The Imbach children tell this story. In the cellar of their villa in the town of L., they await the end of the Second World War. Weeks of anxious speculation lead up to the town's inevitable conquest - and when, finally, their town falls, the children emerge from their cellar filled with curiouslity about their conquerors. Who are they - Americans? Russians? - and where are they? Without hesitation, the children set out to investigate. Together with the young man known as "our Edgar," who has recently taken up residence in the Imbach's tool shed, they venture out into their neighborhood until they are summoned home by Frau Imbach, who, it seems certain, will forbid the children their explorations. Instead, however, Frau Imbach presents them with a list of bizarre errands to perform. As we follow the children and "our Edgar" through their day of errands, on their extended foray into dangers known and unknown, we embark on a tour of L. - a tour not only of the town's present but also of its past, its surviving landmarks and its shameful secret history. And we follow-spellbound-as the children eventually begin to head homeward, as their day of adventures winds towards its memorable, necessary end. 281 pages, the binding is cloth. Translated from the German by Christopher Middleton. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

GERMANIC LITERATURE ILLOGIC DREAMS