The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion [Paperback]

Friedrich Durrenmatt (Author), Joel Agee (Translator), Sven Birkerts (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

This volume offers bracing new translations of two precursors to the modern detective novel by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, whose genre-bending mysteries recall the work of Alain Robbe-Grillet and anticipate the postmodern fictions of Paul Auster and other contemporary neo-noir novelists. Both mysteries follow Inspector Barlach as he moves through worlds in which the distinction between crime and justice seems to have vanished. In The Judge and His Hangman, Barlach forgoes the arrest of a murderer in order to manipulate him into killing another, more elusive criminal. And in Suspicion, Barlach pursues a former Nazi doctor by checking into his clinic with the hope of forcing him to reveal himself. The result is two thrillers that bring existential philosophy and the detective genre into dazzling convergence. 

(20070204)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990) was best known as the author of clever, morally inquisitive plays such as ''The Visit'' and ''The Physicists.'' In the early 1950s he also wrote three short, spellbinding mystery novels, which the University of Chicago Press has reissued in paperback with new translations from the German by Joel Agee: The Pledge and The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman & Suspicion. The latter includes a thoughtful foreword by Sven Birkerts, who praises Dürrenmatt''s talent as a captivating entertainer who could also ''play through complex moral issues with a speed-chess decisiveness and inexorability.'' . . . These are slender tales. But they have the weight and texture of classics. Mystery readers should be grateful to the University of Chicago Press for bringing these gems back to life."—Richard Lipez, Washington Post

(Richard Lipez Washington Post )

About the Author

Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–90) was a prolific Swiss dramatist, novelist, and essayist. His Selected Writings, in three volumes, is also published by the University of Chicago Press. Joel Agee has translated numerous German authors into English.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226174441
• ISBN-13: 978-0226174440
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars these are classics, May 15, 2008

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Nim Sudo - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion (Paperback)

These are two classics. I hesitate to call them "mysteries", because they are not just whodunits, but despite their short length they also explore moral and philosophical issues. I don't want to say anything about the plots, because there are some nice surprises which I do not want to spoil. I wouldn't even say as much as the "Product Description". Suffice it to say that when a 70-something year old detective who is dying of cancer chases after really bad criminals, this can lead to some tense situations. By the way, Durrenmatt also wrote the book on which the movie "The Pledge" was based, so that should give you some idea of what kinds of stories he wrote --- although the two novels in this volume are somewhat different. These were orginally written in German in the 1950's, and the translation here seems pretty good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duerrenmatt's work is timeless..., April 22, 2009

By 

B. Price "Biased observer" (Boston, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion (Paperback)

I remember reading "Der Richter und sein Henker" ("The Judge and His Henchman") 20 years ago in German and being very impressed with Friedrich Duerrenmatt's sparse, spare prose and his ability to create suspense and a sense of place with very few strokes. I also remember that Inspector Baerlach (Barlach in this English translation) was no cuddly investigator. Now, as I read this excellent English translation, I realize that the Inspector Barlach character has been used to discuss the larger philosophical and moral quagmire post-war Switzerland found itself in. The themes are universal, but in using a "Krimi" format with a cookie-cutter plot and almost stereotypical characters, Duerrenmatt was able to bring these compelling arguments to the public at large. I continue to find his work alternately entertaining and disturbing. It remains quite a good, brisk read...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, March 20, 2010

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Guy R. Hearn "Grrr" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Inspector Barlach Mysteries: The Judge and His Hangman and Suspicion (Paperback)

These stories are perhaps not as good as The Pledge - which is one of the most chilling stories of obsession I've ever read, and I am amazed noone's turned into film, because it seems obvious film material. However, The Judge and his Hangman is similarly obsessive and creepy, but Suspicion doesn't quite work for me. Although the premise of the story - Barlach discovers the identity of a war criminal working in a Swiss hospital and has himself checked into the hospital to confront him - is fine, there are too many deus ex machina moments, and the conclusion seems unlikely. I realise that Durrenmatt is not interested in the police procedural per se, but uses it as a way of expressing ideas about Swiss society and its lack of willingness to face up to uncomfortable truths, but still, if you use that format, then you need to take it to a sensible conclusion for the genre and for me, Suspicion doesn't do that. The Judge and His Hangman is highly recommended and if you haven't read The Pledge, you really should