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Title: Possessed: The Secret of Myslotch by Witold Gombrowicz ISBN: 0-7145-2738-6 Publisher: Marion Boyars Publishers Pub. Date: 01 July, 1988 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: High art meets pulp fiction
Comment: Gombrowicz's second novel was quite a departure from his first, Ferdydurke, but it retains some similar imagery and themes, such as old world Poland versus the new (in the context of the interwar years and an independent Polish state) and immaturity in the male psyche. It was perhaps fortuitous or extremely clever to release it under a pseudonym, in order to avoid inevitable and unfair comparisons.

Possessed's subtitle gives away more of the story; a gothic novel that plays with the "Wlad the Impaler/Dracula" kinds of historical myth from central Europe, with props such as dark, semi-abandoned castles and eccentric if not deranged aristocrats. It's a genre with which Gombrowicz easily engages, and the results are both chilling and amusing.

Possessed is ideal material for a Polanksi film - as a fellow Pole with anti-establishment tendencies I believe he would understand the humour and his comic and surrealistic vision would be a perfect fit for the material.

Rating: 4
Summary: Rampant and Ghostly
Comment: This book is a knot of mystery, suspense, abnormality and humour. I got the impression that it was written swiftly. At any event, Gombrowicz wrote it under a pen name and never took it seriously. It cannot compare, for instance, to his later masterpieces "Cosmos" and "Pornographia." I however enjoyed the adventure because it realized the cliche of castle/ghost/murder/woman in distress without sounding tired or dry. It may even deserve a 4.5/5.

I recommend that you read this book and then "Cosmos/Pornographia: Two Novels by Witold Gombrowicz" (300pgs roughly). This way, you will be shocked to the core because, as a friend of Witold once said, good philosophy should "vibrate" you.

Rating: 5
Summary: A Masterpiece!
Comment: Although this book is currently "unavailable," do everything in your power to find it, read it, marvel at it- become possessed.