The Visit of the Royal Physician

Tall 8vo. Pp. [viii], 310. Pictorial wraps.

Translated from the Swedish by Tiina Nunnally. Winner of Sweden's most important literary award, the August Prize, and France's Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger for 2000. Shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. A tale of adultery, insanity, and ruthless personal and political ambition as played out in the 1760s Danish court, when Enlightenment ideas were in the ascendant.

Based on historical fact, novel recounts the brief interregnum when Johann Friedrich Struensee, the personal physician of mad King Christian VII, held absolute power. "Per Olov Enquist has reshaped this remarkable story into a gripping, fast-paced narrative... his principal characters are realised with a vividness and subtlety that place the book in the front ranks of contemporary literary fiction." –Bruce Bawer, The New York Times