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.
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Book Description
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Language Notes
Text: English, German (translation)
About the Author
Max Frisch was born in Zurich in 1911. His reputation rests equally on his novels and his work for the theatre. A collection of three of his most enduring and contentious plays is published by Methuen Drama. He died in 1991.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Imagine,
By Jimena (Argentina) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gantenbein (Harvest/HBJ Book) (Paperback)
"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.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frisch's best novel,
By A Customer
This review is from: Gantenbein (Harvest/HBJ Book) (Paperback)
Gantenbein tells the story of a man who sees his love and marriage falling apart. In his attempt to look for a rescue, he envisions different scenarios (which may, to the superficial reader, appear to be inconsistencies) that would help him to find a way around the unavoidable. The different scenarios are both, very funny and also insightful. This is an outstanding novel.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too bad this book it out of print,
By
This review is from: Gantenbein (Harvest/HBJ Book) (Paperback)
Gantenbein is a fantastic book. The inconsistency of the plot the other reviewer mentioned is intended and part of a certain ideology. Most of us are Gantenbeins, not being able to identify with who we are in reality and dreaming of another existence. I was disappointed when I found out that this fabulous book is not in print anymore, it would have been such a good presentsk
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THOSE WHO WERE present, the last people to talk to him, casual acquaintances, say he was no different that evening from usual, cheerful but not over-exuberant. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Camilla Huber, Herr Gantenbein, Piz Kesch, Herr Enderlin, Kesch Gap, President of the Court, High German, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Lady Macbeth, Austin-Healey Sprite, Damascus Gate, Herr Siebenhagen New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THOSE WHO WERE present, the last people to talk to him, casual acquaintances, say he was no different that evening from usual, cheerful but not over-exuberant. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Camilla Huber, Herr Gantenbein, Piz Kesch, Herr Enderlin, Kesch Gap, President of the Court, High German, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Lady Macbeth, Austin-Healey Sprite, Damascus Gate, Herr Siebenhagen New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
- Don Giovanni in Full Score by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on page 210
- Homo Faber: A Report by Max Frisch in Front Matter
- Homo Faber (German Edition) by Frisch in Front Matter
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