W. is a masterful reimagining of the true-life story behind Georg Büchner’s play Woyzeck. Through precise, poetic prose, the novel follows soldier “W.” as he recounts his descent into jealousy, murder, and execution in Napoleonic-era Europe. Drawing from archival research, Sem-Sandberg transforms a fragmented historical figure into a deeply human portrait amid war, poverty, and psychiatric experimentation. Reviews “W. is an immersive, intricate historical novel about the alienation experienced by those who struggle to find their places in life.” — Foreword Reviews “Cogent and affecting … gives us just enough of a loophole to evade its reckonings.” — Wall Street Journal
Book Title: W. – Steve Sem‑Sandberg (translated by Saskia Vogel)Book Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological FictionISBN: 9781419751226Number of Pages: 352–384 (hardcover vs. trade versions)Publishing Date: June 28, 2022
