Schattenfroh
An inestimable novel of ideas, Michael Lentz’s monumental book Schattenfroh follows the consciousness of a trapped man as he thinks through his existence, his relationship to his father, and centuries of German culture.
“One calls this writing”: So begins the torrent of words, ideas, and literary, historical, philosophical, religious, and artistic allusions that make up Schattenfroh. Locked in a lightless room, sleepless Nobody, wearing a face mask that will explode if he touches it, is bidden to recognize himself by an identity-shifting captor, Schattenfroh (a neologism of the German words for shadow and joy). A tidal wave of intrusive thoughts and erudite reflections ensues, encompassing subjects from Martin Luther and Nobody’s cruel father to Hitler’s legacy and the crucifixion of Jesus. Transcribed by the mysterious face mask, these thoughts create a book within a book.
Elegant in its thematic layerings, massive in scope, and replete with baffling linguistic skill, this is a literary landmark. Its ambition and experimentation are indisputable. In place of chapters, more arcane elements pause the flood of language. Seventy handwritten pages—a listing of the 3,100 people killed during an Allied bombing of the German town of Düren—grind the novel to a halt. Midway through, Schattenfroh pauses to include a bibliography of 165 books. These postmodern elements are part and parcel of the novel. At one point, two men approach Nobody and hand him a paper on which it is written that two men approach Nobody and hand him a paper. Such flourishes generate a certain inscrutability, yet the sinuous prose captures each idea and draws it into the text’s compelling, rhythmic tapestry.
A novel of titanic ambition, Schattenfroh draws on the esoteric, overlooked corners of human history to trace the thoughts of one man wrestling with existence.
Reviewed by
Willem Marx
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
