Portuguese Irregular Verbs

Portuguese Irregular Verbs

Von Igelfeld is the world's leading scholar on Portuguese irregular verbs, having written a majestic, nearly 1,200-page book on the subject. As one review says, "There is nothing more to be said on this subject. Nothing." But in other matters, von Igelfeld is not nearly so skilled. Whether haplessly playing tennis against an equally dreadful opponent, or committing his friends to swordfighting duels without their knowledge, von Igelfeld is somewhat naive in the ways of the world. Yet that does not stop him from having a go at life, and the results are always humorous.
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Reviews

Photo of Rose Stanley
Rose Stanley@roseofoulesfame
3 stars
Jan 4, 2022

I feel like this is one of those books that you appreciate more each time you come back to it after learning more things - I'm convinced the names are all jokes of one kind or another and that there are pastiches of other literary works/characters/genres in play here (I've yet to read Thomas Mann but he seems the most obvious influence). Anyway, my clearly terribly ignorant self very much enjoyed this, Prof Hedgehogfield (sorry, VON Hedgehogfield) is sort of pathetic but must also be protected at all costs, especially from prejudiced landladies and terrible fake-friend fellow-academics (looking at you, Unterholzer). Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy and also fact-checking that bit about Venice.

Photo of Meryn Kae Addison
Meryn Kae Addison@merynkae
3 stars
Jan 1, 2023
Photo of Amir M
Amir M @amyr
3 stars
Jun 3, 2022
Photo of Deanna Kendall
Deanna Kendall@deereads
5 stars
Nov 27, 2021