The Story of Mr. Xia

Author: Juergen Zieskendorf
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: The Story of Herr is a masterpiece by Juergen Zieskendorf, the author of Perfume. Herr, a fictional character created by Zieskendorf, is a German after World War II. Due to war guilt or other reasons, he "lived his life in constant flight," unlike others who settled into rebuilding the material world. "Herr often woke up early, put on a backpack, grabbed his cane, and hurriedly set off. He roamed the wilderness, crossed grasslands, wandered through streets and alleys, passed through forests, circled lakes, traveled between cities and towns, and visited villages until late at night." "What was strange was that Herr never did anything." This escapist ultimately chose to take his own life by drowning. Herr is a man immersed in the spiritual world; material prosperity could not help him escape his suffering. The writing is smooth, the prose is exquisite, and there is a touch of childlike innocence in every line. The Story of Herr appears humorous but is actually a very serious work. The novel unfolds on two levels: one narrates the author's joyful and sorrowful childhood life, making readers laugh out of amusement; the other depicts the bizarre life and behavior of the eccentric Herr, leaving readers with a sense of sorrow and bitterness while also provoking deep reflection.