Since its 2018 release in Germany, Schattenfroh has been praised as a major work, with some calling it “the greatest German-language novel of the 21st century.” Spanning over 1,000 pages, the English hardcover edition, published by Deep Vellum, weighs in at a hefty three pounds. The story centers on a character named Nobody who is trapped in darkness. He is driven to write by Schattenfroh by his jailer, who issues unsettling commands such as “Enjoy!" "Write!" and "Suffer!” The narrative weaves together Renaissance art, Reformation theology, Kabbalistic mysticism, 16th-century printing technology, and a family history shaped by World War II. It includes 60 pages of handwritten names from the 1944 Düren air raid that resulted in severe destruction and caused significant civilian casualties. There are Old German fragments, poetry, rough sketches, alchemical imagery, and ghostly voices reciting forbidden texts. Schattenfroh can be loosely translated as "shadow-glad" or "happy shadow." In the context of Michael Lentz's monumental novel, Schattenfroh is a complex, metaphysical character who serves as both the protagonist's jailer and a representation of various concepts, including God, the Devil, totalitarian rule, and the author's father.
Schattenfroh will be available in English this summer. It's been lauded as comparable to works like James Joyce’s Ulysses, Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow, and David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. Schattenfroh promises to be a challenging tome that demands heroic commitment on the part of the reader.
Born in 1964 in Düren, Germany, Michael Lentz studied literature, history, and philosophy in Munich. His career has spanned poetry, performance, and prose, reflecting an experimental approach. In Germany, Lentz is a respected yet polarizing figure, often seen as a key voice in post-war German literature. His work blends the idea of the literary “genius” with a self-aware critique of that concept, evident in Schattenfroh’s complexity. Before this novel, Lentz wrote Muttersterben (2001), a reflection on the loss of his mother, and Pazifik Exil (2007), a blend of history and fiction. His poems and essays explore recurring themes—memory, absence, and the limits of meaning—setting the stage for Schattenfroh.
Schattenfroh represents both a literary achievement and a feat of translation. Max Lawton, who has translated works by Vladimir Sorokin known for their innovative style, spent two years rendering Lentz’s text into English. He navigated Old German, mystical digressions, and Lentz’s layered references to literature, philosophy, and music, preserving the work’s intensity for English readers. Deep Vellum, a non-profit publisher, will release the book in the United States on August 19. This publication marks a significant moment for readers, offering access to a complex and distinctive novel.
