The Illogic of Kassel

Book excerpt: A puzzling phone call shatters a writer's routine. An enigmatic female voice extends an invitation to take part in Documenta, the legendary contemporary art exhibition held every five years in Kassel, Germany. The writer's mission will be to transform himself into a living art installation, by sitting down to write every morning in a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of town. Once in Kassel, the writer is surprised to find himself overcome by good cheer as he strolls through the city, spurred on by his spontaneous, quirky response to art. With humour, profundity and a sharp eye, Enrique Vila-Matas tells the story of a solitary man roaming the streets amid oddities and wonder.