Lázár

Can we escape the fate destined for us long before we are born?

Masterfully written and deeply moving, Lázár is a surprisingly confident and clever novel. Nelio Biedermann is a brilliant storyteller, a fresh voice of a new generation that looks at history from a different angle and tells it in a way that feels both modern and timeless.

"Virtuoso… gripping… daring." — The New York Times

"Lázár is a superb and masterful statement that a gifted young writer is living among us." — Patti Smith

At the turn of the 20th century, the Lázár family welcomes their newest member to their country summer estate, surrounded by a menacingly dark, enchanting forest. Lajos von Lázár is a baby boy with translucent skin and pale blue eyes who looks nothing like the rest of his family. Sándor, the imposing patriarch, feels ashamed of his son's eccentricity. Ilona finds her little brother rather ugly. Mária is haunted by a terrifying premonition that her son's remarkable resemblance to a recently deceased man will trigger an avalanche of misfortune, while Imre, Sándor's brother, gifted with a supernatural foresight often mistaken for madness, is relentlessly plagued by visions of doom. Lajos's birth becomes a symbol of a series of secrets, love affairs and unusual events. For decades, the Lázárs repeatedly fall victim to their own desires, their family history woven with a succession of tragedies and traumas. Yet, in the brighter years, great love shines through again and again. And hope.