adness by Jack Smith plunges readers into the gripping and turbulent world of Friedrich Nietzsche, unraveling the enigma of his tragic descent into madness. Through the eyes of Hans Meister, a devoted student and confidant, the novel captures the haunting unraveling of one of history’s greatest minds. As Nietzsche’s brilliance gives way to chaos, Hans becomes both witness and participant in a journey fraught with philosophical revelations, personal turmoil, and an eerie foreboding of Nietzsche’s ultimate fate.

   Set against the vivid backdrop of 19th-century Europe, Madness immerses readers in an atmosphere of intellectual fervor and societal change. As Hans documents his mentor’s deterioration, he is drawn into Nietzsche’s harrowing world of nihilism and existential despair. But the story is not just Nietzsche’s—it’s Hans’s as well. As he wrestles with faith, love, and his own fragile sense of identity, Hans discovers that genius and insanity are two sides of the same coin.

   Philosophically rich, emotionally charged, and darkly atmospheric, Madness is more than a fictionalized account of Nietzsche’s life—it’s an exploration of the human condition, the limits of reason, and the terrifying allure of the abyss. This is a tale of brilliance and fragility, where madness looms not just as an affliction, but as a shadow cast by the pursuit of ultimate truth. Prepare to be enthralled, unnerved, and deeply moved by this spellbinding novel.

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forthcoming Spring 2025