Benjamin Black (John Banville): Prague Nights, Viking (Penguin Random House UK) pub. Date: June1st, 2017, C format paperback,  

(US edition has a different title:  “Wolf on a string”, Henry Holt, hardback)

In 2005 John Banville won the Man Booker prize for his novel “The Sea, the sea”, he received numerous other prestigious awards for his body of work but few probably know he also writes crime novels and historical fiction under the pseudonym Benjamin Black.  His upcoming new novel “Prague Nights” (UK title by Viking) or “Wolf on a string” (US edition) under his pen name Benjamin Black is set in Prague around 1599 /1600.

Christian Stern is a young doctor of science when he reaches Prague from his home town Regensburg; he hopes to further his studies at the famous court of Rudolf, the mad emperor.   But after a drunken night at an inn and a sobering walk, he stumbles across the dead body of a brutally murdered young woman, none other than the emperor’s mistress as it turns out, Magdalena, daughter of another famous member of the court, Dr. Kroll.

Soon he finds himself incarcerated and charged with having murdered the victim by Felix Wenzel, High Steward of the Emperor.  But luck is on his side, in a court rife with intrigues and full of superstitions, none other than Rudolf himself sends out his court chamberlain Philip Lang to free him. Rudolf had a dream and believes Christian Stern is the star Christ himself sent out as a good omen for his throne, Stern meaning star.  Christian is set up in a household of his own in Golden Lane, his fortunes changing by 360 degrees overnight.  But this does not come without a prize; he is given the task by the emperor to investigate who murdered Magdalena Kroll, an investigation  that could possibly cost him his head.   

The novel is less a “whodunit” but more a very colorful, atmospheric portrait of Prague and court life fraught with spies and intrigues during these dark years. John Banville’s story telling is exquisite as one would imagine, giving life to many interesting characters. Some are drawn from real life like Caterina Sardo, the emperor’s and Stern’s mistress in the novel, based on Katherina Strada, Rudolf’s lifelong mistress and mother of six children in reality. Banville’s descriptions are so vivid and real; I could virtually smell the filth and dirt and always had a film in my head while reading this captivating novel.  If you like historical fiction and crime novels, “Prague Nights” will not disappoint you. 

Alexandra Fuller: Quiet until the Thaw, 9780735223349, published June 27, 2017, hardback, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House US

Alexandra Fuller’s previous, mostly autobiographical work about her childhood and life in Africa and her new life in Wyoming   (Don’t lets go to the dogs tonight,  Leaving before the rain comes, Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness ) sit on my shelf of all time favorite books.  They are brilliant studies of her family, Africa and her new life in the US, colorful, honest and written with raw Emotion. Her style of writing always paints a clear picture, I always had visual images in my head when reading her books.

When I received the proof of her upcoming book “Quiet until the Thaw”, I was warned that this is an altogether different book. Having read various Native American authors, literature I have been drawn to for years, I was immediately curious about this new chapter of her writing.  Alexandra Fuller participated in a ride on horseback from Fort Robinson, Nebraska to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, a couple of hundred miles across country.  She ended up staying for months feeling at home for the first time since leaving Africa. 

“Quiet until the Thaw” is set in Lakota Oglala Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and tells the story of two cousins, You Choose Watson and Rick Overlooking Horse who were brought up  together but could not be more different in character. The one has chosen the traditional Native American path, the other has gone off the rails ending up in prison.  The book is set in three parts, describing Rick’s and You Choose Watson upbringing and the effect their life development has on many people in the reservation. When Rick is eventually given two orphan boys to bring up, Le-a Brings a Plenty, a colorful female character in the book, helps him without hesitation to raise the children her womb was never able to produce. You Choose Watson's return from prison and his actions change and disrupt their lives forever.

What makes this book fascinating is how it is set: very short chapters, 3 pages mostly, told exquisitely in story snapshots, thoughts, Indian mythology,  ll blended together. Fuller’s storytelling is heavily inspired by the Native American tradition of telling stories.   I loved this little gem of a book, was drawn to it immediately. She is such a fine writer, it deserves to be compared with other masterful writers like Louise Erdrich. It is certainly helpful if the reader is interested in Native American literature but it is not a requirement.