Plot wise it’s deceptively simple: A man goes to a tuberculosis sanatorium to visit his cousin and ends up being afflicted himself. Confined to a microcosm in a microworld, he becomes enmeshed in a philosophical, spiritual, ideological struggle as he negotiates the alternate way of life.

From alternate social currency and decorum, to the wildly different socialization and substance to the conversation in the place, it becomes clear both that this book—like all incredible works, I think—is about, essentially everything. Sometimes literally. Chapters abstract thoughts and feelings with digressions into scientific knowledge or stories within stories, constructing a mythology that taps into romanticism. Symbols and occultism and permeate the book as Hans struggles and basically goes through a second wind coming-of-age that manages to parallel the larger struggle Europe is having to reckon with as war approaches.

I am 100% certain I did not understand everything this book was doing. Probably, I’ve only picked up on a few of the themes and don’t know enough about romanticism as it relates to Germany at that time period to really have even tapped into that one vein adequately. Multiple allegories for good and evil, life and death, corruption and innocence converge with the romantic themes and spiritual journey, endeavour. It’s a work I had to just let wash over me rather than analyze, otherwise I think it might have been overwhelming trying to understand everything.

Needless to say: it lives up to its repetition, for me.