Grand Hotel Europa

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer’s moving and addictive masterpiece of European identity, nostalgia and the end of an era. ‘A masterpiece: grandiose style, brilliant and rich. It will defy the ages’ Trouw (The Netherlands) ‘The love of my life lives in my past. That is, despite the alliteration, a terrible sentence to write. I do not want to come to the conclusion that, as it is the case for the hotel where I am staying and the continent after which it is named, the best time is behind me and that I have little more to expect from the future than to live on my past.’ A writer takes residence in the illustrious but decaying Grand Hotel Europa, to think about where things went wrong with Clio, with whom he fell in love in Genoa and moved to Venice. He reconstructs a compelling story of love in times of mass tourism, about their trips to Malta, Palmaria, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre and their thrilling search for the last painting of Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of Grand Hotel Europe and gets more and more involved with the memorable characters who inhabit it, and who seem to come from a more elegant time. All the while, globalisation seems to be grabbing hold even on this place frozen in time. Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer’s masterly novel on the old continent, where so much history resides that there is no place left for a future and where the most realistic future perspectives are offered in the form of exploiting the past in the shape of tourism.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer’s moving and addictive masterpiece of European identity, nostalgia and the end of an era. ‘A masterpiece: grandiose style, brilliant and rich. It will defy the ages’ Trouw (The Netherlands) ‘The love of my life lives in my past. That is, despite the alliteration, a terrible sentence to write. I do not want to come to the conclusion that, as it is the case for the hotel where I am staying and the continent after which it is named, the best time is behind me and that I have little more to expect from the future than to live on my past.’ A writer takes residence in the illustrious but decaying Grand Hotel Europa, to think about where things went wrong with Clio, with whom he fell in love in Genoa and moved to Venice. He reconstructs a compelling story of love in times of mass tourism, about their trips to Malta, Palmaria, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre and their thrilling search for the last painting of Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of Grand Hotel Europe and gets more and more involved with the memorable characters who inhabit it, and who seem to come from a more elegant time. All the while, globalisation seems to be grabbing hold even on this place frozen in time. Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer’s masterly novel on the old continent, where so much history resides that there is no place left for a future and where the most realistic future perspectives are offered in the form of exploiting the past in the shape of tourism.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERIlja Leonard Pfeijffer's moving and addictive masterpiece of European identity, nostalgia and the end of an era.'A masterpiece: grandiose style, brilliant and rich. It will defy the ages' Trouw (The Netherlands) The love of my life lives in my past. That is, despite the alliteration, a terrible sentence to write. I do not want to come to the conclusion that, as it is the case for the hotel where I am staying and the continent after which it is named, the best time is behind me and that I have little more to expect from the future than to live on my past. A writer takes residence in the illustrious but decaying Grand Hotel Europa, to think about where things went wrong with Clio, with whom he fell in love in Genoa and moved to Venice. He reconstructs a compelling story of love in times of mass tourism, about their trips to Malta, Palmaria, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre and their thrilling search for the last painting of Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of Grand Hotel Europe and gets more and more involved with the memorable characters who inhabit it, and who seem to come from a more elegant time. All the while, globalisation seems to be grabbing hold even on this place frozen in time.Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer s masterly novel on the old continent, where so much history resides that there is no place left for a future and where the most realistic future perspectives are offered in the form of exploiting the past in the shape of tourism.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERIlja Leonard Pfeijffer's moving and addictive masterpiece of European identity, nostalgia and the end of an era.'A masterpiece: grandiose style, brilliant and rich. It will defy the ages' Trouw (The Netherlands) The love of my life lives in my past. That is, despite the alliteration, a terrible sentence to write. I do not want to come to the conclusion that, as it is the case for the hotel where I am staying and the continent after which it is named, the best time is behind me and that I have little more to expect from the future than to live on my past. A writer takes residence in the illustrious but decaying Grand Hotel Europa, to think about where things went wrong with Clio, with whom he fell in love in Genoa and moved to Venice. He reconstructs a compelling story of love in times of mass tourism, about their trips to Malta, Palmaria, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre and their thrilling search for the last painting of Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of Grand Hotel Europe and gets more and more involved with the memorable characters who inhabit it, and who seem to come from a more elegant time. All the while, globalisation seems to be grabbing hold even on this place frozen in time.Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer s masterly novel on the old continent, where so much history resides that there is no place left for a future and where the most realistic future perspectives are offered in the form of exploiting the past in the shape of tourism.

"[ Grand Hotel Europa ] calls to mind Nabokov, Tom Wolfe, Baudrillard, Umberto Eco, Wes Anderson . . . [A novel of] incorrigible high spirits." --Rand Richards Cooper, The New York Times Book Review A sweeping, atmospheric novel about European identity, centered on a hotel that encapsulates the continent's manifold contradictions. The love of my life lives in my past. Despite the alliteration it's a terrible line to have to write. I don't want to come to the conclusion that, just as for the hotel I'm staying in and the continent it is named after, the best times are behind me and I've little more to expect of the future than living off my past. A writer takes up residence in the stately but decaying Grand Hotel Europa in order to contemplate where things went wrong with Clio--an art historian and his one great love. His recollections take him back to when they first met in Genoa, his wanton visits to her in Venice, and their dulcet trips to Malta, Palmaria, Porto Venere, and the Cinque Terre in their thrilling search for the last painting made by Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of the Grand Hotel Europa and the memorably eccentric characters who inhabit it, all of whom seem to hail from a halcyon era. All the while, globalization is laying claim to even this place, where a sense of lost glory hangs sulkily in the air. Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer's masterly novel of the old continent, where there's so much history that there hardly seems space left for a future. Cinematic, lyrical, and brimming with humor, this is a novel about the European condition, which, like the staff and residents of the Grand Hotel Europa, may have already seen its best days.

"[ Grand Hotel Europa ] calls to mind Nabokov, Tom Wolfe, Baudrillard, Umberto Eco, Wes Anderson . . . [A novel of] incorrigible high spirits." --Rand Richards Cooper, The New York Times Book Review A sweeping, atmospheric novel about European identity, centered on a hotel that encapsulates the continent's manifold contradictions. The love of my life lives in my past. Despite the alliteration it's a terrible line to have to write. I don't want to come to the conclusion that, just as for the hotel I'm staying in and the continent it is named after, the best times are behind me and I've little more to expect of the future than living off my past. A writer takes up residence in the stately but decaying Grand Hotel Europa in order to contemplate where things went wrong with Clio--an art historian and his one great love. His recollections take him back to when they first met in Genoa, his wanton visits to her in Venice, and their dulcet trips to Malta, Palmaria, Porto Venere, and the Cinque Terre in their thrilling search for the last painting made by Caravaggio. Meanwhile, he becomes fascinated by the mysteries of the Grand Hotel Europa and the memorably eccentric characters who inhabit it, all of whom seem to hail from a halcyon era. All the while, globalization is laying claim to even this place, where a sense of lost glory hangs sulkily in the air. Grand Hotel Europa is Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer's masterly novel of the old continent, where there's so much history that there hardly seems space left for a future. Cinematic, lyrical, and brimming with humor, this is a novel about the European condition, which, like the staff and residents of the Grand Hotel Europa, may have already seen its best days.

Efter bruddet med sit livs store kærlighed, den italienske Clio, lejer en forfatter et værelse på det udsøgte, men forfaldne Grand Hotel Europa. Han begynder at skrive deres historie ned og ud af det vokser en smuk fortælling frem om kærlighed i masseturismens tid, om deres rejser til Malta, Palmaria og Portovenere i deres medrivende jagt på Caravaggios sidste maleri. I løbet af skriveprocessen bliver han fascineret af det gamle hotels mysterier og bliver stadig mere involveret i de gæster der bor på hotellet – markante personligheder der virker som om de stammer fra mere elegante tider. Men hotellets fremtid er truet af globaliseringen, som finder vej selv derhen hvor tiden synes at være gået i stå. Grand Hotel Europa er hollandske Ilja Leonard Pfeiffers mesterlige roman om det gamle kontinent hvor fortiden dyrkes i en grad så der knap er plads til en fremtid, og hvor det mest realistiske fremtidsperspektiv er at udnytte fortidens kulturskatte til hvert år at tiltrække millioner af turister. »Pfeijffer er poet, romanforfatter, essayist og klassicist. At han også er fræk som en slagterhund, demonstrerer han til fulde i en flabet kleppert af en roman, hvor det overordnede tema er Europa som en verden af i går.« – Politiken 5 hjerter »Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer blander med fuldt overlæg smalltalk og visdomsord, satire og alvor, polemik og patos, sex og sømmelighed, hæsblæsende aktion og nostalgisk resignation. På den måde er romanen præcis lige så selvmodsigende og mangesidig, stærk og udsat som det kontinent, den beskriver. På den måde hænger den, på sin helt egen og meget originale måde, umådeligt godt sammen.« – Berlingske 5 stjerner »... en eminent og fuldkommen mageløs roman, der nok er omfattende, men samtidig ekstrem morsom, tankevækkende og foruroligende.« – Netavisen Pio “Hver eneste sætning i Grand Hotel Europa er dyppet i både hjemlængsel og uro.” – De Standaard "Forførende Europa-nostalgi … Ilja Leonard Pfeijffers Grand Hotel Europa vil helt sikkert charmere og beruse mange læsere.” – NRK “Sprudlende, klog og til tider infam.” – Süddeutsche Zeitung “En kærlighedssang til det gamle kontinent.” – Il Piccolo “Pfeijffer fanger tidsånden og serverer den på uimodståelig vis. Dette er årets roman.” – NRC Handelsblad “En mægtig og fængslende roman.” – La Stampa