It’s Wednesday again, time for our weekly giveaway. Today’s books by Swiss author Friedrich Glauser have been kindly offered by Bitter Lemon Press.
We can give away 2 copies of his classic crime novel In Matto’s Realm. I know it’s somewhat shameful but I haven’t read Glauser yet that’s why I included the description of the Bitter Lemon Press Glauser Page for you.
Finalist for the 2005 CWA Gold Dagger Award.
A child murderer escapes from an insane asylum in Bern. The stakes get higher when Sergeant Studer discovers the director’s body, neck broken, in the boiler room of the madhouse. The intuitive Studer is drawn into the workings of an institution that darkly mirrors the world outside. Even he cannot escape the pull of the no-man’s-land between reason and madness where Matto, the spirit of insanity, reigns.
Translated into four languages, In Matto’s Realm was originally published in 1936. This European crime classic, now available for the first time in English, is the second in the Sergeant Studer series from Bitter Lemon Press.
Author Information
Friedrich Glauser was born in Vienna in 1896. Often referred to as the Swiss Simenon, he died aged forty-two a few days before he was due to be married. Diagnosed a schizophrenic, addicted to morphine…The Translator
Mike Mitchell has translated some thirty books, including ‘Simplicissimus’ by Grimmelshausen and all the novels of Gustav Meyrink. He won the 1998 Schlegel-Tieck German translation prize.
If you would like to win one of the books, please leave a comment. The only condition is that you have been participating in German Literature Month, either with comments, posts or reading along. No need to have your own blog.
The giveaway is open internationally, the books will be shipped by the editor. The winner will be announced on Sunday November 20 at 18.00 – European – (Zürich) time.
Beauty is a Sleeping Cat 
This sounds grim and dark, just like my stereotype of German literature – but hey, that was before the German Literature Month! Please count me in the draw for this. Thanks!
I have so no clue whether it is really as grim and dark as it sounds. Glauser’s books have a very good reputation there is even a prize for crime writers named after him.
I have this one, so I won’t enter. Bitter Lemon has some excellent German crime titles.
Have you tried Jörg Fauser? That should be right up your alley. I wanted to read it for this month but it got somewhat hectic.
Now I did read this a while ago and found it fascinating. But then I do enjoy fiction that is set in a madhouse ….
You have to tell me which are your favourite madhouse novels. I must admit I like that “subgenre” too.
My favourite madhouse novel is the aptly named Asylum by Patrick McGrath.
Thanks, Lizzy. I think I got it. I ususally like McGrath a lot.
Thanks for another giveaway! I’m enjoying participating in German lit month. 🙂
I’m glad to hear it.
Wow. I haven’t heard of this author, but it sounds like he had a difficult and short life.
I agree. And he wrote quite a lot considering he had serious issues.
I wonder if it was his way to cope or to escape from normal day issues. So many writers were so tortured in real life.
I’m not very familiar with his life. I was even surprised he was such a tortured soul. It’s a chilling idea to think he had insider experience regarding asylums. In those days they were so frightening.
That is an excellent point. That is scary to think about. Now I really want to read this book.
I wasn’t sure before but now i think you would like me to add you to the draw on Sunday? 🙂
That would be great!
🙂
This looks like a wonderful book, Caroline! I haven’t heard of Glauser or this book. The storyline reminds me of ‘Suspicion’ by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, because that is set in a sanatorium. Please enter me for the giveaway. Thanks for hosting it.
I also thought of Dürrenmatt. I know Dürrenmatt well but not Glauser. I have a collection of his Studer novels but I thought this one wasn’t in it. I need to find out.
Sounds like a fascinating read. Will have to check it out. I’m also a fan of Patrick McGrath’s Asylum, and am a “madhouse” fan.
I think Glauser is worth trying in any case, yes. 2 people mentioning Asylum in such a short period… that makes me want to grab my copy right away.
Caroline, please enter me in the drawing if the deadline hasn’t already passed for entering–thanks!
You are still in time. 🙂
Plz enter me too.
Sure, you’re in.