The Master of the Day of Judgment

By Leo Perutz and Leo Perutz (Intro by Anthony Boucher

Book Overview

The Master of the Day of Judgment by Leo Perutz is a historical fiction novel set in 17th century Prague. The story follows a young man named Peter Gross as he becomes embroiled in a complex web of intrigue and deceit. Peter is a student of alchemy and is fascinated by the mysteries of the universe. He becomes involved with a group of alchemists who are searching for the secret of eternal life.As Peter delves deeper into the world of alchemy, he discovers that there are darker forces at work. He learns that there is a powerful figure known as the Master of the Day of Judgment who holds the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. The Master is a mysterious figure who is feared and revered by all who know of him.Peter becomes obsessed with finding the Master and discovering the truth about the universe. He travels across Europe, encountering a cast of characters who are all searching for the same thing. Along the way, he falls in love with a woman named Catherine who becomes his partner in his quest.The novel is rich in historical detail and is a fascinating exploration of the world of alchemy and the occult. The Master of the Day of Judgment is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.1930. The Master of the Day of Judgment is about a drug, created in Florence in the 16th century, that makes people see the Master (God). The downside is that they also see the Day of Judgment and all the demons of Hell, which leads them to believe that they are being attacked by the demons of Hell and then they commit suicide. The novel, set in Vienna in 1909, is structured like a murder mystery, with the identity of the victim only being revealed near the end. A Kirkus review said, The identity of the Master provides a solution that, like that of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, is more disturbing than the mystery itself.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1417925280
• ISBN13: 9781417925285
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Masterpiece, no other word

1909. Strange suicide plague in Vienna. Why do all these people kill themselves, while they have no reason at all to do so? Wouldn't be something - or somebody - else? Warning to impossible crime fans: one of the so-called "suicides" is a locked room.While he - remarkably - uses Golden Age school's apparatus, Perutz gives here a book that is wholly sui generis. It could be a mystery. It could be weird. It could be both. Mystery fans will be delighted by intricate plotting, virtuoso use of multiple solutions and a totally unexpected ending. They'll also be delighted, along with others, by magistral recreation of a vanished world, quirky atmosphere and characters, and a reflection on time, art and reality. Yet in the end, the book's real nature remains a mystery. There's only one thing to know: it's a masterpiece.

The other austrian insurance novelist

This novel is an entertaining mystery (suicide or murder?), a haunting meditation on history and fate, and a playful self-referential narrative a la Borges or Calvino. In fact, Borges liked Perutz's work well enough to promote its publication in Argentina while Perutz was living in Tel Aviv and was banned from publishing in Germany. Like his coeval Kafka, Perutz also wrote fiction while working in insurance (though LP was an actuary in Vienna and Trieste, unlike FK, who worked in Prague, LP's birthplace).

Best author of German tongue in the 20th century

Leo Perutz is a true master of the German tongue, very powerful and strong. But he is also a great storyteller, something very rare in German literature. All of his novels are highly recommended. It is a shame they're mostly out of print. Read them, and start with this one.

A gem of a thriller, sorrily underrated

Literature is full of great authors that do not receive the praise they deserve, for all kinds of reasons. Leo Perutz is one of them. I can only urge you to try one of his works once, and "The Master of the Day of Judgment" is a good place to start. Its central idea is shocking and original, the writing is crisp and tantalizing, and the book, while short - certainly compared to today's massive thrillers, is surprisingly "finished". Valid excuse to, for once, shout in a review: READ THIS BOOK!!!