Elf levens

by Pascal Mercier

Blurb

Philipp Perlmann is a prominent linguist who's come to a picturesque seaside town near Genoa to speak at a gathering of renowned international colleagues. Derailed by grief over his wife's sudden death in an accident, Perlmann is no longer confident of his professional standing, and writing his keynote address seems like an insurmountable task. As the deadline approaches, Perlmann realizes that he will have nothing to present to his expectant colleagues. Panic sets in and he decides to plagiarize the work of Leskov, a Russian colleague who was unable to attend. But when Leskov’s imminent arrival is announced and threatens to expose Perlmann as a fraud, Perlmann’s mounting desperation drives him to the brink of murder.
An exquisite, captivating portrait of a mind slowly unraveling, Perlmann’s Silence is a brilliant, textured meditation on the complex interplay between language and memory, and the depths of the human psyche.

Member Reviews Write your own review

Be the first person to review

Log in to comment