od1_40reads's Reviews > The Last Wolf / Herman

On the cover of this edition is a quote from Sjón, saying that this is ‘a great introduction to the world of Krasznahorkai, enter here and keep going’. I’m not entirely sure I agree that this is best the place to start, as it certainly ran a few rings around me in places.

However, I’m still fairly new to Krasznahorkai, this being the third book of his that I’ve read, so perhaps do read this before working up to one of his longer works, as I’m doing.

In everything I’ve read of his so far, the one major thing that stands out to me is his astounding technical skill. Reading Krasznahorkai is a bit like attempting to read, or indeed to actually be in an Escher painting. Just when you think you’ve found your way and know which way is up, a few pages later yet again he’ll make you question your sense of direction. Staying orientated isn’t always easy. And I love that.

This English edition combines The Last Wolf and Herman - The Game Warden & The Death of a Craft, the latter taken from the 1986 story collection Relations of Grace. Originally published 23 years apart, they both work well together here as tales of modern development encroaching on nature and traditions. GoodReads tells me that The Last Wolf is actually available at the Worlds Without Boarders website.

I found it really quite emotional towards the end of The Last Wolf, which I wasn’t expecting. Krasznahorkai is asking questions about the struggle between nature and mankind, and indeed humanity itself.