Night Train To Lisbon by Pascal Mercier

Description

“Night Train to Lisbon” is a novel written by the Swiss author Pascal Mercier, the pseudonym of Peter Bieri. The book was originally published in German in 2004 under the title “Nachtzug nach Lissabon” and has been translated into several languages, including English.

The novel’s plot centers around Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss classics professor who lives a routine and predictable life in Bern, Switzerland. One day, while on his way to work, he encounters a mysterious Portuguese woman, who leads him to a book by the Portuguese author Amadeu de Prado. This chance encounter and the book’s content prompt Gregorius to make a sudden and life-altering decision: he abandons his old life and takes a night train to Lisbon in search of the author’s past and the truth behind the book.

As Gregorius delves into the life of Amadeu de Prado and explores the city of Lisbon, he becomes entangled in the stories of the people Amadeu knew during the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal. Through his journey, Gregorius begins to question his own life choices, finds a new sense of purpose, and discovers the complexities of human existence.

“Night Train to Lisbon” is a philosophical and introspective novel that explores themes of identity, memory, literature, and the search for meaning in life. It is known for its lyrical and contemplative prose, and it has been praised for its ability to engage readers in a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narrative. The novel has been a bestseller and is often categorized as a work of literary fiction.