Synopses & Reviews
The day is Friday, May 22, 2032. On this day, the day after his ninety-fourth birthday, a man is sitting in a beautiful garden. It is a paradise where he often played during his childhood, and it is here that he is recording the story of his adventures with Mr. Adamson. In the course of this compelling novel from Swiss author Urs Widmer, this man narrates his unusual story to his granddaughter, Anni. While he recounts his life, he is also waitingwaiting for the arrival of this very Mr. Adamson, whom he has not seen since the age of eight. Even then it was a mysterious encountera glimpse into realms that normally remain concealed to the living. For Mr. Adamson died at the very moment when our narrator was born, and he will soon return to escort the ninety-four-year-old narrator into another paradise.
Told with Urs Widmers signature humor, genius, and lively imagination, Mr Adamson is a superb story and a spellbinding book. With its vitality and zest for life, it manages to hold at bay that scandal we must all face in our lives: death.
Praise for Widmer
One of the best representatives of Swiss literature.”Le Monde
Synopsis
It is Friday, 22 May 2032. On the day after his ninety-fourth birthday, a man is sitting in a beautiful garden, a paradise where he often explored and played in his childhood, recording the story of his adventures with Mr Adamson. He tells us the story—but he is telling it above all to Anni, his granddaughter. At the same time, he is waiting—for this very Mr Adamson, whom he has not seen since the age of eight. A curious encounter, a glimpse into realms that normally remain concealed to the living: for Herr Adamson died at the very moment when the narrator was born, and will escort this ninety-four-year-old great-grandfather when the time comes for him to pass. A superb book that, with its vitality and zest for life, manages to hold at bay that scandal in every life: death.
About the Author
Urs Widmer (1938–2014) was a Swiss novelist, playwright, essayist, and short story writer and the cofounder of Verlag der Autoren, an author-owned publishing house focusing on texts related to the performing arts. His other books include
The Blue Soda Siphon and
My Father’s Book, also published by Seagull Books.
Donal McLaughlin
Table of Contents