A reed stem as a measuring stick

Early 15th century. A French duke obsessed with magic and alchemy succeeds in obtaining the Book of Books, the key to all knowledge. Instead of fathoming all the secrets of the cosmos, he is seized by a paranoia bordering on madness. A ruthless Romanian prince brings down the colossal Turkish army in a very cynical and merciless way. Four hundred years later, two researchers conduct a lively correspondence about this fascinating Wallachian ruler, their common research object. One of them disappears without a trace. A hotel guest accepts a bizarre bet and thereby unwittingly jeopardizes his comfortable life. With an intelligent, baroque pen, Bart de Becker creates a spooky dark world full of shadow and hidden depth in these stories. The reader wanders through a fascinating universe in which mirror effects and unexpected twists undermine every certainty. 'A reed stem as a measuring stick' is an original, in