The Old King in Exile

If you lose your power of thought, what kind of life is that? In this deeply moving book, Arno Geiger tells the story of his father's life - the story of a man whose vitality and wit cannot be vanquished by Alzheimer's.

An old man is gradually losing his grip on life, his memory and orientation in the present dissolving piece by piece. He has Alzheimer's. "As my father can no longer cross the bridge into my world, I have to go over to him," writes Arno Geiger, and so, with an open mind, serenity and affection, he begins his journey to become re-acquainted with his father. Up close, he recounts the past that his father has forgotten: born in 1926 the third of ten children, his parents peasants in Wolfurt who own three cows, an orchard and a field. At the age of 18 he goes to war at the Eastern Front, at 19 he is a POW in a military hospital, then starts the arduous journey back to his home, which he is never to leave again. Arno Geiger strikes up a new friendship with his father; he remains at his side for many years, listening to his words that are only seemingly meaningless and often full of wonderful poetry, and discovering that he has not lost any of his wit, charm and self-assurance.

Arno Geiger has written a book that is awash with light, full of life, and often very funny, despite the underlying tragedy. And we begin to understand: whatever happens, a human being remains a human being with all their past, their individuality and dignity. A wonderful, one-of-a-kind book about a life that is still absolutely worth living.