Gerhard Roth Boeken

The story follows Lilli Kuck as she travels to Venice after her husband's mysterious death, delving into his notebook and retracing his last days. As she uncovers hidden secrets about her late husband, Lilli confronts her own understanding of their relationship. Her investigation takes a dark turn when she witnesses a murder and finds herself in danger. Ultimately, this journey not only seeks answers about her husband's life but also leads Lilli to a deeper exploration of her own identity and the complexities of existence.

In The Plan, Gerhard Roth’s main character, Konrad Feldt, is not properly a criminal – his supervisor privately hands him a stolen Mozart autograph along with the name of an art dealer prepared to purchase it, before he commits suicide in Feldt’s presence; however, Feldt is indirectly complicit in the crime by not reporting it and by not surrendering the costly artifact. He takes the autograph and travels around the world to Japan in hopes of exchanging the invaluable autograph for a million dollars. For Feldt, a middle-aged, middle-class civil servant, a librarian in Vienna’s Nationalbibliothek addicted to reading, this prize represents a fleeting opportunity to alter his structured, hollow existence. But our educated European finds himself in an unfamiliar environment – the inscrutable language and culture of Japan – where his perceptions and thus his rational “plan” for wealth and a new life are jeopardized. (from publisher's website)

A retired opera prompter finds himself ensnared in a web of intrigue when he travels to Venice for the holidays, only to discover his brother and sister-in-law missing. While attempting to write a travel guide, he faces threats and violence, leading to a chilling package containing their severed hands. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Aldrian becomes an unwilling participant in a deadly game, navigating the flooded city and confronting his own sanity amidst the chaos.

Exploring the essence of human intelligence, the book delves into factors such as brain size, the significance of intelligence centers, and the quantity of nerve cells. It examines the mind-brain relationship, questioning whether intelligence is absolute or relative, and offers insights into what sets human cognition apart from other species. Through this inquiry, it aims to deepen the understanding of the complexities of intelligence.

Misconceptions about salamanders abound, even among experts, as many believe they are confined to northern temperate regions and aquatic environments. In reality, over half of the species thrive in subtropical and tropical areas of the New World, with many adapted to higher temperatures and independent of aquatic habitats. Contrary to the belief that their brains and behaviors are primitive, studies reveal that salamanders possess advanced sensory systems and exhibit complex behaviors influenced by individual experiences, particularly in feeding and prey selection.

The story follows Emil Lanz, an Austrian translator in Venice, who faces a mid-life crisis that leads to a suicide attempt, interrupted by witnessing a murder. As mobsters target him, he fights back, altering his life dramatically. With the help of an eccentric billionaire, Emil grapples with his new reality, questioning whether he has entered a different dimension, an afterlife, or if he is merely insane. The narrative explores themes of survival, identity, and the nature of reality in the face of chaos.

Surveys current knowledge on animal cognition and its relationship to brain structures, featuring data from various species and ample illustrations.

Bilingual German/English The content of this book was taken from interviews recorded in October 1980 and November 1982. Roth is one of the most prominent and prolific Austrian writers and recipient of numerous literary prizes.