Tyll

The dark tale of Europe's Thirty Years' War alongside the tale of famous cruel court jester Tyll Ulenspiegel, all told in Kehlmann's sly and humorous prose. The chapters are out of order chronologically, and feature different protagonists - from fallen monarchs, alchemists and scholars, vagrants, acrobats, melancholy executioners, to Origenes the talking donkey - but all parts are tied together by Tyll's appearance. We learn of his youth and the scars that marked him, the guilt and grudge remaining from his father's court case, the apprenticeship with the abusive juggler, the assault in a dark forest (!). Besides balancing on ropes, singing and dancing, Tyll also learns to read people and to use that skill to ridicule and expose them. His performances are highly entertaining and joyful until they take an evil turn. And yet he's only cruel to those who deserve it. The narration expertly shies away from revealing Tyll's feelings, but they are there under the surface, wonderfully nuanced.

Debating between 4 and 5 stars. This is a very grand, elegant and entertaining book. If I had to criticise something, it would be that everything becomes more lucid and dazzling once Tyll appears on the scene. Besides Athanasius Kircher there aren't that many 17th century personas I recognised, I imagine I could have appreciated some of them more.