{"title":"Christoph Ransmayr","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the imaginative world of Christoph Ransmayr, an acclaimed Austrian author celebrated for his evocative storytelling and richly detailed narratives. With a distinctive style that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, Ransmayr’s works invite readers to explore the human condition through the lens of history, mythology, and existential thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his noteworthy novels, \u003cem\u003eCox – or, The Course of Time\u003c\/em\u003e is a mesmeric tale set in 18th-century China, weaving the captivating story of a master clockmaker commissioned by the Emperor. Delve into this exploration of time and mortality made vivid with Ransmayr’s poetic prose. Similarly, \u003cem\u003eThe Lockmaster\u003c\/em\u003e unfurls a gripping narrative and showcases Ransmayr's talent for crafting eerie yet fascinating tales that resonate well beyond the last page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChristoph Ransmayr's books are more than just stories; they are literary journeys that transcend time and geography. Whether you're an aficionado of general fiction seeking thought-provoking themes or a newcomer eager to experience a new voice, Ransmayr’s works offer a compelling invitation to ponder the profundities of life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cox-or-the-course-of-time-by-christoph-ransmayr-9781803090405","title":"Cox – or, The Course of Time","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichly imagined and recounted in vivid prose of extraordinary beauty, \u003ci\u003eCox – or, The Course of Time\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning illustration of Ransmayr’s talent for imbuing a captivating tale with intense metaphorical, indeed metaphysical force.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe world’s most powerful man, Qiánlóng, emperor of China, invites the famous eighteenth-century clockmaker Alister Cox to his court in Beijing. There, in the heart of the Forbidden City, the Englishman and his assistants are to build machines that mark the passing of time as a child or a condemned man might experience it and that capture the many shades of happiness, suffering, love, and loss that come with that passing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMystified by the rituals of a rigidly hierarchical society dominated by an unimaginably wealthy, god-like ruler, Cox musters all his expertise and ingenuity to satisfy the emperor’s desires. Finally, Qiánlóng, also known by the moniker Lord of Time, requests the construction of a clock capable of measuring eternity—a \u003ci\u003eperpetuum mobile\u003c\/i\u003e. Seizing this chance to realise a long-held dream and honour the memory of his late beloved daughter, yet conscious of the impossibility of his task, Cox sets to work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the court is suspended in a never-ending summer, festering with evil gossip about the monster these foreigners are creating, the Englishmen wonder if they will ever escape from their gilded cage. More than a meeting of two men, one isolated by power, the other by grief, this is an exploration of mortality and a virtuoso demonstration that storytelling alone can truly conquer time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853250973932,"sku":"9781803090405","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/27004143482829.jpg?v=1759192893"},{"product_id":"the-lockmaster-by-christoph-ransmayr-9781803093703","title":"The Lockmaster","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA suspenseful novel that delves into the complexities of a father-son relationship and the timeless themes of guilt and forgiveness.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA longboat plummets over the Great Falls, drowning the five passengers on board. The Lockmaster, the heir to an ancient title and responsible for guiding river traffic safely around this natural barrier on the White River, ought to have prevented this tragedy. His son is convinced that it was not an accident. Is his irascible father a murderer? A hydraulic engineer all too familiar with the brute force of rivers, he sets out to discover the truth and find his missing father.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lockmaster\u003c\/em\u003e is a dramatic tale set in a world where water has become a precious commodity and Europe has fractured into warring ethno-nationalist entities desperate to uphold the traditions and insignia of a so-called glorious bygone era. Christoph Ransmayr recounts this story in his trademark style, its epic force shot through with visions of future technology and reactionary politics amid a climate breakdown. At heart, though, this novel is the story of a father-son relationship straddling the fault lines between past and present, and an exploration of timeless questions of guilt and forgiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853315821804,"sku":"9781803093703","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/27037123482829.jpg?v=1759197127"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/christoph-ransmayr.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}