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Wolf on a String
Bestselling author Benjamin Black turns his eye to sixteenth century Prague and a story of murder, magic and the dark art of wielding extraordinary power
Christian Stern, an ambitious young scholar and alchemist, arrives in Prague in the bitter winter of 1599, intent on making his fortune at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, the eccentric Rudolf II. The night of his arrival, drunk and lost, Christian stumbles upon the body of a young woman in Golden Lane, an alley hard by Rudolf’s great castle. Dressed in a velvet gown, wearing a large gold medallion around her neck, the woman is clearly well-born―or was, for her throat has been slashed.
A lesser man would smell danger, but Christian is determined to follow his fortunes wherever they may lead. He quickly finds himself entangled in the machinations of several ruthless courtiers, and before long he comes to the attention of the Emperor himself. Rudolf, deciding that Christian is that rare thing―a person he can trust―sets him the task of solving the mystery of the woman’s murder. But Christian soon realizes that he has blundered into the midst of a power struggle that threatens to subvert the throne itself. And as he gets ever nearer to the truth of what happened that night in Golden Lane, he finally sees that his own life is in grave danger.
From the spectacularly inventive Benjamin Black, Wolf on a String is a historical crime novel that delivers both a mesmerizing portrait of a lost world and a riveting tale of intrigue and suspense.
Christian Stern, an ambitious young scholar and alchemist, arrives in Prague in the bitter winter of 1599, intent on making his fortune at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, the eccentric Rudolf II. The night of his arrival, drunk and lost, Christian stumbles upon the body of a young woman in Golden Lane, an alley hard by Rudolf’s great castle. Dressed in a velvet gown, wearing a large gold medallion around her neck, the woman is clearly well-born―or was, for her throat has been slashed.
A lesser man would smell danger, but Christian is determined to follow his fortunes wherever they may lead. He quickly finds himself entangled in the machinations of several ruthless courtiers, and before long he comes to the attention of the Emperor himself. Rudolf, deciding that Christian is that rare thing―a person he can trust―sets him the task of solving the mystery of the woman’s murder. But Christian soon realizes that he has blundered into the midst of a power struggle that threatens to subvert the throne itself. And as he gets ever nearer to the truth of what happened that night in Golden Lane, he finally sees that his own life is in grave danger.
From the spectacularly inventive Benjamin Black, Wolf on a String is a historical crime novel that delivers both a mesmerizing portrait of a lost world and a riveting tale of intrigue and suspense.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
295 people are currently reading
2235 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Black
30 books663 followersPen name for John Banville
Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland. His father worked in a garage and died when Banville was in his early thirties; his mother was a housewife. He is the youngest of three siblings; his older brother Vincent is also a novelist and has written under the name Vincent Lawrence as well as his own. His sister Vonnie Banville-Evans has written both a children's novel and a reminiscence of growing up in Wexford.
Educated at a Christian Brothers' school and at St Peter's College in Wexford. Despite having intended to be a painter and an architect he did not attend university. Banville has described this as "A great mistake. I should have gone. I regret not taking that four years of getting drunk and falling in love. But I wanted to get away from my family. I wanted to be free." After school he worked as a clerk at Aer Lingus which allowed him to travel at deeply-discounted rates. He took advantage of this to travel in Greece and Italy. He lived in the United States during 1968 and 1969. On his return to Ireland he became a sub-editor at the Irish Press, rising eventually to the position of chief sub-editor. His first book, Long Lankin, was published in 1970.
After the Irish Press collapsed in 1995, he became a sub-editor at the Irish Times. He was appointed literary editor in 1998. The Irish Times, too, suffered severe financial problems, and Banville was offered the choice of taking a redundancy package or working as a features department sub-editor. He left. Banville has been a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books since 1990. In 1984, he was elected to Aosdána, but resigned in 2001, so that some other artist might be allowed to receive the cnuas.
Banville also writes under the pen name Benjamin Black. His first novel under this pen name was Christine Falls, which was followed by The Silver Swan in 2007. Banville has two adult sons with his wife, the American textile artist Janet Dunham. They met during his visit to San Francisco in 1968 where she was a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Dunham described him during the writing process as being like "a murderer who's just come back from a particularly bloody killing". Banville has two daughters from his relationship with Patricia Quinn, former head of the Arts Council of Ireland.
Banville has a strong interest in vivisection and animal rights, and is often featured in Irish media speaking out against vivisection in Irish university research.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benjam...
Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland. His father worked in a garage and died when Banville was in his early thirties; his mother was a housewife. He is the youngest of three siblings; his older brother Vincent is also a novelist and has written under the name Vincent Lawrence as well as his own. His sister Vonnie Banville-Evans has written both a children's novel and a reminiscence of growing up in Wexford.
Educated at a Christian Brothers' school and at St Peter's College in Wexford. Despite having intended to be a painter and an architect he did not attend university. Banville has described this as "A great mistake. I should have gone. I regret not taking that four years of getting drunk and falling in love. But I wanted to get away from my family. I wanted to be free." After school he worked as a clerk at Aer Lingus which allowed him to travel at deeply-discounted rates. He took advantage of this to travel in Greece and Italy. He lived in the United States during 1968 and 1969. On his return to Ireland he became a sub-editor at the Irish Press, rising eventually to the position of chief sub-editor. His first book, Long Lankin, was published in 1970.
After the Irish Press collapsed in 1995, he became a sub-editor at the Irish Times. He was appointed literary editor in 1998. The Irish Times, too, suffered severe financial problems, and Banville was offered the choice of taking a redundancy package or working as a features department sub-editor. He left. Banville has been a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books since 1990. In 1984, he was elected to Aosdána, but resigned in 2001, so that some other artist might be allowed to receive the cnuas.
Banville also writes under the pen name Benjamin Black. His first novel under this pen name was Christine Falls, which was followed by The Silver Swan in 2007. Banville has two adult sons with his wife, the American textile artist Janet Dunham. They met during his visit to San Francisco in 1968 where she was a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Dunham described him during the writing process as being like "a murderer who's just come back from a particularly bloody killing". Banville has two daughters from his relationship with Patricia Quinn, former head of the Arts Council of Ireland.
Banville has a strong interest in vivisection and animal rights, and is often featured in Irish media speaking out against vivisection in Irish university research.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benjam...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
May 8, 2017
This is a impressively researched piece of dark historical crime fiction by John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black, set in the Prague of 1599 and the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II, The central protagonist is Christian Stern, a markedly unlikeable man. Stern is an arrogant young doctor with ambitions to make his mark and rise in the court. He arrives in Prague, gets drunk on his first night, only to find himself stumbling over the dead body of a woman in the snow. It transpires that the murdered woman is Magda Kroll, the mistress of the emperor. Rudolf takes in Stern, tasking him to investigate Magda's murder. The emperor is a man given to odd whims and has a strong interest in the occult, perceived by many as a poor leader.
However, Christian Stern has neither the wit or the means with which to succeed at the job. He finds himself moving here and there, following leads supplied by others, and hopelessly out of his depth. The court is full of intrigue, plots, conspiracies, covert relationships and the ambitious jostling for power amongst religious divisions and competing parties. There does lurk a more powerful and able wolf behind the scenes. Black writes a well plotted story with a first person narrative and there are finely honed descriptions that evoke the period. The characters struggle to evoke a sympathetic reaction from the reader It is a good read that transports the reader to such an interesting period in history. Thanks to Penguin for an ARC.
However, Christian Stern has neither the wit or the means with which to succeed at the job. He finds himself moving here and there, following leads supplied by others, and hopelessly out of his depth. The court is full of intrigue, plots, conspiracies, covert relationships and the ambitious jostling for power amongst religious divisions and competing parties. There does lurk a more powerful and able wolf behind the scenes. Black writes a well plotted story with a first person narrative and there are finely honed descriptions that evoke the period. The characters struggle to evoke a sympathetic reaction from the reader It is a good read that transports the reader to such an interesting period in history. Thanks to Penguin for an ARC.
July 2, 2017
1599. Christian Stern, illegitimate son of the Prince Bishop of Regensburg, came to Prague to win Emperor Rudolf II's favor. Before the Bishop's death, he provided references and gold coin to help Christian quench his thirst for knowledge among learned men like Kepler. Christian journeyed to Prague to study philosophy and the occult arts, instead, he was forced to study evidence surrounding two murders.
After checking into the Blue Elephant, Christian imbibed too much alcohol and then took a walk near Hradcany Castle. He discovered the body of seventeen year old Magdalena Kroll, daughter of Rudolph's court physician. Gashed across the throat with no cloak for protection, Magdalena's death, seemed to the castle sentry, to be that of a murdered whore. Returning to the Blue Elephant, Christian was accosted by soldiers sent by Felix Wenzel, cunning advisor to the Emperor. Wenzel ordered Christian to be held in the castle tower accused of Magdalena's murder. Dr. Kroll interceded on Christian's behalf suggesting that he leave Prague and go to Dresden, a safer, untainted city.
Released from the jail cell, Christian was introduced to Philipp Lang, Emperor Rudolf's Chamberlain. Philipp, the Emperor's chief man, was a liar and extortionist. Both Wenzel and Lang had their own agendas. Wenzel achieved his success using threats and force while Lang was charming and cajoling. Christian needed to choose a side in this political intrigue or a side would be chosen for him. Perhaps Christian should have left Prague as per Dr. Kroll's suggestion.
Emperor Rudolph wanted to speak to Christian. He recounted his dream that a star would be sent from the west as a talisman. Rudolph stated that Christian was the personification of his dream and put his trust in Christian to investigate the death of Magdalena and find the culprit. The plot thickened. A second body was found, the body of Jan Madek, Magdalena's betrothed before she started an affair with the Emperor.
Murder and intrigue. A missing strongbox. A fickle Emperor. A meteoric rise to membership in the Emperor's Court could suddenly spiral into a downward descent. Who can be trusted> Who killed Magdalena Kroll and Jan Madek?
"Wolf on a String" by Benjamin Black was more of a historical fiction read than a mystery. The court intrigue, the back stabbing and jockeying for the Emperor's favor was key. There were some slow moving sequences, however, that did not capture my interest. I would have preferred a storyline, without murder, one focusing on the intellectual battle between Chief Advisor Menzel, Chamberlain Lang, Doctor Kroll and Malaspina, the Holy Father's Nuncio to the Emperor.
Thank you Henry Holt & Company and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Wolf on a String".
After checking into the Blue Elephant, Christian imbibed too much alcohol and then took a walk near Hradcany Castle. He discovered the body of seventeen year old Magdalena Kroll, daughter of Rudolph's court physician. Gashed across the throat with no cloak for protection, Magdalena's death, seemed to the castle sentry, to be that of a murdered whore. Returning to the Blue Elephant, Christian was accosted by soldiers sent by Felix Wenzel, cunning advisor to the Emperor. Wenzel ordered Christian to be held in the castle tower accused of Magdalena's murder. Dr. Kroll interceded on Christian's behalf suggesting that he leave Prague and go to Dresden, a safer, untainted city.
Released from the jail cell, Christian was introduced to Philipp Lang, Emperor Rudolf's Chamberlain. Philipp, the Emperor's chief man, was a liar and extortionist. Both Wenzel and Lang had their own agendas. Wenzel achieved his success using threats and force while Lang was charming and cajoling. Christian needed to choose a side in this political intrigue or a side would be chosen for him. Perhaps Christian should have left Prague as per Dr. Kroll's suggestion.
Emperor Rudolph wanted to speak to Christian. He recounted his dream that a star would be sent from the west as a talisman. Rudolph stated that Christian was the personification of his dream and put his trust in Christian to investigate the death of Magdalena and find the culprit. The plot thickened. A second body was found, the body of Jan Madek, Magdalena's betrothed before she started an affair with the Emperor.
Murder and intrigue. A missing strongbox. A fickle Emperor. A meteoric rise to membership in the Emperor's Court could suddenly spiral into a downward descent. Who can be trusted> Who killed Magdalena Kroll and Jan Madek?
"Wolf on a String" by Benjamin Black was more of a historical fiction read than a mystery. The court intrigue, the back stabbing and jockeying for the Emperor's favor was key. There were some slow moving sequences, however, that did not capture my interest. I would have preferred a storyline, without murder, one focusing on the intellectual battle between Chief Advisor Menzel, Chamberlain Lang, Doctor Kroll and Malaspina, the Holy Father's Nuncio to the Emperor.
Thank you Henry Holt & Company and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Wolf on a String".
May 15, 2024
the effort is clear, the intelligence is obvious; the results are uninteresting. this is a supposedly atmospheric literary murder mystery, set in Prague on the verge of the turn of the 16th century into the 17th. but "atmosphere" is not describing an entire city as, well, yucky. "atmosphere" is not just describing gross food or the pustules on the back of a page's neck. atmosphere brings me to a place, makes that place real. for a setting like this one, it would be cobblestones and fog and eccentric architecture and the sounds of young partisans in the streets and coffeehouses; you know, the way a city looks and feels and sounds at a certain point in time. not just the way it smells! and not just the things that the author finds repellant. characterization was likewise uninspired. all of the suspects are Machiavellian gargoyles and it was surprisingly hard to tell them apart. I mean, one is really tall and another is a dwarf and a third is a High Steward and a fourth is a High Chamberlain, but they are all mysterious, condescending manipulators who barely give our unremarkable, equally flat protagonist the time of day. this does not make for a compelling murder mystery, especially when figuring out the murderer's identity is relatively easy. the literariness of the endeavor is perhaps signalled most strongly by its title, a musical term that makes little sense when used as a description of our pallid, ineffective hero.
critiques aside, the writing was actually quite good, in its way. it's like a talented artist was given a commission to paint a cityscape in bold, dramatic colors but mulishly decided to draw a black & white sketch instead. the result is a disappointment but the talent is still clear.
critiques aside, the writing was actually quite good, in its way. it's like a talented artist was given a commission to paint a cityscape in bold, dramatic colors but mulishly decided to draw a black & white sketch instead. the result is a disappointment but the talent is still clear.
August 13, 2017
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
Don't let the beautiful cover and the fairytale-like description fool you, this book is nothing like what it seems.
I was beyond excited to request Prague Nights on NetGalley. And I can't tell you how happy I was to start reading it.
Sadly, it was in vain.
Prague Nights is a dreary, boring, uneventful narrative about some equally boring events that did not happen in the court of Rudolf II.
In theory, this book could have been fantastic. Rudolf II was obsessed with the occult, with different curiosities, he was a patron of art and magic. Looking for the philosopher's stone in 16th century Prague? How awesome is that?
Not very awesome, in this book.
The narrator and main character, Christian Stern, is a person who needs a hard slap. He is not remarkable in any way, he is not particularly talented, nor is he very smart, for that matter. Christian Stern is ordered by the emperor to investigate the death of a young girl. What he does instead of that is snoop around the court affairs, have sex, and think how he should investigate but isn't. There is not a drop of suspense, because the narrator is in no way engaged in the drama unfolding in the palace. He is no part of it, he doesn't know what the relations between the other characters are, he is usually at a loss as to how to act and what to do. The main event of the book being the death of Magda Kroll, Christian Stern plays no role in solving it. He just follows what other characters tell him to do and ends up learning information that is completely inconsequential, as everyone else already has the knowledge. Even in the end, he is just a passive observer. He doesn't manage to achieve absolutely anything.
More so, out of what could have been an absurdly beautiful scene for the events of the book, my dream city of Prague, what we get is usually Stern's cold house where he has sex. No enchanting adventures in the maze of streets of old Prague, no hidden treasures, no magic, no life in this book.
All of the events simply happen and we are forced to read about them from the view-point of the most uncharismatic outcast in the court of Rudolf II.
Lastly, what could have been the two most interesting characters in the book, Rudolf and his son Don Julius Caesar, are just mentioned as background information, and often mocked, while in reality, they were both probably insane, but also very interesting people.
Don't let the beautiful cover and the fairytale-like description fool you, this book is nothing like what it seems.
I was beyond excited to request Prague Nights on NetGalley. And I can't tell you how happy I was to start reading it.
Sadly, it was in vain.
Prague Nights is a dreary, boring, uneventful narrative about some equally boring events that did not happen in the court of Rudolf II.
In theory, this book could have been fantastic. Rudolf II was obsessed with the occult, with different curiosities, he was a patron of art and magic. Looking for the philosopher's stone in 16th century Prague? How awesome is that?
Not very awesome, in this book.
The narrator and main character, Christian Stern, is a person who needs a hard slap. He is not remarkable in any way, he is not particularly talented, nor is he very smart, for that matter. Christian Stern is ordered by the emperor to investigate the death of a young girl. What he does instead of that is snoop around the court affairs, have sex, and think how he should investigate but isn't. There is not a drop of suspense, because the narrator is in no way engaged in the drama unfolding in the palace. He is no part of it, he doesn't know what the relations between the other characters are, he is usually at a loss as to how to act and what to do. The main event of the book being the death of Magda Kroll, Christian Stern plays no role in solving it. He just follows what other characters tell him to do and ends up learning information that is completely inconsequential, as everyone else already has the knowledge. Even in the end, he is just a passive observer. He doesn't manage to achieve absolutely anything.
More so, out of what could have been an absurdly beautiful scene for the events of the book, my dream city of Prague, what we get is usually Stern's cold house where he has sex. No enchanting adventures in the maze of streets of old Prague, no hidden treasures, no magic, no life in this book.
All of the events simply happen and we are forced to read about them from the view-point of the most uncharismatic outcast in the court of Rudolf II.
Lastly, what could have been the two most interesting characters in the book, Rudolf and his son Don Julius Caesar, are just mentioned as background information, and often mocked, while in reality, they were both probably insane, but also very interesting people.
May 8, 2017
Penquin Books (UK) Viking: Pub Date 01 Jun 2017 | Archive Date 15 Jun 2017
Description: 'The emperor's mistress had been murdered, and the world had been taken hold of and turned upon its head'. Prague, 1599. Christian Stern, a young doctor, has just arrived in the city. On his first evening, he finds a young woman's body half-buried in the snow.
The dead woman is none other than the emperor's mistress, and there's no shortage of suspects. Stern is employed by the emperor himself to investigate the murder. In the search to find the culprit, Stern finds himself drawn into the shadowy world of the emperor's court - unspoken affairs, letters written in code, and bitter rivalries. But there's no turning back now..
Having read through Banville's 'Prague Pictures'a few years back, it was no surprise to see him weave a historical fiction around the baroque Pražský hrad, home of the noun 'defenestration'. Prague is a bewitching city to visit, steeped in all sorts of superstitions and wild events. Rudolph is the Holy Roman Emperor and he had predicted the arrival of the doctor, Christian Stern: the ''new star over Prague''...
A nice read over a balmy weekend.
- mild foreshadowing
- gently nuanced
- first person narrative
- deft language usage
- easy reading
Rudolph IIAs Benjamin Black
2.5* Christine Falls
3* The Silver Swan
3* Elegy for April
3* Prague Nights
John Banville
4* The Sea
TR The Book of Evidence
2.5* Ancient Light
TR Shroud
3* Prague Pictures
LIDA Bowen and Betjeman
March 18, 2025
El gemelo oscuro de John Banville - aka Benjamin Black - es tan versátil como su reverso: tan pronto escribe novela negra como histórica y a veces, como aquí, mezcla ambos géneros.
Praga 1600, Renacimiento en la corte del loco Emperador Rodolfo II, que colecciona monstruos y portentos en su Gabinete de Curiosidades así como un totum revolutum de alquimistas, magos y científicos (como el astrónomo Kepler o el matemático Tycho Brahe) - en la época no se distinguían demasiado - que junto con los bufones y los intrigantes de turno constituían una corte muy singular.
Aquí llega un poco por casualidad Christian Stern, un joven erudito interesado en las ciencias y que espera hacer fortuna aproximándose al ambientillo que rodea al Emperador. Lo que encuentra en su primera noche es el cadáver de una joven degollada que resulta ser...
La trama es algo enrevesada pero tiene cierto interés histórico, ya que muchos de los personajes y situaciones son reales. El autor se ha documentado a fondo sobre la época, ya lo hizo para escribir como John Banville su estupenda The Revolutions Trilogy, sobre Copérnico, Kepler y Newton.
Lo mejor es el estilo inconfundible de Banville/Black y el retrato atmosférico que hace de la invernal ciudad de Praga y sus personajes, narrado en primera persona por el joven Christian:
¡Qué vívido me pareció todo de pronto! Vívido, y también doloroso y apremiante: el calor del fuego, el sabor áspero y fuerte del vino, la tenue luz de las ventanas, la carne apergaminada de la sirvienta. A menudo me parece que nunca estuve tan vivo, para mí y para el mundo, como esos primeros y turbulentos días en Praga, ciudad de la llama y las sombras.
Una buena lectura y no excesivamente larga. 3,5*
Praga 1600, Renacimiento en la corte del loco Emperador Rodolfo II, que colecciona monstruos y portentos en su Gabinete de Curiosidades así como un totum revolutum de alquimistas, magos y científicos (como el astrónomo Kepler o el matemático Tycho Brahe) - en la época no se distinguían demasiado - que junto con los bufones y los intrigantes de turno constituían una corte muy singular.
Aquí llega un poco por casualidad Christian Stern, un joven erudito interesado en las ciencias y que espera hacer fortuna aproximándose al ambientillo que rodea al Emperador. Lo que encuentra en su primera noche es el cadáver de una joven degollada que resulta ser...
La trama es algo enrevesada pero tiene cierto interés histórico, ya que muchos de los personajes y situaciones son reales. El autor se ha documentado a fondo sobre la época, ya lo hizo para escribir como John Banville su estupenda The Revolutions Trilogy, sobre Copérnico, Kepler y Newton.
Lo mejor es el estilo inconfundible de Banville/Black y el retrato atmosférico que hace de la invernal ciudad de Praga y sus personajes, narrado en primera persona por el joven Christian:
¡Qué vívido me pareció todo de pronto! Vívido, y también doloroso y apremiante: el calor del fuego, el sabor áspero y fuerte del vino, la tenue luz de las ventanas, la carne apergaminada de la sirvienta. A menudo me parece que nunca estuve tan vivo, para mí y para el mundo, como esos primeros y turbulentos días en Praga, ciudad de la llama y las sombras.
Una buena lectura y no excesivamente larga. 3,5*
May 17, 2017
This was an interesting work of historical fiction. Christian, the main character finds himself in a predicament when on arriving in Prague, he discovers the body of a young woman in the street. He quickly becomes embroiled in the politics and skullduggery of the Emperor Rudolph's court. 'I felt as if I had been caught up in the workings of some terrible machine from which I would never be released'
He is charged with the task of finding her murderer and meets a variety of untrustworthy and scheming individuals while undertaking this task. Christian is a vain and naive character who is not a particularly likeable protagonist.
The historical details of Prague in 1600 were well described. The pacing was a little off in the middle. The story was written in the first person and reminded me of The Hangman's daughter by Oliver Potzsch and The Unquiet Bones by Melvin R. Starr in tone and style.
I was provided with an ARC for review by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
He is charged with the task of finding her murderer and meets a variety of untrustworthy and scheming individuals while undertaking this task. Christian is a vain and naive character who is not a particularly likeable protagonist.
The historical details of Prague in 1600 were well described. The pacing was a little off in the middle. The story was written in the first person and reminded me of The Hangman's daughter by Oliver Potzsch and The Unquiet Bones by Melvin R. Starr in tone and style.
I was provided with an ARC for review by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2017
Wolf on a leash
Winter 1599 and Christian Stern, a naïve and over-confident young man, arrives in Prague determined to make his name at the court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and patron of the alchemical arts. Imagine his surprise when drunk, on his first night in the city, he stumbles across the murdered corpse of a wealthy young woman, is arrested for her murder and then adopted by the superstitious emperor as a talisman sent by God. Worse, despite his innate lack of skill or power, Stern is ordered by the emperor to find out who has murdered the girl, recently his own mistress.
I confess Christian Stern is not an especially attractive protagonist, cast as he is amidst a pack of conspiring and plotting factions within the eccentric court of Rudolf. But this is what makes this an interesting and entertaining novel: the competing groups of ruthless characters, divided by religion and ambition; the bleakness of the Prague winter; the foibles of Rudolf, a man clearly unfit to rule; the seasoning of Kafkaesque hopelessness, as Stern blindly and ineffectually attempts to negotiate a way through a murderous maze. He imagines himself a ‘wolf on a leash’, but he is wrong – that description better fits another…
Winter 1599 and Christian Stern, a naïve and over-confident young man, arrives in Prague determined to make his name at the court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and patron of the alchemical arts. Imagine his surprise when drunk, on his first night in the city, he stumbles across the murdered corpse of a wealthy young woman, is arrested for her murder and then adopted by the superstitious emperor as a talisman sent by God. Worse, despite his innate lack of skill or power, Stern is ordered by the emperor to find out who has murdered the girl, recently his own mistress.
I confess Christian Stern is not an especially attractive protagonist, cast as he is amidst a pack of conspiring and plotting factions within the eccentric court of Rudolf. But this is what makes this an interesting and entertaining novel: the competing groups of ruthless characters, divided by religion and ambition; the bleakness of the Prague winter; the foibles of Rudolf, a man clearly unfit to rule; the seasoning of Kafkaesque hopelessness, as Stern blindly and ineffectually attempts to negotiate a way through a murderous maze. He imagines himself a ‘wolf on a leash’, but he is wrong – that description better fits another…
June 3, 2017
This is Banville writing an entertaining romp of a historical mystery set in 1599 at the Prague court of Rudolf II. The research is well done as is the voice of the protagonist, and the narrative conjures up all kinds of playful connections: Game of Thrones for plot and counter-plot, Kafka for a main character who doesn't understand the world in which he finds himself, as just two examples.
What really makes this book is Christian Stern's voice: he's young and arrogant, but fails to judge the people he meets with any skill or prescience. So alongside the pleasures of the moody Prague background, is a sort of coming-of-age morality tale.
Black throws in lots of fun references to John Dee, Ned Kelley, alchemy and magic, and the story is awash with devious women, secrets and intrigue. It's rare that this sort of historical mystery should be so beautifully written - a playful, mischievous book, expertly crafted.
What really makes this book is Christian Stern's voice: he's young and arrogant, but fails to judge the people he meets with any skill or prescience. So alongside the pleasures of the moody Prague background, is a sort of coming-of-age morality tale.
Black throws in lots of fun references to John Dee, Ned Kelley, alchemy and magic, and the story is awash with devious women, secrets and intrigue. It's rare that this sort of historical mystery should be so beautifully written - a playful, mischievous book, expertly crafted.
Read
June 20, 2017like 3.6 or 3.7
When I saw that Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) had a new novel out, I ordered it tout suite and didn't wait too long after it arrived to delve into it. Black has given me some of the best hours of my crime-fiction reading career with his Quirke novels set in 1950s Dublin, which I thought were just terrific. So I rushed to start this one, and while it starts out in a fashion not unlike a crime fiction novel with the main character stumbling onto a murder, as I got more into it I realized that there's much more going on here than just crime. It reads to me as much more of a historical novel of court intrigue that looks at a young man who arrives in Prague and finds himself unknowingly caught up in a power struggle and has no idea who he can trust; flying blind, he has to make choices without really knowing what's going on or indeed, just what might be at stake as he becomes a pawn in the players' end game.
for plot without spoilers you can turn to my reading journal here; if not, move on.
In the Author's Note section of this book, Black/Banville describes his novel as "a historical fantasy," saying that "real life at the court of Rudolf II was entirely phantasmagorical," which is brought out very nicely in this book. Alongside the scientists Tycho Brahe and Kepler, Rudolf surrounds himself with magicians, prophets, astrologers and alchemists; we are reminded from time to time of the "magus" John Dee and then there's Edward Kelley (who is now locked away in a castle at Most), who spends his time "writing a voluminous treatise on the philosopher's stone" while imprisoned, and much, much more that supports the "phantasmagorical" element here.
One thing I learned while reading this book is that I really need to follow my own advice about not having expectations going into a novel. I let myself down in a big way by assuming this was going to be another crime novel, so when there was seemingly little going on, I started getting quite frustrated about the snail's pace this book seemed to be taking. Once I came to the conclusion that this book was more intrigue and less crime though, I had to do a serious rethink, and as it turns out, I ended up liking this quite a bit for what it is, rather than bemoaning what it was not. Lesson learned.
While it's necessary to wait until the very end for all of the answers, and while I was not as satisfied as I probably should have been because of the ending, it was still a fun, entertaining and rather dark read. Historical fiction fans will very likely enjoy this one, especially people who like stories set in Prague.
When I saw that Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) had a new novel out, I ordered it tout suite and didn't wait too long after it arrived to delve into it. Black has given me some of the best hours of my crime-fiction reading career with his Quirke novels set in 1950s Dublin, which I thought were just terrific. So I rushed to start this one, and while it starts out in a fashion not unlike a crime fiction novel with the main character stumbling onto a murder, as I got more into it I realized that there's much more going on here than just crime. It reads to me as much more of a historical novel of court intrigue that looks at a young man who arrives in Prague and finds himself unknowingly caught up in a power struggle and has no idea who he can trust; flying blind, he has to make choices without really knowing what's going on or indeed, just what might be at stake as he becomes a pawn in the players' end game.
for plot without spoilers you can turn to my reading journal here; if not, move on.
In the Author's Note section of this book, Black/Banville describes his novel as "a historical fantasy," saying that "real life at the court of Rudolf II was entirely phantasmagorical," which is brought out very nicely in this book. Alongside the scientists Tycho Brahe and Kepler, Rudolf surrounds himself with magicians, prophets, astrologers and alchemists; we are reminded from time to time of the "magus" John Dee and then there's Edward Kelley (who is now locked away in a castle at Most), who spends his time "writing a voluminous treatise on the philosopher's stone" while imprisoned, and much, much more that supports the "phantasmagorical" element here.
One thing I learned while reading this book is that I really need to follow my own advice about not having expectations going into a novel. I let myself down in a big way by assuming this was going to be another crime novel, so when there was seemingly little going on, I started getting quite frustrated about the snail's pace this book seemed to be taking. Once I came to the conclusion that this book was more intrigue and less crime though, I had to do a serious rethink, and as it turns out, I ended up liking this quite a bit for what it is, rather than bemoaning what it was not. Lesson learned.
While it's necessary to wait until the very end for all of the answers, and while I was not as satisfied as I probably should have been because of the ending, it was still a fun, entertaining and rather dark read. Historical fiction fans will very likely enjoy this one, especially people who like stories set in Prague.
July 26, 2017
enjoyed this book overall with all the movement of the court with the different factions based in prague at the turn of the 17th century and the main character caught up in it all. the only problem had with the book was the ending though as it was left open ended.
February 11, 2018
Full review here. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
I was excited to read this book because PRAGUE. That's basically it. I like to read the things about Prague, fictional or non-fictional, it doesn't matter much.
This historical novel takes place in 1599 during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II. Now that's quite a character. If you ever want to read about some crazy shit, you should do some reading up on Rudolf II.
In any case, the novel follows Christian Stern who comes to Prague with plans of making his fame and fortune at Rudolf II's court. But upon his arrival there is a murder that causes Stern to become involved in helping solve the mystery of the woman's death. His investigation takes him through the maze of politics and intrigue. As is typical in mysteries of this sort, people are not who they appear to be, and Stern finds himself questioning the motives of everyone he encounters.
While Stern himself is a fictional character, others are based on real people in Prague's history: Emperor Rudolf, John Dee (astronomer and occult philosopher, as well as adviser to Queen Elizabeth I), and Edward Kelley (another occultist who often worked with John Dee). For those interested in Prague in the early 17th-century will find this a fascinating investigation. The mystery component, however, may appeal to readers of the genre who have particular interests in historical fiction mysteries.
Of note, the author, Benjamin Black, is pseudonymous for the better-known John Banville. Normally I don't feel the need to point that sort of thing out (feeling authors who use a pen name don't care to have their shit broadcast), but in this case I am saying it because some who know me may know I have tried to listen to the audio version of Banville's novel, The Sea more than once and have failed miserably each time. Once I found out that Black is Banville, I gave out a little shout of success because I was worried he just might be a writer I can't, for some reason, understand how to read.
This inspires me to try reading The Sea again, though I understand the writing styles between the two books are vastly different; I have always said I would try reading a tree-version of The Sea to see if that works better for me than the audio version did.
I was excited to read this book because PRAGUE. That's basically it. I like to read the things about Prague, fictional or non-fictional, it doesn't matter much.
This historical novel takes place in 1599 during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II. Now that's quite a character. If you ever want to read about some crazy shit, you should do some reading up on Rudolf II.
In any case, the novel follows Christian Stern who comes to Prague with plans of making his fame and fortune at Rudolf II's court. But upon his arrival there is a murder that causes Stern to become involved in helping solve the mystery of the woman's death. His investigation takes him through the maze of politics and intrigue. As is typical in mysteries of this sort, people are not who they appear to be, and Stern finds himself questioning the motives of everyone he encounters.
While Stern himself is a fictional character, others are based on real people in Prague's history: Emperor Rudolf, John Dee (astronomer and occult philosopher, as well as adviser to Queen Elizabeth I), and Edward Kelley (another occultist who often worked with John Dee). For those interested in Prague in the early 17th-century will find this a fascinating investigation. The mystery component, however, may appeal to readers of the genre who have particular interests in historical fiction mysteries.
Of note, the author, Benjamin Black, is pseudonymous for the better-known John Banville. Normally I don't feel the need to point that sort of thing out (feeling authors who use a pen name don't care to have their shit broadcast), but in this case I am saying it because some who know me may know I have tried to listen to the audio version of Banville's novel, The Sea more than once and have failed miserably each time. Once I found out that Black is Banville, I gave out a little shout of success because I was worried he just might be a writer I can't, for some reason, understand how to read.
This inspires me to try reading The Sea again, though I understand the writing styles between the two books are vastly different; I have always said I would try reading a tree-version of The Sea to see if that works better for me than the audio version did.
June 26, 2017
This is set in Prague under Emperor Rudolf. The character development builds for the series that will follow. It's in a period 1599-1600 near the end of Elizabeth I's reign in England. For me, it's an intriguing time with Reformation and new learning of Science (or is it science) pivoting all kinds of alliances/enemies and varying conditions of practical and intellectual life. Very cruel too.
Benjamin Black has another series that has been popular and for my own taste in reading, I like these characters in this one much more. Christopher Stern is 24 or 25 during this tale coming straight from university town and years of study. He is a bastard son of a high prelate who was given some perks of funds enough to educate upon his father's death. He's younger in street smarts, more than his age would tell you, talks too much and is apt to fall in grace and deed to the female lure or manipulator. But he by happen chance of name and placements (his name means star in German and he came from the West as in a dream Rudolph had) has become placed as an investigator for Rudolph. Emperor Rudolph of the hoarder, manic and depressive moods and ever changing and short lived attention span. A nightmare for other royalty and an all around screwball of a Holy Roman Emperor. One who either tortures you or takes you in as an accessory depending upon his notion of the day.
The plot is secondary and more usual than the characters are. But I appreciate the upcoming dynamics of the people at court. (The prelate, the dwarf and the Royal Mistress are fine cut and multi-faceted to true imagination of differing and real people.) They were every one of 5 or 6, in personality and in appearance interesting. And the dialogue in their exposures to their ploys and their real perceptions was top notch.
This Christopher reminds me of a very young Falco or more flawed Brunetti. Lots of potential for a good Prague series here. Czech and German style- but very much like the same kind of intrigues and cruelties of class that dominate in so much of this genre placed in Elizabethan and then 17th century England or Spain. But the prose flow is better in this court, for some reason I can't quite name, than it is with period archaic English forms of this genre.
I will definitely read the Stern #2 if and when it occurs. Stern is lecherous and has an awful lot to learn. He's not just a copper or alchemist or another top scholar.
Benjamin Black has another series that has been popular and for my own taste in reading, I like these characters in this one much more. Christopher Stern is 24 or 25 during this tale coming straight from university town and years of study. He is a bastard son of a high prelate who was given some perks of funds enough to educate upon his father's death. He's younger in street smarts, more than his age would tell you, talks too much and is apt to fall in grace and deed to the female lure or manipulator. But he by happen chance of name and placements (his name means star in German and he came from the West as in a dream Rudolph had) has become placed as an investigator for Rudolph. Emperor Rudolph of the hoarder, manic and depressive moods and ever changing and short lived attention span. A nightmare for other royalty and an all around screwball of a Holy Roman Emperor. One who either tortures you or takes you in as an accessory depending upon his notion of the day.
The plot is secondary and more usual than the characters are. But I appreciate the upcoming dynamics of the people at court. (The prelate, the dwarf and the Royal Mistress are fine cut and multi-faceted to true imagination of differing and real people.) They were every one of 5 or 6, in personality and in appearance interesting. And the dialogue in their exposures to their ploys and their real perceptions was top notch.
This Christopher reminds me of a very young Falco or more flawed Brunetti. Lots of potential for a good Prague series here. Czech and German style- but very much like the same kind of intrigues and cruelties of class that dominate in so much of this genre placed in Elizabethan and then 17th century England or Spain. But the prose flow is better in this court, for some reason I can't quite name, than it is with period archaic English forms of this genre.
I will definitely read the Stern #2 if and when it occurs. Stern is lecherous and has an awful lot to learn. He's not just a copper or alchemist or another top scholar.
March 31, 2017
Interesting novel--part mystery, part thriller--set in the 16th century of Rudolf II of Bohemia. A student, Christian Stern, comes to Prague and stumbles upon the body of a dead girl, no doubt high-class by the way she's dressed. The body of her betrothed is found dead tortured and thrown into a moat. Christian feels he's guessed the culprit straight off, but, no, he's mistaken. Then the story diverges from pure murder mystery to court intrigue and a cabal, putting Christian's life in jeopardy.
I got somewhat of the flavor of that time and place and of Rudolf and his reign. Characters were somewhat wooden, and the king's mistress certainly made me uncomfortable. Solution was ingenious.
Thanks to LibraryThing for an ARC in return for an honest review.
I got somewhat of the flavor of that time and place and of Rudolf and his reign. Characters were somewhat wooden, and the king's mistress certainly made me uncomfortable. Solution was ingenious.
Thanks to LibraryThing for an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 3, 2019
Me costó un poco acabarlo. Como novela negra prefiero las de Quirke, como novela histórica, exige unos conocimientos previos que no tengo, me resultó árida.
October 12, 2018
Vermutlich im Jahr 1647 schreibt der gealterte Wissenschaftler Christian Stern an einem weit nördlich liegenden Küstenort (Weiter in den Norden geht es nicht mehr, außer ich sollte noch im Ultima Thule landen.) seine Erlebnisse in Prag nieder.
Dort hielt er, der ehrgeizige Naturwissenschaftler aus Würzburg, sich im Winter 1599/1600 auf, mit dem Ziel die Bekanntschaft mit Rudolf II. und den Gelehrten an seinem Hof zu machen. Man soll immer vorsichtig sein, was man sich wünscht!
Denn schließlich ist es ein Mord, der ihm die Bekanntschaft mit dem Hof einbringt. Er findet eine ermordete junge Frau und gerät damit zunächst selbst unter Verdacht, und wird dann von Rudolf II. als Ermittler in diesem Fall eingesetzt. Weitere Morde geschehen und dennoch rücken die Verbrechen zeitweise in den Hintergrund. Denn Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) erzählt nicht nur eine atmosphärisch gelungene Kriminalgeschichte. Er schildert auch, wie schnell sich Stern von Pracht und Oberflächlichkeiten (und nicht zuletzt einer ganz bestimmten Dame) verführen lässt. Black berichtet auch von den bereits schwelenden Religionsstreitigkeiten, die wenige Jahre später im Dreißigjährigen Krieg entflammen werden; von Intrigen, Eifersucht und Machtspielen, denen sich der Einzelne kaum entziehen kann; von Charakteren, die selten eindeutig gut oder schlecht sind.
Zudem hat mir gut gefallen, dass dieser durchaus von erfundenen Personen wimmelnde Roman doch auch Lust auf die historischen Charaktere macht. Über Rudolf II. müssten unzählige Romane existieren, drängt er sich doch mit den außergewöhnlichen Menschen, die er um sich scharte, dafür geradezu auf. Tycho Brahe, der dänische Astronom mit der silbernen Nasenprothese (den Brod-Roman über Brahe habe ich gleich bestellt) und seinen Nachfolger Kepler kennt man ja noch (letzteren auch aus Banvilles Roman Kepler).
Aber Philipp Lang war mir bislang nicht bekannt: Ein konvertierter Jude, der zum Kammerherr aufstieg und immense Macht über Rudolf II erlangte. Der Spiritist Edward Kelley, der zeitweise mit dem berühmteren John Dee zusammenarbeitete, um dann am Hofe in Ungnade zu fallen. Seine Stieftochter Elizabeth Jane Weston, die später in Prag als Dichterin bekannt wurde. Don Giulio, der wohl geisteskranke Sohn Rudolfs II, der auch für seine Gewalttätigkeiten bekannt war…
Kurzweilig – und die perfekte Lektüre für eine Prag-Reise.
Dort hielt er, der ehrgeizige Naturwissenschaftler aus Würzburg, sich im Winter 1599/1600 auf, mit dem Ziel die Bekanntschaft mit Rudolf II. und den Gelehrten an seinem Hof zu machen. Man soll immer vorsichtig sein, was man sich wünscht!
Denn schließlich ist es ein Mord, der ihm die Bekanntschaft mit dem Hof einbringt. Er findet eine ermordete junge Frau und gerät damit zunächst selbst unter Verdacht, und wird dann von Rudolf II. als Ermittler in diesem Fall eingesetzt. Weitere Morde geschehen und dennoch rücken die Verbrechen zeitweise in den Hintergrund. Denn Benjamin Black (aka John Banville) erzählt nicht nur eine atmosphärisch gelungene Kriminalgeschichte. Er schildert auch, wie schnell sich Stern von Pracht und Oberflächlichkeiten (und nicht zuletzt einer ganz bestimmten Dame) verführen lässt. Black berichtet auch von den bereits schwelenden Religionsstreitigkeiten, die wenige Jahre später im Dreißigjährigen Krieg entflammen werden; von Intrigen, Eifersucht und Machtspielen, denen sich der Einzelne kaum entziehen kann; von Charakteren, die selten eindeutig gut oder schlecht sind.
Zudem hat mir gut gefallen, dass dieser durchaus von erfundenen Personen wimmelnde Roman doch auch Lust auf die historischen Charaktere macht. Über Rudolf II. müssten unzählige Romane existieren, drängt er sich doch mit den außergewöhnlichen Menschen, die er um sich scharte, dafür geradezu auf. Tycho Brahe, der dänische Astronom mit der silbernen Nasenprothese (den Brod-Roman über Brahe habe ich gleich bestellt) und seinen Nachfolger Kepler kennt man ja noch (letzteren auch aus Banvilles Roman Kepler).
Aber Philipp Lang war mir bislang nicht bekannt: Ein konvertierter Jude, der zum Kammerherr aufstieg und immense Macht über Rudolf II erlangte. Der Spiritist Edward Kelley, der zeitweise mit dem berühmteren John Dee zusammenarbeitete, um dann am Hofe in Ungnade zu fallen. Seine Stieftochter Elizabeth Jane Weston, die später in Prag als Dichterin bekannt wurde. Don Giulio, der wohl geisteskranke Sohn Rudolfs II, der auch für seine Gewalttätigkeiten bekannt war…
Kurzweilig – und die perfekte Lektüre für eine Prag-Reise.
September 21, 2021
I had hoped for a historical crime novel but got a book about a dude having sex with countless hot women who all throw themselves at his feet, while other people solve the crime off-page and then tell him about it.
December 18, 2017
I’m in love with John Banville’s writing which is the name he uses when he’s winning the Booker Prize and I also like his mystery genre books he writes under his Benjamin Black persona. Wolf on a String takes place in Prague during the late 16th century under Rudolf II. The educated but unknown and hitherto undistinguished hero is the young and bumbling Christian Stern.
When he stumbles on a murder victim the night he arrives in Prague Rudolf and his minions hire Christian to solve the murder but this turns out to be less straightforward than he hoped it would be since everyone at court has their own agenda and history with the king. This is probably the fourth book I’ve read from Banville and unfortunately it’s my least favorite. Though it’s enjoyable I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting place for anyone new to Banville’s work. The best aspect of Wolf is the period details which add so much to the atmosphere and sense of place.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader’s copy.
3.5/4 stars
When he stumbles on a murder victim the night he arrives in Prague Rudolf and his minions hire Christian to solve the murder but this turns out to be less straightforward than he hoped it would be since everyone at court has their own agenda and history with the king. This is probably the fourth book I’ve read from Banville and unfortunately it’s my least favorite. Though it’s enjoyable I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting place for anyone new to Banville’s work. The best aspect of Wolf is the period details which add so much to the atmosphere and sense of place.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader’s copy.
3.5/4 stars
July 17, 2017
Except for the title, which I found unfathomable, I enjoyed this novel immensely. The author, Irish writer and Booker-Prize-winner John Banville, writes murder mysteries under the pen name Benjamin Black. Wolf on a String is indeed a mystery, and a puzzling one at that, though it's more intriguing as historical fiction. It's the first of his novels I've read in that genre, but by no means the first he's written. In fact, the book's 16th-Century setting in Prague is familiar territory for Banville. He wrote at least four previous novels grounded there, including the Revolutions Trilogy about scientists Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton.
The action in Wolf on a String unfolds during December 1599 and January 1600. The narrator, Christian Stern, relates the tale in old age, many years later. As a young man, Stern had traveled from his hometown in Bavaria after leaving his father's funeral. He has come to Prague, capital of the Holy Roman Empire, in hopes of gaining a position as an adviser to the Emperor Rudolf II. Unfortunately, on the very day of his arrival in Prague, Stern stumbles (drunk) upon the corpse of a young woman in a narrow street under the shadow of the imperial castle.
As Black writes in opening the novel, "Few now recall that it was I who discovered the corpse of Dr. Kroll's misfortunate daughter thrown upon the snow that night in Golden Lane. The fickle muse of history has all but erased the name of Christian Stern from her timeless pages, yet often I have had cause to think how much better it would have been for me had it never been written there in the first place. I was to soar high, on gorgeous plumage, but in the end fell back to earth, with wings ablaze."
Black could hardly have picked a more interesting time and place to set his novel. Rudolf II was moody, unpredictable, indifferent to rule, and probably insane. He was surrounded by sycophants and cunning criminals who were at war with each other for the emperor's favor. Many historians credit Rudolf's misrule as having paved the way for the tragic Thirty Years War (1618-48) in which Protestants and Catholics murdered one another on battlefields and in towns all across the European continent. However, Rudolf's obsession with alchemy and the occult arts led him to attract many men to his court who would later prove to play major roles in advancing the scientific revolution. Among them were the astronomers Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, both of whom make cameo appearances in the novel.
Christian's misfortune is to be drawn into the treacherous intrigue in the imperial court and forced to deal with the two most senior officials in the Holy Roman Empire as well as the empress and the court physician, Dr. Kroll. All four have interests that conflict with each other's—and with the emperor's. When Rudolf impulsively charges Christian with responsibility for discovering who murdered the young woman, he finds himself at the mercy of all four. This is not a game that Christian can win.
Now about that title. Despite Black's explanation midway through the novel, I couldn't figure it out. So I looked the phrase "wolf on a string" up on Wikipedia. Here's what I found: "A wolf tone, or simply a 'wolf,' is produced when a played note matches the natural resonating frequency of the body of a musical instrument, producing a sustaining sympathetic artificial overtone that amplifies and expands the frequencies of the original note, frequently accompanied by an oscillating beating (due to the uneven frequencies between the natural note and artificial overtone) which may be likened to the howling of the animal. A similar phenomenon is the beating produced by a wolf interval, which is usually the interval between E♭ and G♯ of the various non-circulating temperaments." Got it? Not I. I'm more confused than ever.
Banville writes general fiction under his own name and mysteries under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. Earlier, under that name, he wrote a series of seven novels set in 1950s Dublin that feature the curious coroner, Dr. Quirke, who finds himself embroiled in knotty investigations of crime along with his collaborator, Inspector Hackett. I've posted reviews of all seven books on this blog.
For reviews of three of the novels in the Dr. Quirke series, check out 1950s Dublin: murder and the Church, Dublin's answer to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?, and A murder mystery from the pen of a master stylist.
The action in Wolf on a String unfolds during December 1599 and January 1600. The narrator, Christian Stern, relates the tale in old age, many years later. As a young man, Stern had traveled from his hometown in Bavaria after leaving his father's funeral. He has come to Prague, capital of the Holy Roman Empire, in hopes of gaining a position as an adviser to the Emperor Rudolf II. Unfortunately, on the very day of his arrival in Prague, Stern stumbles (drunk) upon the corpse of a young woman in a narrow street under the shadow of the imperial castle.
As Black writes in opening the novel, "Few now recall that it was I who discovered the corpse of Dr. Kroll's misfortunate daughter thrown upon the snow that night in Golden Lane. The fickle muse of history has all but erased the name of Christian Stern from her timeless pages, yet often I have had cause to think how much better it would have been for me had it never been written there in the first place. I was to soar high, on gorgeous plumage, but in the end fell back to earth, with wings ablaze."
Black could hardly have picked a more interesting time and place to set his novel. Rudolf II was moody, unpredictable, indifferent to rule, and probably insane. He was surrounded by sycophants and cunning criminals who were at war with each other for the emperor's favor. Many historians credit Rudolf's misrule as having paved the way for the tragic Thirty Years War (1618-48) in which Protestants and Catholics murdered one another on battlefields and in towns all across the European continent. However, Rudolf's obsession with alchemy and the occult arts led him to attract many men to his court who would later prove to play major roles in advancing the scientific revolution. Among them were the astronomers Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe, both of whom make cameo appearances in the novel.
Christian's misfortune is to be drawn into the treacherous intrigue in the imperial court and forced to deal with the two most senior officials in the Holy Roman Empire as well as the empress and the court physician, Dr. Kroll. All four have interests that conflict with each other's—and with the emperor's. When Rudolf impulsively charges Christian with responsibility for discovering who murdered the young woman, he finds himself at the mercy of all four. This is not a game that Christian can win.
Now about that title. Despite Black's explanation midway through the novel, I couldn't figure it out. So I looked the phrase "wolf on a string" up on Wikipedia. Here's what I found: "A wolf tone, or simply a 'wolf,' is produced when a played note matches the natural resonating frequency of the body of a musical instrument, producing a sustaining sympathetic artificial overtone that amplifies and expands the frequencies of the original note, frequently accompanied by an oscillating beating (due to the uneven frequencies between the natural note and artificial overtone) which may be likened to the howling of the animal. A similar phenomenon is the beating produced by a wolf interval, which is usually the interval between E♭ and G♯ of the various non-circulating temperaments." Got it? Not I. I'm more confused than ever.
Banville writes general fiction under his own name and mysteries under the pseudonym Benjamin Black. Earlier, under that name, he wrote a series of seven novels set in 1950s Dublin that feature the curious coroner, Dr. Quirke, who finds himself embroiled in knotty investigations of crime along with his collaborator, Inspector Hackett. I've posted reviews of all seven books on this blog.
For reviews of three of the novels in the Dr. Quirke series, check out 1950s Dublin: murder and the Church, Dublin's answer to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?, and A murder mystery from the pen of a master stylist.
August 8, 2017
In 1599, when this novel takes place, Prague was the cultural center of Europe and known for the merger of alchemy, science, and the arts. Benjamin Black aka Booker Prize winner John Banville, departs from the hard-boiled detective novels and laces this historical novel with palace intrigue and an atmospheric and latticed murder mystery. The author does a fine job of installing the reader in this era, with the beauty of the city as the setting of court rivalry, dangerous chicaneries, and lurid passions.
Christian Stern, a scholar for Regensburg, Germany, has left his country to look for a place in the Holy Roman Emperor’s court, alongside other learned men of science and alchemy. On his first night there, he discovers the body of a young woman lying in the snow, blood surrounding her, a “black round in which the faint radiance of the heavens faintly glinted.” She turns out to be the daughter of the court physician and a recent mistress of Rudolph II.
The traveler’s first name, Christian, appeals to Emperor Rudolph II, although not to other jealous superiors of the court, and the Emperor tasks Stern with finding the murderer of his beloved mistress. This saves his life, which had been threatened by other senior court officials, but the tension mounts as Stern becomes an Emperor’s favorite, as well as a lover one of Rudolph’s mistresses. However, the plot thickens like pork gravy as clues to the murder are thin, and Stern finds himself chasing down rabbit holes and confronted by men who are deceitful, mistrustful, and shrewder more than Stern.
There are some caricatures, like a cruel dwarf, but the broody Stern, surrounded by gossip, surveillance, and lots of snow and game women, is kept on his toes as others are snapping on his heels. Very vivid scenes of Prague, making me want to return to soak up its ancient cobbled and winding streets and magical place of carnivals and masks. Everyone in this novel is wearing one. 3.75 stars
Christian Stern, a scholar for Regensburg, Germany, has left his country to look for a place in the Holy Roman Emperor’s court, alongside other learned men of science and alchemy. On his first night there, he discovers the body of a young woman lying in the snow, blood surrounding her, a “black round in which the faint radiance of the heavens faintly glinted.” She turns out to be the daughter of the court physician and a recent mistress of Rudolph II.
The traveler’s first name, Christian, appeals to Emperor Rudolph II, although not to other jealous superiors of the court, and the Emperor tasks Stern with finding the murderer of his beloved mistress. This saves his life, which had been threatened by other senior court officials, but the tension mounts as Stern becomes an Emperor’s favorite, as well as a lover one of Rudolph’s mistresses. However, the plot thickens like pork gravy as clues to the murder are thin, and Stern finds himself chasing down rabbit holes and confronted by men who are deceitful, mistrustful, and shrewder more than Stern.
There are some caricatures, like a cruel dwarf, but the broody Stern, surrounded by gossip, surveillance, and lots of snow and game women, is kept on his toes as others are snapping on his heels. Very vivid scenes of Prague, making me want to return to soak up its ancient cobbled and winding streets and magical place of carnivals and masks. Everyone in this novel is wearing one. 3.75 stars
July 26, 2017
3.5 stars - Part bawdy melodrama, this historical fiction set in 1599 Prague where Rudolf II ruled was a surprise for me...lover of the Quirke mysteries by Black that I am. I do really enjoy historical fiction, but this is somewhat twisted. I was truly reminded of some ghastly operettas I attended as a child. The author had a party for himself in constructing some of these dramatic stage-worthy scenes. The bedroom antics alone would keep this from being staged, however.
So we have a tale of the bastard of a bishop named Christian (laughing yet?) setting off for Prague after his education is completed and his father has died who steps into one hellish trap after another in a new city where one can never discern who is good or evil. Talk about wolves!
"In school I excelled at the quadrivium, showing a particular bent for arithmetic, geometry, and cosmological studies...by the age of fifteen, already taller and stronger than my foster father, I was enrolled in the University of Würzburg." Christian, the narrator, tells of his experiences in Prague from the perspective of old age. "That was a happier age, an era of peace and plenty before this terrible war of the religions--which has been raging now for nigh on thirty years--had engulfed the world in slaughter, fire, and ruin. Rudolf may have been more than a little mad, but he was tolerant to all..."
While Christian may have been welcomed by Rudolf initially, he is tasked with finding out who murdered the young woman he found dead on a snowy street his first night in Prague. "The Emperor's mistress had been murdered, and the world had been taken hold of and turned upon its head."
The author calls this work historical fantasy and makes reference to another book he wrote on Kepler where many of the characters from this book appear in different or truer form. I may look for it.
So we have a tale of the bastard of a bishop named Christian (laughing yet?) setting off for Prague after his education is completed and his father has died who steps into one hellish trap after another in a new city where one can never discern who is good or evil. Talk about wolves!
"In school I excelled at the quadrivium, showing a particular bent for arithmetic, geometry, and cosmological studies...by the age of fifteen, already taller and stronger than my foster father, I was enrolled in the University of Würzburg." Christian, the narrator, tells of his experiences in Prague from the perspective of old age. "That was a happier age, an era of peace and plenty before this terrible war of the religions--which has been raging now for nigh on thirty years--had engulfed the world in slaughter, fire, and ruin. Rudolf may have been more than a little mad, but he was tolerant to all..."
While Christian may have been welcomed by Rudolf initially, he is tasked with finding out who murdered the young woman he found dead on a snowy street his first night in Prague. "The Emperor's mistress had been murdered, and the world had been taken hold of and turned upon its head."
The author calls this work historical fantasy and makes reference to another book he wrote on Kepler where many of the characters from this book appear in different or truer form. I may look for it.
June 1, 2017
This was the #TFBookClub choice for May/early June 2017.
Find out more about the dialogue and comments the books received here: http://www.tripfiction.com/tfbookclub...
It is a while since I have read any historical fiction, so I was anticipatory about how I would get on with this book. I have been to Prague and seen some of the amazing historical architecture that just reeks history at every step. So I thought it would be fascinating to take a peak back in time at what might have been going on behind those heavy doors and dark windows...
The start was slow, but I quite got into the plodding pace once I had worked out who each character was. I got a little bogged down at times with the variety of people in the story but they each became distinctive as the story progressed.
Giblets, smells, blood, wood smoke … all the features of what I imagine a Renaissance city in Winter to have been like, they all rose from the pages. A city full of alchemists, astrologers and doctors “magická Praha” all under the rule of the unwilling emperor Rudolf. And intrigue at every turn!
The story unfolded with a nice and plausible ending. I liked the mix of fictional and genuine historical characters. Overall I came away feeling, that when I next visit the city, I will have a more genuine sense of the footsteps past, that “Nothing in Prague was simple; nothing was ever as it seemed”.
Find out more about the dialogue and comments the books received here: http://www.tripfiction.com/tfbookclub...
It is a while since I have read any historical fiction, so I was anticipatory about how I would get on with this book. I have been to Prague and seen some of the amazing historical architecture that just reeks history at every step. So I thought it would be fascinating to take a peak back in time at what might have been going on behind those heavy doors and dark windows...
The start was slow, but I quite got into the plodding pace once I had worked out who each character was. I got a little bogged down at times with the variety of people in the story but they each became distinctive as the story progressed.
Giblets, smells, blood, wood smoke … all the features of what I imagine a Renaissance city in Winter to have been like, they all rose from the pages. A city full of alchemists, astrologers and doctors “magická Praha” all under the rule of the unwilling emperor Rudolf. And intrigue at every turn!
The story unfolded with a nice and plausible ending. I liked the mix of fictional and genuine historical characters. Overall I came away feeling, that when I next visit the city, I will have a more genuine sense of the footsteps past, that “Nothing in Prague was simple; nothing was ever as it seemed”.
July 28, 2018
When the weather averages over 100 degrees for most of the day I begin casting about for something to read that doesn't require too much of my concentration and attention. Plot driven historical fiction usually fills the bill. I admit the setting of 16th Century Prague is what drew me in; also knowing that John Banville (Benjamin Black) has done is research on the city and its history. It showed and after a slow start made the book worth it. The main character, Christian Stern, a young professor of the natural sciences who comes to Prague in search of wealth an influence. He gains a ringside seat in the court of Rudolf II of Austria while attempting to keep his head on his shoulders amidst murder, intrigue and some of the most despicable courtiers anywhere.
July 30, 2017
Whoever knows Benjamin Black's murder mysteries is in for a sorry surprise. Prague Nights is such a disappointment compared to what has come before, and as a stand alone it is a poor detective novel, all be it told in a wonderful prose (it is John Banville writing after all).
The story: Christian Stern is an old man now and he remembers his stay in Prague. Then a young scholar, Stern has barely made it in the city that he finds a dead body in a side street. It is the mistress of the Emperor. Summoned by the Emperor himself (Emperor Rudolf), Stern is ordered to find the murderer because Rudolf fears he can trust no one.
Stern turns out to be one of the most foolish sleuth I have read about. Perpetually in awe of high personages, throughout the novel he is mostly drunk or in bed with women crying he is scared. His brains and wit only awakens towards the last 50 pages of the novel. This makes an unfortunate comedy of the whole novel, what a shame.
Even Black-Banville's language and the prose he is known for is changed. Because he sets the story in 1600 he has switched to a 19th century style of writing (change in sentence structure & vocabulary). Very enjoyable though it is, it isn't much good for the use he makes of it, namely:
-this is a 300 page novel out of which about 200 amount to the descriptions of food, clothing material, noses and body posture. None feeds the plot, it only dilutes it.
- the beginning (first 10 to 20 pages) is very good and so is the end (last 50 pages). These and a few pages in the middle make up the whole whodunnit.
I can't explain to myself why such a masterful and wonderful writer of detective and crime fiction has chosen to drown his story in a sea of descriptions that yes, show he's done his research and is interested in history, but replace an investigation that must constitute the core of a detective novel if it is to be... a detective novel.
If descriptions are BB's new interest, better to write a historical novel indulging fully in the fun of it, rather than loosing the plot of what this novel was proposing to do in the first place.
I'll be very wary of the next Benjamin Black novel now, and will be content instead to reread his brilliant Inspector Marlowe series.
The story: Christian Stern is an old man now and he remembers his stay in Prague. Then a young scholar, Stern has barely made it in the city that he finds a dead body in a side street. It is the mistress of the Emperor. Summoned by the Emperor himself (Emperor Rudolf), Stern is ordered to find the murderer because Rudolf fears he can trust no one.
Stern turns out to be one of the most foolish sleuth I have read about. Perpetually in awe of high personages, throughout the novel he is mostly drunk or in bed with women crying he is scared. His brains and wit only awakens towards the last 50 pages of the novel. This makes an unfortunate comedy of the whole novel, what a shame.
Even Black-Banville's language and the prose he is known for is changed. Because he sets the story in 1600 he has switched to a 19th century style of writing (change in sentence structure & vocabulary). Very enjoyable though it is, it isn't much good for the use he makes of it, namely:
-this is a 300 page novel out of which about 200 amount to the descriptions of food, clothing material, noses and body posture. None feeds the plot, it only dilutes it.
- the beginning (first 10 to 20 pages) is very good and so is the end (last 50 pages). These and a few pages in the middle make up the whole whodunnit.
I can't explain to myself why such a masterful and wonderful writer of detective and crime fiction has chosen to drown his story in a sea of descriptions that yes, show he's done his research and is interested in history, but replace an investigation that must constitute the core of a detective novel if it is to be... a detective novel.
If descriptions are BB's new interest, better to write a historical novel indulging fully in the fun of it, rather than loosing the plot of what this novel was proposing to do in the first place.
I'll be very wary of the next Benjamin Black novel now, and will be content instead to reread his brilliant Inspector Marlowe series.
November 29, 2024
Listened to this historical crime novel set in Prague in 1599 on audio-book. I have to credit the brilliant reader Simon Vance with my decision to add a fourth star to my rating. Atmospheric, filled with court intrigue, an interesting cast of characters, and quite a lot of sex, this was a very enjoyable listen. Prague is one of my favorite cities but here it is presented as a cold and sinister place where everyone is constantly looking over their shoulders. Cheers!
June 1, 2017
I enjoyed Prague Nights; it's a slow but involving mystery in a beautifully evoked historical setting.
The story is narrated by Christian Stern, a young scholar, who arrives in Prague in late 1599 and by chance discovers the body of a young woman and is then drawn into the inner circle of Emperor Rudolf II. Rudolf, who shares Stern's passion for alchemy the arcane, and charges him with solving the murder. As the young, naïve Stern is drawn into the political and sexual intrigues of the court, it emerges that much larger affairs of state are involved.
Black builds a fine atmosphere of cold, of mystery, of threat and of disorientation. Although the plot is driven by a decent, slowly progressing murder mystery, the real strength of the book is Banville/Black's evocation of Rudolf's Prague court and city. He paints what is to me a very convincing picture of the plotting, betrayals and danger of the Imperial court and of the untrustworthiness of absolutely everyone. His portrait of Rudolf is very well done, as are those of his chief courtiers, all of whom seemed to me like very real, if often repellent, people. (Two heroes of mine, Sir Henry Wootton and Johannes Kepler, also make brief appearances and even Tycho Brahe is seen at a banquet, all of which is a bonus for me.) Black has plainly done a lot of research and has used it very effectively.
I found Stern's narrative voice and language very convincing, being accessible to the modern reader but conveying the atmosphere and feel of the time very well. Banville is a real master of language and he is at his best here so that I felt completely immersed in Stern's world and genuinely gripped by the book.
Although I admire John Banville/Benjamin Black, I haven't much enjoyed his recent output and wasn't sure whether to bother with this, but I'm glad I did. It's a well written, gripping and very atmospheric tale which I can recommend as a compelling read.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
The story is narrated by Christian Stern, a young scholar, who arrives in Prague in late 1599 and by chance discovers the body of a young woman and is then drawn into the inner circle of Emperor Rudolf II. Rudolf, who shares Stern's passion for alchemy the arcane, and charges him with solving the murder. As the young, naïve Stern is drawn into the political and sexual intrigues of the court, it emerges that much larger affairs of state are involved.
Black builds a fine atmosphere of cold, of mystery, of threat and of disorientation. Although the plot is driven by a decent, slowly progressing murder mystery, the real strength of the book is Banville/Black's evocation of Rudolf's Prague court and city. He paints what is to me a very convincing picture of the plotting, betrayals and danger of the Imperial court and of the untrustworthiness of absolutely everyone. His portrait of Rudolf is very well done, as are those of his chief courtiers, all of whom seemed to me like very real, if often repellent, people. (Two heroes of mine, Sir Henry Wootton and Johannes Kepler, also make brief appearances and even Tycho Brahe is seen at a banquet, all of which is a bonus for me.) Black has plainly done a lot of research and has used it very effectively.
I found Stern's narrative voice and language very convincing, being accessible to the modern reader but conveying the atmosphere and feel of the time very well. Banville is a real master of language and he is at his best here so that I felt completely immersed in Stern's world and genuinely gripped by the book.
Although I admire John Banville/Benjamin Black, I haven't much enjoyed his recent output and wasn't sure whether to bother with this, but I'm glad I did. It's a well written, gripping and very atmospheric tale which I can recommend as a compelling read.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
June 8, 2020
"El mundo es maldad y locura, y el cielo y el infierno son una mentira para consolarnos o asustarnos."
Tenía la sensación de que me llevaría un chasco con este libro. Ya son unas cuantas lecturas las cuales tienen buenas o muy buenas críticas y a mí no me gustan nada. 'Los lobos de Praga' es una excepción.
Me gustó muchísimo. Tengo que reconocer que no me esperaba que hubiese tanto sobre política y conspiración y eso es por lo que me gustó tanto.
El autor va dejando detalles como migas de pan para que el lector se vaya haciendo teorías pero sin llegar a tener nada claro. Con esto consigue mantener la tensión y el suspense hasta el final.
'Los lobos de Praga' fue una agradable sorpresa. Lectura muy recomendable.
Tenía la sensación de que me llevaría un chasco con este libro. Ya son unas cuantas lecturas las cuales tienen buenas o muy buenas críticas y a mí no me gustan nada. 'Los lobos de Praga' es una excepción.
Me gustó muchísimo. Tengo que reconocer que no me esperaba que hubiese tanto sobre política y conspiración y eso es por lo que me gustó tanto.
El autor va dejando detalles como migas de pan para que el lector se vaya haciendo teorías pero sin llegar a tener nada claro. Con esto consigue mantener la tensión y el suspense hasta el final.
'Los lobos de Praga' fue una agradable sorpresa. Lectura muy recomendable.
May 30, 2017
Excellent fictional account of the Court of Emperor Rudolph. It took me a while to get into the book with its many characters and subplots; however it was worth persevering even though most of the characters were quite unpleasant and unlikeable. The evocation of Prague at the time is wonderful; you can almost smell the woodsmoke and the cold of a Prague winter chills the bones.
March 1, 2019
Entre Banville y Black se teje un libro muy entretenido
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May 3, 2019
Intrigas en la corte y una gran ambientación!
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