Madonna in a Fur Coat

This was a strange little story about a man, Raife Effendi, a quiet mousy depressive little man, a translator for a Turkish company. His co worker tells the story of his death and of the time he felt most alive in his relations with an artist named Maria Puder, the so called “Madonna in a Fur Coat”. As Effendi comes to the end of his life, he has his co worker clear his desk and bring it all home. In the package is a small notebook that his coworker reads and learns about his friendship with Maria, and meets a whole new Raife empowered by his caring for her. Through this “relationship” we are eyewitnesses to a society coming to grips with ennui and Schaudenfreude during a terrible time in history after the Great War. This is an small well written book about change, family ties, and how love changes things. This is the first time since it’s original publication in 1943 that it is available in English. Although depressing, it is a hopeful story. I’m not sure if I liked it, but it gave me pause to not dismiss it, and I feel it may haunt me as Maria haunted Raife. 4/5