László Krasznahorkai’s “War & War” (Háború és háború) is a masterpiece of contemporary post-modern literature. Known for his “apocalyptic” style and incredibly long, winding sentences, Krasznahorkai delivers a narrative that is both a psychological thriller and a metaphysical meditation.

Book Summary

The story follows György Korim, a lonely Hungarian archivist who discovers an ancient, mysterious manuscript in a small provincial town. The manuscript tells the epic story of four men traveling through different eras of history (Ancient Crete, Cologne, Venice, etc.), always trying to escape war and find a “shore of peace,” but they are perpetually pursued by a malevolent force.

Believing this manuscript is of divine importance and that the world is on the brink of collapse, Korim travels to New York City. His goal is to type the manuscript and “upload it to eternity” (the internet) before he commits suicide. The novel tracks his frantic movements through the harsh, indifferent streets of New York, mirroring the eternal struggle found in the text he carries.