A review by thebookofdanny
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
5.0
Kehlmann brilliantly transposes the scatalogically obsessed Tyll Ulenspiegel from the 14th Century to The Thirty Years War. Tyll's diablerie seems almost pious in contrast to the absurdity of hierarchy, war and politics. Ironically, the most ludicrous and comical moments are when Tyll is absent. The imagined exchange between Athanasius Kircher, Adam Olearius and Paul Fleming made me laugh out loud, frequently.
Tyll isn’t just funny, it’s beautifully profound and the chapters that bookend the novel evoke memento mori whilst simultaneously challenging the inevitability of death. Fucking great.
Tyll isn’t just funny, it’s beautifully profound and the chapters that bookend the novel evoke memento mori whilst simultaneously challenging the inevitability of death. Fucking great.