would be so completely different from the one we do now. Yet they may be able to find patterns and draw interesting parallels, as the author did with Kierkegaard.
Overall, "Kierkegaard Repetition" is a thought-provoking and insightful memoir that masterfully interlaces family history with philosophical exploration. Kuhrts succeeds in creating a compelling narrative that bridges the gap between personal experience and existential inquiry, leaving readers contemplating the intricacies of identity, memory, and the ever-evolving nature of the self.
As someone who has been personally reflecting on all of this, reading this came at a strangely serendipitous moment. I’ve started writing extensive journal entries since the birth of my own kids a few years ago, something I hope they’ll be interested enough to read one day, and if they don’t, perhaps they will learn to cherish the writing and a future descendant will, and they will feel a similar rush that comes with holding a relic from the past that is just simple words.
Maybe the author would be happy to know that I’ve written extensively about the act of reading and reviewing this book in my journal. I have also shared all of the insights I have learned in this book with my French grandmother (she is 80), who sadly doesn’t read in English so I could just request to read. She has been writing her memoir but has stopped recently due to her spirits being overwhelmed due to overexposure to war news. With this, I hope she has found renewed creative strength. A heartfelt thanks to the author.Â