As if W. G. Sebald, Jane Austen, Barbara Pym and Emily Dickinson had collaborated
Hard to describe Penelope Fitzgerald's novels -- maybe especially this one about an episode in the life of the German Romantic poet known as Novalis. Witty and relishing people's absurdities yet at the same time delighting in their generous feelings and ideals (things that unfortunately can often lead to absurdities, given how the world goes on). If you say touching and funny, however, that leaves out unflinching and astringent. Also sad, beautiful and strange, qualities which are also there in some mysterious way...thus my attempt to create a collaboration. Unlike Marilynne Robinson, she is very fortunate in her narrators. This one is excellent, with just the right dryness for the narration and excellent shifts for the emotions revealed in dialogue. He does such a good job I finally caught the sense of things I missed after repeated readings. And she is someone to reread, always with new pleasure.