Survivals and Escapes on a Grander Scale. Anna Enquist's 'The Masterpiece'

A review of ‘The Masterpiece'. In this novel, Enquist challenges readers to look down at the dark ice rapidly speeding by them as they race on their mental skates across the beautiful, haunting world she creates. It is a world in which the choices are most often about combat or defence. In her work, even music which can bring calm repose is diffused with violent images of force and violence, where Mozart is a surgeon who opens up the patient. (Anna Enquist, The Masterpiece (Tr. Jeannette K. Ringold). London: The Toby Press, 1999)