The Master's Apprentice

A Retelling of the Faust Legend (Faust, Book 1)

By: Oliver Pötzsch, Lisa Reinhardt - translator

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 22 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A young man’s destined quest becomes a dance with the devil in a mesmerizing retelling of the Faust legend by the bestselling author of the Hangman’s Daughter series.

It’s the fifteenth century and only heretics are curious about the universe.

Germany, 1494. Born under a rare alignment of the stars, Johann Georg Gerlach, "the lucky one" to his mother - is fated for greatness. But Johann’s studies and wonder at the sky have made him suspect. Especially in wake of the child disappearances that have left the God-fearing locals trembling and his one true love trapped in terrified catatonia. Her only words: "I have seen the devil..."

Banished from Knittlingen as cursed, Johann crosses paths with Tonio del Moravia. The traveling fortune-teller and master of the arcane arts recognizes something extraordinary in the wanderer. Taking Johann under his wing, Tonio promises a new world of knowledge and sensations. But with it comes a sinister web of deception and a chilling prophecy.

The stars are set to align again. Now Johann must draw on the skills of his apprenticeship to solve the dark mystery that grips his village in fear and the deepening mystery of his own destiny.

©2018 Oliver Pötzsch and Ullstein Buchverlage GmbH (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2020 by Lisa Reinhardt

Engrossing

Very good yarn, I especially enjoyed the historical sources and explanations afterwards. Three More Words

Incredibly written, fascinating story

This is the kind of book you get lost in and find yourself thinking about all day. Great character development, vivid detail. I will definately seek this author out again.

Masterful work!

Love this book, as I do all of the author's books! Great and powerful story!

Better than the second book

The language conforms somewhat more appropriately to the 1500s. The author's use of "creepy" is still ubiquitous. I listened to the second book first. it must have been on sale. I was not impressed, but the story held my interest. The ending of the second book was terrific. I decided to conyinie with the saga and losten to thr first book. This initial story is quite good. The voice of Tonio is superb! It is deep, sensual, and hypnotic. I wanted his voice to last forever. Tonio is much more interesting than the narcissistic Faust. Faust is an ugly little ehotist who never learns, unlike the devil who has self-knowledge and doesn't lie to himself.
Having listened to the second book first gave me a richer perspective than if I had read the books in order.

Very engaging

This is a good book. I had a dilemma with it though. I couldn’t listen fast enough to hear all I wanted but couldn’t keep listening because I had to get some sleep! I have loved all I’ve read about Dr. Faust and I did enjoy this retelling as well. I would say it could have been somewhat shorter, but I can’t tell you anything I’d say to cut. Liked the historical info that added a lot of explanation to the why’s on some decisions narrator was excellent. I could always tell who was speaking. Characters were well defined and descriptions gave me vivid pictures to add to the story. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in the Faust legends, but I would tell them to be disciplined about their reading times.

well researched, well told retelling of a classic

This book is a well researched, well told retelling of a classic story by Marlow and Goethe which almost has the status of an archetypal myth.
Potzsch spins this narrative to make the reader or listener feel like he/she is in pre or early Reformation Germany (Martin Luther's 95 theses on the door in Wittenberg was 1517 as the official start) You can hear the dissatisfaction that eventually lead to fundamental changes in the complaints of the burgers and travlers in his story.
The story is told well. It weaves a number of interesting variations from the mainline story and makes a rich tapestry of backstories of the main figures. We feel Faust's conflicts starting with his early interactions with the devil and the major changes in his life.
The travel to many different towns and cities gives a vivid picture of late Mediaeval middle Europe, down to the names of the various gates, the market places and even the changing nature of the knightly class at that time.
The translation was well done. Reinhardt doesn't try to teach you German in her rendition.
The narrator, Hillgartner did a yeoman's job of many distinct character voices.
This is a good read/listen for readers who are interested in a good story, fascinated by this era and this location and the collector of classical myths with a universal theme (man's encounter and fascination with the devil).

Brilliant retelling

A new look at Faust, filled with familiar and adding a touch of reinterpretation. Great story and performance. I look forward to the sequel.

twists and turns wonderfully dark to light

I always enjoy this author's works and look for answers a pation for them to be released. This work did not disappoint me by any stretch of the imaginaton.

tremendous

Pulled me in, took me on an emotional ride in a life so gripping that I am sad that the book has ended. I really like this book

Well worth the time to listen to this book.

I have often wanted to learn of Faust, there are many references to the tale in literature.