The Word Trove - Elias Vorpahl

 This is one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read. It’s quite enchanting. And for somebody who sees themselves of something as a wordsmith and a word lover it’s perfect. There is a fusion of fairytale, with something of a debt to Lewis Carroll (and I don’t think the author would disagree with me!) and fantasy. But also something of the parable or allegory. There are some universal truths here nestling sweetly within the intelligent and clever wordplay.

The story is about a Word who has lost their meaning. And the story takes us and the Word on a journey to rediscover that meaning. The book is beautifully arranged and beautifully illustrated. The Word takes a journey through language, through life, encountering some diverse characters on the way. I guess the thrust of that journey is for Word to rediscover their meaning, to rediscover who they are and what their place is within the world. 

It’s a novella rather than a novel but it’s one of those books where quality has far more worth than the quantity. So much is contained within its pages. A little whimsy. Some piercingly intelligent truisms in an imaginative and creative story that could appeal across the generations.

I’ve already mentioned Lewis Carroll but it also created something of the atmosphere you find in, perhaps, a fairy story by Grimm, it’s not all sweetness and light. I also found the book very visual, not just because it had some exquisite illustrations, but I could picture it as some kind of animation. 

There is a balance of gentleness and excitement. It has all the elements of a perfectly crafted story in a traditional sense. What is interesting and quite breathtaking is that the original is written in German. And it’s been translated. Well it won’t be the first German story to have been translated that’s for sure. But it’s a story about language. It plays with words. And one of the big challenges for any translator is to capture the nuances of the original language so that none of the author’s intent is lost. For a book like this the challenge must have been enormous. So I think a big shout out for the work that the translator, Romy Fursland, has done because it really is quite a stunning achievement.

This has been a difficult book to review. To précis it would be a disservice. The essence of it is immense. There is a desire on my part to quote great chunks of it but really you need to read it for yourself. You need to allow yourself to become enveloped and enmeshed within words, within language and follow Word on their journey, meet Mad. Meet Rhyme and Reason. Fear the vocal cords. Visit Langwich. Participate in the Linguistic Games. Listen to Wherefore. Am I speaking in riddles? 😉 You see what I mean? I don’t think this book can be reviewed. I think it’s been reviewing me.