What a strange little book. I have to admit that the cover and the title is what drew me to this novel. I have a small obsession with the Dedalus Publishing Company so I often peruse their titles for random books I might be interested in reading. On one such occasion I stumbled upon this title, "Stephanie (my name) or a Previous Existence." The cover art looks like a picture of my hand (which is strange because I'm something of an amateur hand model.) The author is a German Judge. I was hooked when I read the description - a Spanish Duchess murders her husband and a woman named Stephanie begins to dream that she is that Duchess. Sold!

The book is short and light, but well written. The main character's plight is told through her brother, the narrator, and through her letter written to her brother the text of which comprises the second half of the book. The main character finds herself in a very strange predicament that makes her question the nature of existence. This isn't a philosophy book by any means, but the main character often scratches the surface the existential crisis she is experiencing. The book leaves a lot of unanswered questions... is she dreaming, if she is, which life is a dream? Was Stephanie the Duchess in a previous existence? If not, why she experiencing what she is experiencing? I felt like the book ended too abruptly but I did enjoy reading it. ( )