Summer in Baden-Baden (Faber Editions): 'A miracle' - Susan Sontag

Summer in Baden-Baden is a cult classic that follows Dostoevsky's tumultuous honeymoon to Baden-Baden in 1967. The novel is a blend of past and present, real and imagined, and has been hailed as a trailblazing modern classic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 06 June 2024
Publisher: Faber & Faber

Summer in Baden-Baden is a mesmerizing cult classic that takes readers on a tumultuous honeymoon journey with the renowned author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Introduced by Susan Sontag, this extraordinary work of art has captured the hearts of readers worldwide.

Jon McGregor describes it as "extraordinary in its confidence and enchantment." Chris Power praises it as "addictive, dreamlike, and dazzlingly unique." Adam Thirlwell describes it as "luminous, melancholic, and enraptured." Chloe Aridjis reflects on the timing of her reading, finding herself in a railway carriage beneath a flickering, electric light bulb during a summer in 1867.

Summer in Baden-Baden follows the newlywed Dostoevsky and his young wife, Anna, as they embark on their honeymoon to the German spa resort of Baden-Baden. Their love is ecstatic, yet the author is plagued by demons. Haunted by his past crimes and punishments, consumed by fevers of jealousy, and struggling with mounting debts, Dostoevsky is also shaken by epileptic fits.

Fast forward to the winter of the 1970s, when our Jewish narrator embarks on a pilgrimage from Moscow to Leningrad to trace the footsteps of his literary hero. As the train traverses the vast and bleak expanses of the Soviet Union, the narrator immerses himself in Anna's travel journal, intertwining their past and present journeys.

Summer in Baden-Baden is the result of a clandestine literary vocation. Smuggled out of the Soviet Union in 1981, it was first published in a Russian émigré weekly in the USA. Since then, it has been hailed as a trailblazing modern classic, translated into more than twenty languages. Its hypnotic and enigmatic power continues to grow, captivating readers with its rich narrative and profound insights into the human condition.

Summer in Baden-Baden is a testament to the enduring legacy of Fyodor Dostoevsky and his ability to create works that resonate with people across generations and cultures. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates fine literature and the power of storytelling.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 198 x 130 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571386895
Edition number: Main