Grand Solo for Anton (Dedalus Europe) (Dedalus Europe 2006) - Softcover

The epigraph to Rosendorfer's third novel is Mallarme's: 'The ultimate aim of the world is a book.' When Anton L. wakes up one morning and gradually discovers that he is the only person left in the world, he accepts the situation with greater sang froid than most would. Survival presents no great problems: he moves into a hotel then into part of the royal palace, and dines on roast venison, chocolates and champagne. He is something of a shlemiel and his memories of people and places he knew generally end in minor disasters and lead to bizarre dreams and nightmares. Finding out about people who have volatilised (only their clothes are left) becomes a passion, especially when he finds himself on the trail of a group secretly searching for The Book, a book that contains all knowledge, the world between two covers. He discovers it, reads it and...Has the world achieved its 'ultimate aim'? The amusing episodes Rosedorfer has woven together cast a gently satirical light on modern society, but Anton's discussions with Jacob the hare and the statue of the Prince Elector - which are, of course, conversations with himself - raise ultimate philosophical and theological questions.