At times I laughed out loud while reading this satire of gothic literature and the philosophical underpinnings of Romanticism and Kantian transcendental idealism. Plot takes a backseat to the amusing and parodic setting of the abbey, as well as a laundry list of character types who spout their world views, echoing dense early 19th century novels: the woman-hating patriarch, the ever-brooding son (reading Young Werther, of course!), the writer who speaks only in parroted lines from German philosophy, the quack pseudo-scientist who is on the search for real mermaids, and the comparatively well-adjusted young woman who has to put up with all these dopes.

It’s a fun read for fans of Romanticism, German literature/philosophy, and gothic literature. Peacock makes the wise choice to write a novella rather than a full-length novel, thus avoiding the joke overstaying its welcome.