New Releases by George F. Walker

Set in Europe in the late 19th century, Zastrozzi is a melodrama focused on the efforts of the hypnotic Zastrozzi to vanquish a mysterious Italian named Verezzi whom Zastrozzi believes poses an ominous threat to him.For his part, Zastrozzi is a ruthless killer, an atheist who believes only in his own powers to master or destroy anyone who gets in his way. He is warily admired by his student Bernardo and he spars physically, intellectually and emotionally with the steely, arrogant Mathilda, a woman who disdains the bourgeoisie but is intrigued by Zastrozzi, despite the inherent dangers.Zastrozzi spends much of his time pontificating about the vagaries of life. Despite his seemingly superior intelligence he has been thwarted for three years in his attempts to track down the dreamy Verezzi, who in actuality is a deranged painter with little grasp on reality. Verezzi''s survival has actually been orchestrated by Victor, a disarmingly normal little man who may be a master puppeteer in disguise.