A Case of Curiosities

by Allen Kurzweil

Book Overview

Hailed by critics for its brilliance, A CASE OF CURIOSITIES begins In France, on the eve of the Revolution, when young man named Claude Page sets out to become the most ingenious and daring inventor of his time. In the courst of his career filled with violence and passion, Claude learns and creates many things. But his greatest device, a talking mechanical head, leads to an execution as tragic as that of Marie Antoinette, and far more bizarre. "Captivating...marvelously...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151157936
• ISBN13: 9780151157938
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 1.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

An absolute delight.

A quite-staggering piece of writing. The wide-ranging references, the historical context, the literary dexterity, the generally delectable nature of it all... An awesomely satisfying reading experience. No, not perfect...but good Lord; this was a first novel! Incredible. Well worth the money, the time, the energy...everything.

Clever and Engrossing

This novel is well researched, contains a generous handful of quirky characters (some endearing and some abhorrent), and is a book that both piques the curiosity of the reader and goes to some lengths to satisfy that curiosity. As someone interested in automatons and cabinets of curiosity, I found A Case of Curiosity stimulating reading. Kurzwell also has a knack for amusing turns of phrase, and I found myself smiling and chuckling not only at his humorous scenes, but at the author's clever style. This is a book full of information, surprises, and oddities (both human and mechanical). I would certainly recommend it, especially to readers with a taste for history, the bizarre, and the little things and people that go into the formation of both.

AHHHHH...Intelligent writing, At Last!

I could probably write a treatise about this novel which is a cool stream of relief and high entertainment. Relief, as I had almost given up hope of finding a living author who can manipulate words as well as intellect. Well, here he is, ladies & gentlemen, Mr. Allen Kurzweil. Rejoice and be entertained. I'll admit, the plot has its weaker moments, but who doesn't. I am getting ready to purchase anything Kurzweil writes and recommend them to my friends who love a very good read.

The Empty Compartment

I thought this was a deeply affecting book by the same author who penned the more lighthearted novel, The Grand Complication.It is clever, witty, and sharp like a precocious little know it all brat. That said, the book is peppered with hilarious puns, esoteric references to mechanical gears, bawdy asides, and little snips of wisdom with a Twainesque ring. Character development slightly suffers from the flood of dense information that Kurzweil provides, but becomes more pronounced as our protagonist, Claude Page, meets more people (including his future wife) and gets out of Tournay. However, I realized this in retrospect, but found the book as enjoyable as a Discovery show hosted by John Cleese. The book is great. Raed it damn it!However, in a note of speculation, the book is after all set in the very late 18th century, there is probably a surprising reference to a hit disco song from the 1970's. Maybe I am reading too deeply into it, but I believe Kurzweil was winking at the song "Ring My Bell." Ring any bells anyone? I guess we will shelve that question in the "Empty Compartment."Darn! Way too many jokes and asides today! LOL

I want more ......

I thought this book was refreshing. I would like to read more from this author.