Peter Stamm's recent novel To The Back Of Beyond is exceptional - clear and precise, inviting you on a unique journey.
In this dumbfounding, irritating, captivating, and perceptive novel, Thomas and his wife Astrid relax after dinner on their deck, the children off to bed. As she moves into the house, he gets up without a coat or belongings and walks out of the garden gate. Past the streets of town, into the countryside, he continues to walk through the hills, sleeping rough and finding food where he can. In time he reaches the mountains, often sleeping in a farm shed or abandoned mountain hut.
"The starry sky was of an overpowering beauty, the stars seeming to vibrate with cold. Even though there was a half-moon the barren waste of the landscape was surprisingly easy to see, it was as if the snow was giving off a pallid illumination. Even so, Thomas set himself to wait for it to get light before moving off."
Over the next twenty years he works odd jobs, meets a variety of people, but is usually alone. Astrid is shocked by his absence, she is suddenly a single mother with little income and two small children. Police uncover no leads and the trail is dropped. She can only swallow her disbelief as the children grow up and life continues.
Although this is one of his best novels, I still can't forgive Thomas for abandoning his family, it's callous and I don't understand it. The only parallel I can think of is that of Odysseus and Penelope. However, I can place my personal feelings to one side and marvel in this extraordinary story. The writing is superb as we follow Thomas and Astrid over the years in Stamm's spare quiet style. It's the kind of book that raises strong emotions, and yet, I think it's his best and would read it again. As the journey of two people in the world, it is hard not to recommend too highly.
2016 / Tradeback / 140 pages
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