Description
Post mortem
Book Summary
Writer Emiel Steegman, a successful author trapped in a creative rut, faces a dilemma that transcends the boundaries of fiction. After canceling a professional engagement with a vague family excuse, the possibility of his biographer investigating those "difficult times" becomes a literary obsession. However, reality breaks in when his daughter, Renée, dies in her sleep. Post mortem is an intense and ingenious novel that explores grief, artistic creation, and the fear of losing control over one's own story, weaving a hall of mirrors between life and imagination.
What is it about?
The novel follows Emiel Steegman, a writer who, in a moment of crisis, invents an excuse to cancel a meeting with Estonian colleagues. The phrase "Difficult times for the family" becomes the seed of an obsession: the idea that his biographer might investigate that episode disturbs him until he decides to turn it into raw material for his next work. Steegman plunges into a literary battle with himself, but the plot takes a tragic turn when his daughter, Renée, goes to sleep and never wakes up. From that point on, the work delves into a father's pain, the creative process as a survival mechanism, and the complex relationship between reality and fiction. Terrin constructs a narrative that is at once a study on fatherhood, a reflection on legacy, and a literary game that challenges the reader to distinguish the true from the invented.
Main themes
- Grief and the loss of a child.
- Literary creation as a response to pain and chaos.
- The border between reality and fiction in a writer's life.
- The fear of losing control over one's own life narrative and posthumous legacy.
- The obsession with authenticity and the search for literary truth.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in contemporary narrative that explores character psychology and existential dilemmas. It is especially recommended for those who enjoy metafictional novels that play with the structure of the story, as well as fans of detective and mystery literature who are looking for a more introspective and literary approach. It will also appeal to those who appreciate stories about the creative process and the figure of the writer as a protagonist.
What this book offers
- A deep and moving look at grief from the perspective of a creator.
- An intelligent reflection on how fiction can be a vehicle for processing the most painful reality.
- A labyrinthine narrative structure that invites rereading and analysis.
- A literary experience that combines emotional intensity with formal wit.
Technical specifications
- Author: Terrin, Peter
- Publisher: RAYO VERDE EDITORIAL, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Detective and mystery genre
- Collection: RAYOS GLOBULARES
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: May 2016
- Number of pages: 240
- Weight: 322 g
Editorial review
Post mortem presents itself as a literary proposal of high caliber, where Peter Terrin demonstrates his ability to fuse genuine emotion with narrative experimentation. The work not only addresses a personal drama with sensitivity but turns it into an ingenious literary artifact that questions the boundaries between life and writing. For the reader seeking a novel that transcends mere entertainment and offers layers of meaning, this is a read that rewards attention and reflection, consolidating Terrin as an author capable of transforming tragedy into a narrative tour de force.