The article discusses Alen Mešković's novel 'Den smukkeste afsked', which explores a future where a method to calculate a person's year of death was invented in 1511 but kept secret until the 1960s.
In the review of Alen Mešković's novel 'Den smukkeste afsked', the author criticizes the book for its lack of detailed plotting, suggesting that readers who focus on logical inconsistencies might find it frustrating. The narrative is described as having a radical vision of the future, primarily grounded in a historical premise that dates back to 1511. This historical element introduces the character Orlando de Vincenzi, a physician and astrologer who allegedly created a method to determine the year of a person's death.
Moreover, the premise of the book hinges on the secrecy surrounding this death-calculation method, which was only publicly acknowledged in the 1960s. This adds a layer of intrigue to the story, as it poses moral and existential questions about knowing one's death date. The review implies that the author's strength lies more in the thematic exploration of the concept of mortality rather than in the narrative's structural precision or plot coherence.
Ultimately, 'Den smukkeste afsked' seems to invite readers to reflect on the implications of such knowledge while engaging them with its peculiar blend of history and fiction. While it may not meet the expectations of readers seeking a tightly woven storyline, its radical ideas provoke thought about life, death, and the secrets we keep about our mortality.
