Alain Fleischer's 'Prolongations': A Novel of History and Identity in Kaliningrad

Alain Fleischer's novel 'Prolongations', published by Éditions Gallimard in the collection 'L'Infini', is reviewed as a major work of contemporary fiction. The story is set in the city of Königsberg/Kaliningrad, a contested territory between German and Russian identity. The narrative follows Tibor Schwarz, a Franco-Hungarian interpreter attending an international congress on Europe. The novel explores themes of history, memory, and translation through a cast of enigmatic characters including Stasya/Judit, a Lithuanian waitress; Otto von Hippel, a mysterious German accountant; and Aaron Bernstein, a Jewish Talmudist. The plot involves a search for the best path from Kaliningrad to Königsberg, symbolizing a desire to re-enact history. Fleischer is noted as a significant contemporary novelist, author of 'Immersion' (2005), 'Les Ambitions désavouées' (2003), and 'La Hache et le Violon' (2004). The review praises the novel's depth and its final scene. Additionally, Fleischer's 'Carnet d'adresses' is published by Seuil.