The Enlightenment Is Just One Side of the Story.

The article reviews Olga Tokarczuk's latest novel The Empusium, which champions a world governed by myth rather than reason. Topics include the novel's departure from traditional bildungsroman narratives by embracing the mystical and supernatural; its parallels and contrasts with Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, particularly in its portrayal of intellectual debates; and the protagonist Wojnicz's introspective journey, reflecting on his upbringing and the pressures of masculinity.