Last Letters from Hav

The narrator, who also happens to be the author, writes letters from the decaying, vibrant, and somewhat wacky city of Hav. Located in the eastern Mediterranean region and quite difficult to access, Hav is on the brink of a major catastrophe and the author happens to be there to capture its glory before time runs out. By the way, Hav is not a real place and this is not a traditional novel. It’s more a travel piece…about a place you can’t visit, but that’s ok, because it’s actually quite good.

Morris describes her experiences in the city and the colorful characters she encounters during her six-month stay. She also dips into the rich, multicultural history of the place – influenced by the Ancient Greeks, the Arabs, Imperial Russia, the French, and more. And then there are all of the city’s famous inhabitants throughout the years, from Wagner to Trotsky to Hemingway and possibly Hitler. Even the young Freud was there in 1847, “…to search for the testes of the eel.” By its nature, the book is made up entirely of description and short, often clever, episodes. It’s all so beautifully done that I wasn’t disappointed at the complete absence of plot, and I’m happy to have read it. Recommended if you know what you’re getting yourself into. ( )

Superb and moving travel writing about an imaginary place. ( )