(#gifted @thebookerprizes) Finally a man on the International Booker longlist who has not disappointed me in some way! I had no idea what to expect from Tyll, as the premise was kind of weird - it’s the story (based on a real guy) of a jester in Germany during the Thirty Year War. I’ve never read anything from that period in Germany, and I have to say I loved it!

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From the first, chaotic chapter where the tricksy Tyll makes his first appearance and causes havoc in a small village to his sad and abusive childhood, all the way to the vicious witch trials and complex politics, this book was a fascinating ride from start to finish! Some of the politics concerning the War lost me a bit at times, but there’s plenty of other good stuff like ghosts and folklore to keep pulling you back in if court politics isn’t your thing.

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I loved the witchcraft module I did at uni, and any book that reminds me of that always sits favourably with me - however dark it may be. The evil ways Jesuits tortured confessions out of people, women and men alike confessing to attending Sabbaths and fornicating with the devil just to have an end to it all, not to mention the perfidious nature of jealous neighbours, suddenly convinced their cow dropped dead only after a disagreement with the suspected witch or warlock.

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But as dark as that all may sound, there is actually some comedic relief throughout the book! Which is where the translator Ross Benjamin’s talents really shine! Do you know how hard it is to successfully translate humour, rhymes, wordplay, wit? And even though Benjamin said in an interview that Kehlmann’s style and humour in German lent itself well to English translation, it’s still a highly impressive feat!

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I recommend this one to historical fiction fans, especially if you fancy something a little different!