Christoph poschenrieder schopenhauer biography

review

This wonderfully sensitive and lively novel centres on the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s first journey to Italy in 1819 at the age of thirty one, having just completed his magnum opus The World as Will and Representation.

Both respectful and playful at the same time, Poschenrieder makes the most of the exhilarating detail of the celebrated thinker’s life.

Schopenhauer leaves Dresden after an argument with the publisher Brockhaus, who had failed to print The World as Will and Representation on time.

On his way to Italy he meets Fidelis von Morgenrot, a man who shares Schopenhauer’s fascination with the Hindu scriptures, the Upanishads. But their admiration of Brahman life and the rescue of a horse is enough to raise the suspicions of Chancellor Metternich’s secret police.

When they reach Venice Schopenhauer makes friends with a dog (his love for animals and poodles in particular is legendary), has a love affair with a young Italian girl called Ter