Sibylle Lewitscharoff: Blumenberg

translated by Wieland Hoban
 

One night, German philosopher Hans Blumenberg returns to his study to find a shocking sight – a lion lying on the floor as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. The lion stretches comfortably on the Turkmen rug, eyes resting on Blumenberg. The philosopher with some effort retains his composure, even when the lion makes another appearance the next day during his lecture, ambling slowly down the centre aisle. Blumenberg glances around; the seats are full, but none of his students seem to see the lion. What is going on here?
 
Blumenberg ist the captivating and witty tale of this likeable philosopher and the handful of students who come under the spell of the supernatural lion – including nerdy Gerhard Optatus Baur, a promising young Blumenbergian, and the delicate, haughty Isa, who falls head over heels in love with the wrong man. Written by Sibylle Lewitscharoff, whom Die Welt called the ‘most dazzling stylist of contemporary German literature, Blumenberg will delight English readers.
 
German original published by Suhrkamp Verlag, Berlin, in 2011 under the title Blumenberg.