A Song for Else

by Christopher J. Zehnder

Lorenz List didn't know what awaited him in the great city of Nürnberg. It was an impossibly large city for a boy from the rural hinterlands, where ancient custom, seething discontent, and (at times) a mystical fanaticism held sway. In Nürnberg, he hopes to fulfill a destiny for which he never had dared to dream. He could move from obscurity to fame, perhaps, and from poverty to wealth. In Nürnberg, he begins to move among an urbane and cultivated class of people, so far (he thinks) above the peasant culture from which he arose. And he finds unexpected love-- a love that could prove the ruin of all his hopes.

Set in early 16th century Germany, this is a tale of a young man in a time of impending revolution, felt but as yet unknown. This volume is the first part of a trilogy set against the backdrop of the dramatic events of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

299 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Elaine Bach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SONG FOR ELSE is the first book in an historical trilogy by Christopher J. Zehnder. Beautifully handled, this volume is both a delightful idyll of an impressionable youth’s struggle to rise above his class in society and a tentative, tender, clandestine romance seen through the eyes of the hero, Lorenz List. Set in 16th Century Germany during the upsurge of the Protestant Reformation, Zehnder weaves the sociological historical details seamlessly into the plot, mainly through the views expressed by the main character’s diverse cast of friends. Running the gamut from wise and gentle to ribald and cruel, each realistically developed secondary character impacts Lorenz’ choices, principles, and self-image as he changes from innocent child to complex and introspective young man forced to curry his patron’s and his father’s favor or slide helplessly back into obscurity. Conversations and events, letters, and at times stream of consciousness move the story forward in such a way that empathizing with Lorenz is assured. Zehnder’s writing style is clear, simple and strong, while at the same time, sublimely lyrical. It draws you in. My only caveat is that I wish he had translated some of the German poetry which he includes, though the text helps you know what it is about. The ending was a surprise, though foreshadowed from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book, which so far only hints at the drama to come. I look forward to continuing the journey with Lorenz in the next volume: A SONG FOR ELSE, Part II: The Overthrow.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I greatly appreciated the setting in medieval Germany I'm afraid I was not so enthusiastic about the rest of A Song For Else. I gather that it's a cautionary tale about a young man insufficiently dialectical in his mastery of the lower passions. However, it lacked the charm of a Kristen Lavransdatter and was outright crude at some points, adding some unnecessary details about the temptations of the flesh. The protagonist is a perfect portrait of the post-modern ennui-bro, intellectualizing and internalizing. But even this would be bearable if he weren't a perpetually wet-behind-the-ears romantic. His positive qualities seem to be being a good student of Latin and being very earnest. The conclusion is not bad, but seemed like a bit of a cliffhanger. The book was a good concept but unfortunately it was not enjoyable enough for me to recommend it.
(edit: volume II is highly worth reading as a followup. It is a rip roaring historical fiction of a like I've rarely encountered.)