I am particularly fond of Alexander McCall Smith’s Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld novels because they are imbued with delightful satire about college professors. These are the kind of people who can have long arguments about whether there is a case for the development of a new linguistic tense called the “past-trivial”, which would refer to things so unimportant that they should be forgotten immediately.
The Lost Language of Oysters is set in a fictional hidebound
German university, and the lead character is the good Professor Dr. Dr. Moritz-Maria
von Igelfeld, whose claim to academic fame rests upon the publishing of his seminal
and highly regarded study of Portuguese irregular verbs. His coveted Chair is
so august that it has no required teaching responsibilities and “almost
unlimited funds for conference attendance.”
His friend, and also rival, is Professor Dr. Detlev
Amadeus Unterholzer. Their coffee lounge sparring is constant, but goes astray
when two female American scholars arrive for a visit. One of them is an avid
motorcycle rider, and Professor Von Igelfeld develops quite an interest in
her—so much so that he lets her take him for a ride on her rented bike. This
unusual behavior is so out of character for him that Professor Unterholzer
believes his colleague has gone insane. This allows him to suggest
to higher authorities that Von Igelfeld should be sent to a rest home for
treatment. This, by happenstance, would also allow him to take over Von Igelfeld’s plush and much
envied office space.
These events could be the basis for major interpersonal warfare
or even lead to a fine murder mystery,
but this is Andrew McCall Smith, and all the skirmishes end pleasantly
amidst a full measure of amusement and gentle chuckles. Pick this little volume
up for a quick, and enjoyable read. There will be no need to ponder the great
issues of life.
I give it a solid four out of five
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