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A Short Introduction to Anneliese
A Short Introduction to Anneliese is the second volume in author James Elkins’ multi-volume mega-novel Five Strange Languages being published by Unnamed Press, all of which trace the final year of Samuel Emmer’s life before he disappears.
When Samuel Emmer meets unemployed biologist Anneliese Glur for dinner during his stopover in Frankfurt, he has no notion of what to expect. Anneliese is an old friend and former colleague of his boss, and he agrees to dinner for no other reason than he has nothing better to do. As it turns out, Anneliese is a torrent of observations, digressions, theories, hypotheses, and resentments. She complains about her niece, who lives with her and her brother Paul, and about their uncle Hans, whose dementia haunts Anneliese’s concerns about the state of her own mind. She deconstructs the “awfulness” of language, calling it an ill-fitting suit, and challenges the validity of memory.
Most surprising is what Samuel comes to realize by the end of this strange that the insufferable but deeply compelling Anneliese is conducting a kind of interview with him – the purposes of which are not entirely clear. A month later, back home in Guelph, Samuel finds himself on the phone with Anneliese, listening to her once again.
Her monologues are wild, seemingly endless, often laugh-out loud funny, and occasionally repellent; but nothing is random, for Anneliese Glur is systematically introducing Samuel not just to her work, but to a breakdown in her mind, which she describes as thirteen distinct problems in her thinking. She is fascinated by long books, and she tells Samuel what she thinks of dozens of books including epic poems, encyclopedias, Joyce, Proust, Aquinas, Velikovsky, Roussel, Wallace, Murnane, Sade, Gibbon, Schopenhauer, and Ossian. She is no longer sure that she is sane, and she needs Samuel to read her book – a comprehensive theory of the essence of life, that transcends category or definition – to see if it makes sense. But first, through a series of long conversations, she introduces him to the world of her mind.
A Short Introduction to Anneliese has notes, which comprise a separate narrative at the end of the novel, written by Samuel in extreme old age (whom readers will recognize from Weak in Comparison to Dreams). This Samuel scarcely remembers Anneliese. Instead, her way of talking sounds to him like music. Her startling ideas have evaporated, leaving only melodies.
When Samuel Emmer meets unemployed biologist Anneliese Glur for dinner during his stopover in Frankfurt, he has no notion of what to expect. Anneliese is an old friend and former colleague of his boss, and he agrees to dinner for no other reason than he has nothing better to do. As it turns out, Anneliese is a torrent of observations, digressions, theories, hypotheses, and resentments. She complains about her niece, who lives with her and her brother Paul, and about their uncle Hans, whose dementia haunts Anneliese’s concerns about the state of her own mind. She deconstructs the “awfulness” of language, calling it an ill-fitting suit, and challenges the validity of memory.
Most surprising is what Samuel comes to realize by the end of this strange that the insufferable but deeply compelling Anneliese is conducting a kind of interview with him – the purposes of which are not entirely clear. A month later, back home in Guelph, Samuel finds himself on the phone with Anneliese, listening to her once again.
Her monologues are wild, seemingly endless, often laugh-out loud funny, and occasionally repellent; but nothing is random, for Anneliese Glur is systematically introducing Samuel not just to her work, but to a breakdown in her mind, which she describes as thirteen distinct problems in her thinking. She is fascinated by long books, and she tells Samuel what she thinks of dozens of books including epic poems, encyclopedias, Joyce, Proust, Aquinas, Velikovsky, Roussel, Wallace, Murnane, Sade, Gibbon, Schopenhauer, and Ossian. She is no longer sure that she is sane, and she needs Samuel to read her book – a comprehensive theory of the essence of life, that transcends category or definition – to see if it makes sense. But first, through a series of long conversations, she introduces him to the world of her mind.
A Short Introduction to Anneliese has notes, which comprise a separate narrative at the end of the novel, written by Samuel in extreme old age (whom readers will recognize from Weak in Comparison to Dreams). This Samuel scarcely remembers Anneliese. Instead, her way of talking sounds to him like music. Her startling ideas have evaporated, leaving only melodies.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
5 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
James Elkins
101 books203 followersJames Elkins (1955 – present) is an art historian and art critic. He is E.C. Chadbourne Chair of art history, theory, and criticism at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He also coordinates the Stone Summer Theory Institute, a short term school on contemporary art history based at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 30, 2025
James Elkins does it again. A Short Introduction To Anneliese is another masterpiece, following in the path of the equally-excellent Weak in Comparison to Dreams .
Both of these novels are part of Elkins’ Five Strange Languages - a collection of writings about Samuel Emmer, a middle-aged biologist living in Canada, on the cusp of a very life-changing year. Weak in Comparison to Dreams , the third book (and first to be published) felt like a fever-dream about fear and observation. Anneliese , on the other hand, is about madness and legacy.
For apt readers, A Brief History of Anneliese contains plenty of rich humor and nods to the reader. The first instance lies in the title of the book, as the novel is far from short, clocking in at almost 600 dense pages. Unlike Weak , which has our hero traveling the globe and meeting a cast of characters - this time we are stuck with the manic, brilliant (!?), garrulous Anneliese, who monologues through the majority of the book’s first four-hundred pages. Her rants are overwhelming, tangential, all-encompassing - but never once boring. Elkins finds ways to keep these diatribes full of life, humor, horror, and heart. When reading them, we empathize with Samuel. Anneliese may drive us crazy, but we can’t look away. There’s something utterly compelling about her and her compendium of ideas.
At some point, if you’re like me, you’ll ask: “where’s this all going? Can Elkins stick the landing?” The answer is a categorical yes. Without spoiling a thing, the last two hundred pages of the book surprised and moved me in a myriad of ways I wasn’t quite expecting. It’s a bit of a magic trick, what Elkins does - and I, for one, was completely astonished.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s fiercely funny, deeply philosophical and unshakably sad. Thank you to Unnamed Press for publishing these tremendous, unclassifiable books. I can’t wait for the book three.
Both of these novels are part of Elkins’ Five Strange Languages - a collection of writings about Samuel Emmer, a middle-aged biologist living in Canada, on the cusp of a very life-changing year. Weak in Comparison to Dreams , the third book (and first to be published) felt like a fever-dream about fear and observation. Anneliese , on the other hand, is about madness and legacy.
For apt readers, A Brief History of Anneliese contains plenty of rich humor and nods to the reader. The first instance lies in the title of the book, as the novel is far from short, clocking in at almost 600 dense pages. Unlike Weak , which has our hero traveling the globe and meeting a cast of characters - this time we are stuck with the manic, brilliant (!?), garrulous Anneliese, who monologues through the majority of the book’s first four-hundred pages. Her rants are overwhelming, tangential, all-encompassing - but never once boring. Elkins finds ways to keep these diatribes full of life, humor, horror, and heart. When reading them, we empathize with Samuel. Anneliese may drive us crazy, but we can’t look away. There’s something utterly compelling about her and her compendium of ideas.
At some point, if you’re like me, you’ll ask: “where’s this all going? Can Elkins stick the landing?” The answer is a categorical yes. Without spoiling a thing, the last two hundred pages of the book surprised and moved me in a myriad of ways I wasn’t quite expecting. It’s a bit of a magic trick, what Elkins does - and I, for one, was completely astonished.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s fiercely funny, deeply philosophical and unshakably sad. Thank you to Unnamed Press for publishing these tremendous, unclassifiable books. I can’t wait for the book three.
July 30, 2025
Really fantastic stuff, I thought the narrator of the first novel was a joyously hilarious insane lunatic but he's a pillar of sense compared to the wonderfully imagined Anneliese. It's just so entertainingly written! I read it at 500 words a minute with a 35% comprehension rate, maybe I'm a hedgehog reader, lol.
One of the best novels in years. This manages to be so many things at once, it is so satisfying as it progresses through comedy and horror and comedic horror, it really hits the tragi-comic sweet-spot.
I laughed many times and the whole thing is wonderfully entertaining and interesting while hitting the beats of pathos and humor throughout.
Can't wait for the next installment!
One of the best novels in years. This manages to be so many things at once, it is so satisfying as it progresses through comedy and horror and comedic horror, it really hits the tragi-comic sweet-spot.
I laughed many times and the whole thing is wonderfully entertaining and interesting while hitting the beats of pathos and humor throughout.
Can't wait for the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews