Product Description

On a cold night in Holland, Max Delius - a hedonistic, yet brilliant astronomer who loves fast cars, nice clothes and women - picks up Onno Quist, a cerebral chaotic philologist who cannot bear the banalities of everyday life. They are like fire andwater. But when they learn they were conceived on the same day, it is clear that something extraordinary is about to happen. Their worlds become inextricably intertwined, as they embark on a life's journey destined to change the course of human history. A magnum opus that is also a masterful thriller.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24794 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 736 pages

About the Author
Harry Mulisch was born in Holland and is author of the international best-seller THE ASSAULT, which has been translated into 22 languages and an award winning screenplay. He lives in Amsterdam.

Customer Reviews

A singularly Dutch novel of philosophical ideas.
There is enough material in The Discovery of Heaven to fill several books, and a writer of lesser integrity might have split the phases of Ada, Max, Onno, Sophia and Quinten's lives into separate volumes. Instead, Mulisch expertly, if sometimes jarringly, even violently, welds them together using what would otherwise have been cliffhanger endings as startling links between episodes of quite different flavours. This literary device is crucial to the plot; it reflects the experiences and informs the reactions of the characters with precision. It is only one aspect of this intelligent novel which delights, intrigues and challenges at all levels.

It is a very Dutch story and I was repeatedly reminded of my several Dutch friends throughout. I was especially pleased with Max's humanity -- as an astronomer myself, it was refreshing to find such a character with infinitely more depth than an inappropriate white lab-coat.

The story is a fantasy of grand design, set in a tangibly real world with convincing, larger-than-life characters, resulting in fiction which carries more truth than its fair share. There are no mundane details and the character's every act is touched with subtle significance. A read to add richness to any life.

Very well-written and intensely intriguing. A must-read!
The Discovery of Heaven is indeed one of the best works of fiction I have ever read, with an intricately fashioned plot, and characters that come to life, making you wish that you could share in the friendship that exists between Max Delius and Onno Quist. The story guides you on a quest throughout Europe, eventually leading you to one of the greatest treasures mankind will ever know. It presents scenarios that inspire love, hate, sorrow, joy, and a multitude of others that draw you in from page one! Being a theologian, it was difficult, if not angersome, to come to terms with several of the religious aspects of the novel, but that's what great literature does--it inspires emotion. This book exceeds that goal. After reading this novel--and I hope you do lest you miss out on one of the greatest masterpieces of the century--you will have found that The Discovery of Heaven is truly the discovery of a lifetime.

If you read one more book in your life - READ THIS !
I can't quite remember ever having read a book that so eloquently tells a story. A fantastic,tragic,intoxicating tale unfolds to the backdrop of 1960's Europe with our two leading infectious characters philosophizing at every turn. Events switch from Amsterdam to Cuba to Krakow in a blistering, intellectual tour de force.Ultimately,I believe,this is a book that tries to fathom the mystery of human relationships and existence and how we are conditioned by the make-up of our kinfolk.I've just finished reading this book for the second time and was left even more breathless than the first.I think it's the kind of book that demands to be read more than once because believe me, the next time around, you'll be glad you did.If you are the kind of person who relishes the experience of learning and understanding then pick up this book.I urge you.