Inspired by the author’s own family story, Lázár is a gothic intergenerational family saga with a touch of magic following an aristocratic Hungarian family over several generations—perfect for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

The Lázárs are a noble Hungarian family who spend their time between their rural summer estate, the “Waldschloss”—surrounded by menacingly dark, fairytale-like woods—and a glittering winter castle in the city.

Lajos von Lázár is the youngest child and only son, who looks nothing like the rest of his family with his light blue eyes and translucent skin. Feeling a constant divide between himself and others, he is only able to truly connect with his uncle, whose otherworldly foresight is often confused for insanity. As the decades go by, the Lázárs repeatedly fall prey to their own desires, leading to a family history steeped in tragedy and recurring trauma. But time and again, in the lighter years, great love and hope shine through.

Masterfully written and deeply haunting, Lázár is an astonishingly self-confident, clever novel, and Nelio Biedermann is a brilliant storyteller, a fresh voice of a new generation looking at history through a different lens and telling it in a way that feels both modern and timeless.

Nelio Biedermann is the author of Anton will bleiben and Lázár. His unpublished collection of short stories won awards from the canton of Zurich. A native of Zurich, Nelio is studying German literature and film at the University of Zurich.