A hauntingly beautiful debut novel that interweaves grief, memory, and the mystical realm of an ancient forest through eighty-four poignant vignettes.

Romansh poet Leta Semadeni’s debut novel, Tamangur, is a multifaceted gem that delves into the shadowed depths of a remote valley in the Engadin Alps. More than a setting, the ancient stone pine forest of Tamangur serves as a mystical realm, a Valhalla for hunters and their kin, where the living brush against the world of the dead.

A richly woven narrative, Tamangur unfolds through eighty-four interlocking vignettes. We follow an unnamed young girl, referred to only as “the child,” and her grandmother as they navigate their shared grief. The loss of the girl’s beloved grandfather and younger brother casts a long shadow, with the child believing she is to blame for her brother’s death—a burden that has led her parents to abandon her. The small village they inhabit is populated by a cast of quirky characters: Elsa, who passionately loves the absent Elvis; a seamstress who steals others’ memories; a brooding chimney sweep; and a rude goat. Amidst the sorrow, these oddballs form a patchwork family, softening the harsh edges of fate with their peculiar charm.

Semadeni’s prose is crystalline and evocative, blending the poignant with the absurd in a way that captures the heart and imagination. Tamangur is a haunting exploration of loss, memory, and the fragile connections that bind us.
 

Translated by: Tess Lewis