How to capture, in a review, the Lovers of Franz K and do justice to the enormity of this very clever, outstanding and intriguing book. Set in the cold war era and remarkable alternative take on a murder investigation. Highly recommend
How to capture, in a review, the Lovers of Franz K and do justice to the enormity of this very clever, outstanding and intriguing book.
It’s one of those reads which broadened my awareness of the world around me. Sure, I had heard of Franz Kafka, but if pushed, I’d have found it hard to say much more than I think he was a writer from East Europe somewhere. However, as I read the story, I found myself driven to look more deeply at him and his life.
So, whilst this is very definitely a work of fiction, it is inspired by the real life of a novelist and writer who spent his adult life full of sell doubt.
But to the story. Ferdy Kaplan is arrested for murder and attempted murder of a second person. There is no doubt he is guilty of the crimes, but, as I read of his reasoning and got to know him (thanks to the clever way the author presented his character), I found myself not alienated by the criminal, but understanding of what had driven him and ALMOST forgiving him. Well, almost.
He is a likeable, honest man whose own life had not been easy. He also has a wonderfully dry, ironic sense of humour and this is powerfully revealed in the way the author presents the story. In the main, it is a recorded interview between Ferdy and the various agents of the law rather than a series of chapters with paragraphs.
And it is the real life of Kafka which is at the heart of the journey that took Ferdy from passionate fan of the great writer, to murderer and failed assassin.
And all this is wrapped up with reference to the times of the Cold War, the morality of that times and how the work of fiction can potentially have an influence on the real world.