Gantenbein, by Max Frisch (trans. Michael Bullock)

Description: A stranger walks out of a bar an is later found dead at the wheel of his car. The narrator creates the story of this man-or, rather, two stories, based on the two personae that he has imagined. One of these is named Enderlin; the other, Gantenbein. Originally published as A Wilderness of Mirrors. Translated by Michael Bullock. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book. Max Frisch, born in Zurich in 1911, was one of the giants of twentieth-century literature, achieving fame as a novelist, playwright, diarist, and essayist. He died in 1991 Review (2002, 5 stars): A man has been through an experience, now he is looking for the story of his experience" That is the starting point of this breathtaking pseudo novel. And here I am not trying to debase the book by using the word pseudo: it is just that I have the sensation that Frisch has been writing down notes aimed at something else that is supposed to be a novel. He's got the man; he's got the experiences; now he must build the story. And with this purpose, he explores every feasible event that may occur to the character. He proposes for example: "Let's say my name is Gantenbein." and goes on, "Let's pretend I am blind". And he deals with all the possible consequences that may be derived from his assumption. What does it entail to fake blindness in the realm of everyday life, love, and friendship? Is there any room for jealousy when blindness prevents us from seeing the evidence? Now let's call the man Enderlin, let's suppose he's about to die, and let's give him a lover. And let's his lover be Gantenbein's wife. Furthermore, let's Gantenbein even be Enderlin; assume his wife is an actress, and allow her cheating blind-faked Gantenbein, and so on. The result is a beautiful mosaic of characters that makes up the draft for the two main characters, Gantenbein and Lila, just a man and a woman, a modern couple. And of course, there is also "the situation", plotted in all imaginable ways, which may make the reader recognize him or herself sooner or later along the book.

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Location: Plattsburgh, New York

End Time: 2024-11-18T21:12:21.000Z

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