Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
The fates of numerous historical individuals are expertly woven into this enthralling work of magical realism and adventure by Daniel Kehlmann. The story of Tyll Ulenspiegel, a travelling performer and trickster in the seventeenth century, begins when he is a skinny youngster growing up in a sleepy town. Tyll is compelled to flee with the baker’s daughter, Nele, after his father, a miller with a covert interest in magic and alchemy, is discovered by the church. With the help of a travelling entertainer who teaches Tyll his skill, they find safety and camaraderie.
Tyll then sets out on a journey of exploration and performance, passing across a continent devastated by the Thirty Years’ War and coming into contact with a hangman, a forgery by a Jesuit scholar, and the exiled King Frederick and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia. Tyll demonstrates Kehlmann’s exceptional storytelling talents and demonstrates the strength of art in the face of the mindless brutality of history.
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
25 used from $3.91
Free shipping
Amazon.com
In the early 1600s, Tyll Ulenspiegel resides in a little German village. Tyll is a little… Off. And a little skinny. He enjoys juggling and is learning how to walk a tightrope. The miller in the community is his father Claus. furthermore, a healer who dabbles in witchcraft. When two Jesuits move to the area and find out about his practices, nobody appears to care. And so Tyll’s life as a travelling performer and trickster begins. He meets a number of renowned people as he travels throughout central Europe during the Thirty Years’ War, kind of like a medieval Forrest Gump.
I liked this book a lot. Tyll was a fictional character that I was unfamiliar with. Evidently, he is a well-known figure in German mythology. His exploits began in the 1300s, but Kehlman set them in the 17th century. The storyline of the novel is not linear, thus part of the enjoyment is in jumping between time to piece Tyll’s life together. Although not particularly “tough,” the reader must pay attention and pay close attention to the nuances to prevent getting lost. It would also be beneficial to have a rudimentary understanding of the conflict and its main characters. Gaining some prior knowledge will be very beneficial.
