The Illogic of Kassel

A puzzling phone call shatters a writer's routine. An enigmatic female voice extends a dinner invitation, and it soon becomes clear that this is an invitation to take part in the documenta, the legendary exhibition of contemporary art held every five years in Kassel, Germany. The writer's mission will be to sit down to write every morning in a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of town, transforming himself into a living art installation. Once in Kassel, the writer is surprised to find himself overcome by good cheer as he strolls through the city, spurred on by the endless supply of energy at the heart of the exhibition. This is his spontaneous, quirky response to art, rising up against pessimism.With humor, profundity, and a sharp eye, Enrique Vila-Matas tells the story of a solitary man, who, roaming the streets amid oddities and wonder, takes it upon himself to translate from a language he does not understand.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Published: 06/09/2015
ISBN: 9780811221498
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.10w x 0.70d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 04/27/2015
Library Journal 05/15/2015 pg. 77