There are two opposing groups of Archimboldians:
- Pelletier, Morini, and Espinoza (and Norton)
- Schwarz, Borchmeyer, and Pohl
Works by:
- Lüdicke
- The Garden
- The Leather Mask
- D'Arsonval
- Mitzi's Treasure
- Bifurcaria, Bifurcata
- Rivers of Europe
- Inheritance
- Railroad Perfection
- The Berlin Underworld
- Lethaea
- Bitzius
- Saint Thomas
- The Blind Woman
- The Endless Rose
Jean-Claude Pelletier
Born 1961. Discovered Archimboldi while studying German literature in Paris, Christmas 1980. Translated D'Arsonval into French along with "two others." A professor of German in Paris (by 1986).
First met Morini in 1989 at a German literature conference. First met Espinoza in 1990 at a conference. First meets Norton in 1993 or 1994.
First sleeps with Norton after the meetings with Schnell and Mrs. Bubis in 1995.
Piero Morini
Born 1956, near Naples. Discovered Archimboldi in 1976. Translated Bifurcaria, Bifurcata to Italian in 1988. Shortly afterwards, published two studies - "one on the role of fate in Railroad Perfection, and the other on the various guises of conscience and guilt in Lethaea, on the surface an erotic novel, and in Bitzius, a novel less than one hundred pages long, similar in some ways to Mitzi's Treasure..." (6). Also translated Saint Thomas in 1991.
Has
multiple sclerosis, "suffered [a] strange and spectacular accident that left her permanently wheelchair-bound." (6)
Teaches German literature at the University of Turin.
First met Pelletier 1989 at a German literature conference. First met Espinoza in 1990 at a conference. First meets Norton in 1993 or 1994.
Manuel Espinoza
Younger than Pelletier and Morini (no date of birth given). Originally wanted to be a writer and studied Spanish literature. Had a brief period of interest in
Ernst Jünger before becoming interested in German Literature. Completed his doctorate in German literature in 1990. Never translated any German author.
First met Morini and Pelletier in 1990 at a conference. First meets Norton in 1993 or 1994. Sleeps with Norton after the meetings with Schnell and Mrs. Bubis.
Liz Norton
Born 1968 in England. She is divorced. Discovered Archimboldi in 1998 when visiting Berlin - was loaned
The Blind Woman by a friend. Later discovered
Bitzius in a college library.
Discovered by Pelletier, Morini, and Espinoza via an article in Literary Studies (#46) in 1993 or 1994. Met them around the same time at a conference.
Sleeps with Pelletier in 1995. Some time afterwards sleeps with Espinoza. In the end, chooses Morini over Espinoza and Pelletier.
Unnamed, obscure German author that speaks at a 1995 penel discussion on contemporary German literature in Amsterdam. Tells a story about being a cultural promoter "for a Frisian town, north of
Wilhelmshaven, facing the Black Sea coast and the
East Frisian islands..." (18) where Archimboldi had come to do a reading.
Notes that Archimboldi had read two chapters from his second novel, a work in progress. His first novel, according to the Swabian, was short - between 100 and 125 pages [Lüdicke] . Archimboldi is 29 or 30 years old [so this is probably around 1950]. After the reading, the Swabian and Archimboldi go to dinner with a teacher and a widow. The latter tells a long story involving a gaucho, a horse race, and a riddle. By the next morning Archimboldi had disappeared.
Schnell
Editor in chief of Archimboldi's publisher (in Hamburg). Pelletier and Espinzoa visit him shortly after the encounter with the Swabian (and believe him to be gay).
Mrs. Bubis
Widow of Archimboldi's publisher. Visited by Pelletier and Espinzoa. Makes a point about criticism using the work of
George Grosz to illustrate (26-27).
Shares an odd review of Archimboldi's first novel by someone named Schleiermacher
Alex Pritchard
Boyfriend of Liz Norton. Secondary school teacher. He is insulted by Espinoza when Espinoza and Pelletier first meet him in Norton's apartment (Espinoza calls him "
badulaque" [66]). Pritchard later tells Pelletier to "beware of the Medusa" (69) in reference to Norton.
Vanessa
Whore that is often visited by Pelletier. She is married to a Moroccan and has a son (81).
Edwin Johns
Painter. Norton first tells Morini Johns' story (52) about how Johns became a famous painter and then finally created a self portrait where his own left hand was the center of the painting. Morini, Pelletier and Espinoza visit Johns at an assalym (89). The visit causes Morini to disappear for a few days (he goes to visit Norton in London). Pelletier later recounts the story of their trip to Norton.
Rodolfo Alatorre
Young Mexican writer, tells Morini that a friend of his had met Archimboldi in Mexico (99).
Hector Enrique Almendro ("El Cerdo")
Essayist, novelist, "cultural official", friend or mentor to Rodolfo Alatorre. Allegedly meets Archimboldi in a hotel in Mexico City near the airport. Archimboldi may have gotten El Cerdo's contact information from Mrs. Bubis, who he met at a party in Berlin (103). Norton, Espinoza and Pelletier travel to Mexico to meet him. When The Critics mention Almendro to Amalfitano he launches into a speech about Mexican Intellectuals (120-123)
Dieter Hellfeld
Member of the Swedish Academy or the secretary of a member of the academy who had been in touch with Archimboldi's publisher to "get an idea how the writer would respond if he were awarded the [Nobel] prize" (105). Also believes that Mrs. Bubis is Archimboldi.
French writer, sets off to visit Stevenson's grave on an island in the Pacific (Samoa) and has a very difficult trip. When he arrives he decides not to visit the grave because he understood that Stevenson lived inside of him (106). Morini tells this story to make himself feel better about not following Norton, Espinoza and Pelletier to Mexico to find Archimboldi.
Augusto Guerra
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters in Saint Teresa, makes the introduction to Amalfitano (112).
Oscar Amalfitano
Acts as a guide for Norton, Espinoza and Pelletier in Saint Teresa. Translated The Endless Rose in 1974 (116). He is from Chile. The Critics are fond of him (130). Norton's initial impression "was of a sad man whose life was ebbing swiftly away..." (114).
"Exile must be a terrible thing," said Norton sympathetically.
"Actually," said Amalfirano, "now I see it as a natural movement, something that, in its way, helps to abolish fate, of what is generally thought of as fate."
"But exile," said Pelletier, "is full of inconveniences, of skips and breaks that essentially keep recurring and interfere with anything you try to do that's important."
"That's just what I mean by abolishing fate," said Amalfitano. "But again, I beg your pardon." (117)
Has a copy of Rafael Dieste 's Testamento geometrico [note: written 1975] hanging on his clothesline.
Appears to have a close relationship with Augusto Guerra's son.
Rector Negrete
Rector at the University of Santa Teresa. Tall, lightly tanned (111). Norton, Espinoza and Pelletier attend a party at his home
Augusto Guerra
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the University of Santa Teresa (112). Makes the introduction, by letter, between Amalfitano and Norton, Pelletier and Espinoza.
Doktor Koenig
"German" magician and member of the Circo Internacional in Santa Teresa. Visited by Amalfitano and The Critics (132). Turns out he's an American named Andy Lopez. His act entails making living things disappear - moving from small (flea) to large (child).
Rebeca
Girl who sells rugs in the market. High school age. Espinoza has a romantic relationship with her and takes her and her brother under his wing. Has a sister named Cristina (147).
Part 2: The Part About Amalfitano
Rosa
Amalfitano's daughter. Seventeen years old and Spanish. Her mother is Lola
Lola
Amalfitano's ex-wife. Rosa's mother. Always carries a switchblade. Her favorite poet lives the insane asylum in Mondragon and she believes (although it isn't true) that she had slept with the poet at a party. Runs off with Imma to see the poet. Is able to gain entry into the asylum on the third try and speaks to the Poet, meets Gorka.
Inmaculada ("Imma")
Friend of Lola, who calls her Imma. Lesbian. Travels with Lola to visit the poet in Mondragon. Once they are able to meet with The Poet, she essentially stands against the wall, reading poems. Their money runs out shortly afterward and Imma goes to make some money and leaves Lola behind.
Edurne
Friend of Imma. Lola and Imma stay with her and her husband (Jon) when they first arrive in Mondragon
Gorka
The Poet's doctor. He is writing a biography of the Poet (173).
Larrazabal
A driver that picks up Lola on the road. Takes her to the cemetery in Mondragon, where they have sex (175). They run into each other again in the cemetery when he has brought another woman there. Lola moves in with him and he becomes her lover, gives her money, takes her to the asylum.
Police Chief. Travels to Villaviciosa with Epifanio to find a bodyguard for Pedro Rengifo where he picks up Olegario Cura Exposito (Lalo Cura) (384). Has a twin brother (386).
Inspecting the Demon Penitent. Thirty-four in 1993 (381). He sleeps with Elvira Campos (383).
Police Inspector. Working with Martinez to inspect the Demon Penitent.
Pisses in churches and destroys church artifacts. Acts violently when threatened. Elvira Campos believes he suffers from sacraphobia (381).
. An arts reporter that normally reports on Philosophy, he is sent to Santa Teresa to cover the story of the Penitent. Stays at the El Oasis (376). He is supposed to interview Juan de Dios Martinez, but is instead handed off to the police press secretary, Zamudio. He interviews Martinez the next day and later interviews a priest before heading back to Mexico City (379).
Director of the Santa Teresa asylum (363). She sleeps with Juan de Dios Martinez (383).
Friend of Pedro Negrete (384).
lunacy, get it?" (384). Picked up by Epifano and Pedro Negrete to protect the wife of Pedro Rengifo
Chief of Security for Pedro Rengifo. Irishman. Gives Lalo Cura a handgun (389).