The labyrinth

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The Vienna Hofburg, the vast residence of the Habsburgs, is ablaze, and psychiatrist Heinrich Pollanzy suspects his pyromaniac patient, Philipp Stourzh, may be the culprit. As Stourzh traces the footsteps of the last Austrian Emperor Karl to Madeira and Madrid, Dr. Pollanzy embarks on his own journey from Vienna to Spain, culminating in a dramatic encounter with his patient. However, the truth may be more complex than it seems. The speech therapist Astrid appears to have entanglements with both Pollanzy and Stourzh, raising questions about the reliability of the narrators. Gerhard Roth's new novel is a captivating exploration of the borders between delusion and reality, traversing half of Europe and various eras. It immerses readers in the works of Velázquez, Goya, and Arcimboldo, as well as the literary realms of Kafka, Pessoa, and Cervantes, while navigating Spanish bullfighting arenas, Viennese coffeehouses, and museum depots. Roth's work boldly transcends genre boundaries, serving as a remarkable compendium of forgotten knowledge and a learned guide through the hidden connections of art, politics, religion, and history.