Beauty, in László Krasznahorkai’s new novel, reflects, however fleeting, the sacred — even if we are mostly unable to bear it.

In Seiobo There Below we see the goddess Seiobo returning to mortal realms in search of perfection. An ancient Buddha being restored; Perugino managing his workshop; a Japanese Noh actor rehearsing; a fanatic of Baroque music lecturing to a handful of old villagers; tourists intruding into the rituals of Japan’s most sacred shrine; a heron hunting.… Seiobo overs over it all, watching closely.

Melancholic and brilliant, Seiobo There Below urges us to treasure the concentration that goes into the perception of great art, leading us to re-examine our connection to immanence.

Publisher:

"Congratulations to Hungarian author Lászlo Krasznahorkai and translator Ottilie Mulzet!

On Monday, April 28, Krasznahorkai`s novel Seiobo There Below — translated into English by Mulzet — was announced as the winner of the 2014 Best Translated Book Award for Fiction. This is Krasznahorkai`s second consecutive BTBA, after Satantango took the 2013 honor."