Centroeuropa

Redo Hauptshammer, a Viennese man, arrives in the Prussian village of Szonden in the 1820s to bury his murdered Spanish wife, Odra. However, his attempts to dig her grave reveal a startling discovery: the bodies of 31 Prussian hussar soldiers from different eras, buried in the same plot of land. As Redo confronts the recalcitrant authorities who are reluctant to address the issue, the surreal premise of the novel subtly critiques governments that send their citizens to war without facing the consequences.

• Redo Hauptshammer discovers dozens of frozen Prussian soldier bodies while trying to bury his murdered wife
• Authorities are unwilling to address the mysterious mass grave, citing inconvenience
• The story’s surreal premise and tone critique governments that send citizens to war without accountability

Source: Kirkus Reviews | Read full article →