The Magnetist’s Fifth Winter     by Per Olov Enquist, Translated by Paul Austin Original title: Magnetisörens femte vinter Original language: Swedish Country: Sweden   Published by Quartet Pub. Date: 1989 Pub. Place: London Format: 229 pages ISBN: 070432721X List Price: $12.95, £12.95 Buy online from Amazon.co.uk for £12.95

This, Enquist's breakthrough novel (1964), is set in a small German town, Seefond in autumn-winter 1793–4. Its central figure is Friedrich Meisner, the ‘magnetist’ of the title, who has fled there, Meisner being obviously based on Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) the father of ’ mesmerism’ or ’ animal magnetism’ by which he is able to cure people. In his presentation of him — partly through a pseudo-documentary method such as Enquist was to employ in subsequent novels (e.g. Hess and The Legionnaires) — Enquist is able to discuss the human ability (and perhaps need) to surrender to figures of power, who can invade or dominate body and mind. There are clear parallels established between Meisner/Mesmer effecting miraculous cures and Christ; and politically we are compelled to think of the Fascist or Communist demagogues. Yet the novel raises an intriguing question. Townsman Claus Selinger, whose diary we read, has a blind daughter. Meisner makes her see again. Selinger later finds Meisner out in a deception which he makes public. But the fact remains that his daughter can now see. Every situation is more difficult than the interpretations made of it.

‘Yesterday Maria saw the sky for the first time. At her own urgent request we led her out into the garden. Since it is autumn, many of the deciduous trees were bare; but the tall elm which stands beside the well had still not lost its leaves. gently screwing up her eyes, she contemplated the scene. When I looked more closely at her, I saw she was weeping.

“You“re crying, Maria,” I said.

“The wind is too strong for my eyes,” she explained.

At the time the wind was very slight. But afterwards she pointed at the great stone pool which gathers the water from the spring, and called it a soup plate. I corrected her gently.

For almost half an hour we stayed out in the garden. Then the wind really did begin to blow. Yet she said she wished to remain there and see the leaves blowing up against her bare wrists, having so often felt them but never having actually seen them. However I was anxious, and led her back indoors.

I must show great circumspection in teaching her to see. She can see now; but no one knows what she sees. p103.