TyllTyll
Score Modern
What it's about
Tyll Ulenspiegel, a legendary prankster and performer, grows up the son of a miller with a secret interest in alchemy. When his father is condemned by the church, Tyll flees with the baker's daughter, Nele, and becomes a traveling entertainer, crossing paths with kings and queens as the Thirty Years' War devastates Europe.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. Daniel Kehlmann weaves history and magical realism into an enchanting adventure.
You'll love it if you liked
The Name of the Rose
Perfume
The DirectorGood to know
It's translated from German and moves back and forth in time.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics27 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller8 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz14 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #213 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #804 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1499 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Daniel Kehlmann
If you like this, read next
The Underground Railroad
Barrayar
World Without End
Fall of Giants
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
The Water DancerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Tyll worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It ranks #1,499 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Tyll about?
Tyll Ulenspiegel, a legendary prankster and performer, grows up the son of a miller with a secret interest in alchemy. When his father is condemned by the church, Tyll flees with the baker's daughter, Nele, and becomes a traveling entertainer, crossing paths with kings and queens as the Thirty Years' War devastates Europe.
How long does it take to read Tyll?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Tyll?
If you liked it, try The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, Perfume by Patrick Süskind or The Director by Daniel Kehlmann.