Siri Hustvedt's tribute to her late husband Paul Auster

Paul Auster's "City of Glass," the first novel in The New York Trilogy, delves into themes of identity, reality, and language through the story of Daniel Quinn, a detective fiction writer. Mistaken for a private investigator named Paul Auster, Quinn assumes the false identity and becomes entangled in a case involving a man named Peter Stillman, who seeks to protect himself from his abusive father. As Quinn immerses himself deeper into the investigation, he begins to lose his sense of self and becomes increasingly detached from reality. Auster's narrative employs metafictional elements, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, inviting readers to question the nature of existence and perception. The novel's labyrinthine plot and philosophical musings create an atmosphere of uncertainty and mystery, leaving a lasting impact on those who delve into its depths.

The Sorrows of an American centers on a woman navigating grief, memory and family secrets after a personal tragedy, combining literary reflection with psychological inquiry. Hustvedt blends close character study with broader meditations on identity, neuroscience and the mutability of recollection. The novel's layered narratives and emotional depth examine how personal and collective histories shape perception. Hustvedt's luminous prose and intellectual curiosity drive an exploration of sorrow’s effects on family dynamics and the self. The book showcases her interest in how science and art intersect when confronting human suffering.

In 'The Book of Illusions', Paul Auster explores themes of identity, loss, and the power of art through the story of David Zimmer, a professor who becomes obsessed with the silent film comedian Hector Mann. After Mann's disappearance in 1929, Zimmer's research leads him on a journey that blurs reality and fiction. The novel delves into the complexities of human existence and the role of art in shaping our perceptions.

Siri Hustvedts "Ghost Stories. Ein Buch der Erinnerung" ist ein vielschichtiges Erinnerungs- und Trauerbuch, das persönliche Memoiren, Briefe, Essays und wissenschaftliche Passagen verbindet. Entstanden nach dem Tod ihres Ehemanns Paul Auster, erkundet das Buch Liebe, Verlust und das Leben mit Krankheit sowie die alltägliche Erfahrung von Trauer. Hustvedt verwebt alte Liebesbriefe, neue Briefe an den neugeborenen Enkel und Reflexionen über Kunst, Sprache und Wissenschaft zu einem intimen Porträt eines Schriftstellerpaars. Stilistisch bewegt sich das Werk zwischen Essay, Erinnerung und Künstlerbuch, wobei Hustvedts Neugier auf das Menschsein im Mittelpunkt steht. Das Buch versucht, den Verstorbenen in den Seiten lebendig zu halten und reflektiert zugleich über die Formen von Intimität und das Weiterleben.

The New York Trilogy consists of three novels: *City of Glass* (1985), *Ghosts* (1986), and *The Locked Room* (1986). Each novel is structured like a detective story but delves into deeper philosophical and existential questions. In *City of Glass*, Daniel Quinn, a writer of detective fiction, assumes the identity of a detective named Paul Auster to follow a man named Peter Stillman. *Ghosts* follows Blue, a detective hired to watch a man named Black, leading to an identity crisis and a blurring of reality. *The Locked Room* narrates the story of an unnamed writer who assumes the identity of his childhood friend Fanshawe, leading to a complex exploration of identity and authorship. The trilogy is known for its experimental style and its exploration of themes such as truth, language, and the self.

Moon Palace follows Marco Stanley Fogg, an orphaned young man in New York City, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The novel delves into his family's past, weaving together themes of solitude, survival, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Through a series of adventures and misadventures, Marco grapples with his identity and the nature of reality.

What I Loved begins in 1975 when art historian Leo Hertzberg discovers an extraordinary painting by unknown artist Bill Wechsler in a SoHo gallery. The two men embark on a lifelong friendship, and their families—including their wives Erica and Violet, and their sons Matthew and Mark—become deeply intertwined through shared apartments, summer homes, and intellectual exchange. Over twenty-five years, Leo's narrative traces how these intimate bonds are tested first by sudden tragedy and then by a monstrous duplicity that slowly surfaces. The novel combines the intimacy of a family saga with the suspense of a thriller, exploring themes of art, love, loss, betrayal, and psychology.