Pfitz: A Novel
Description
"Crumey has written a fantastic novel about a fantasy. . . . Real and unreal merge, interact, and form a tale that is part quirky amusement and part sly satire." —The Atlantic Monthly
An eighteenth-century prince, seeking his own immortality, devotes his entire wealth and the energy of his subjects to the creation of Rreinnstadt, a fantastic city that exists only on paper and in the minds of its creators. Among Rreinnstadt's fictional inhabitants is Pfitz, a count's loyal servant who mysteriously disappears on night from a tavern. Enamored of Pfitz's real-life biographer Estrella, one of the city's cartographers sets out on a quest to find Pfitz, hoping he will be rewarded by Estrella's love.
Andrew Crumey's exploration of the rich territory between reality and imagination reveals a genuine affection for the character and the terrain of the human heart.
About the Author
Andrew Crumey is the author of Music, in a Foreign Language; Pfitz, a New York Times Notable Book; and D'Alembert's Principle, among other novels. He lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Praise for Pfitz: A Novel
“Crumey has written a fantastic novel about a fantasy. . . . Real and unreal merge, interact, and form a tale that is part quirky amusement and part sly satire.” —The Atlantic Monthly
“Crumey sends imagination and reason on a collision course. . . . Like a Viennese music box, Crumey's meditations on language and meaning are tightly wound machines.” —Alyssa Katz, Newsday
“There is enchanting, provocative magic afoot in every layer of Crumey's world.” —Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times