Dr Mabuse, The Gambler (1921)

What do you get when you mix a fractured and vulnerable post-war society with a master criminal bent on mind-control and an altruistic state prosecutor desperate to clean up the streets? Norbert Jacques' "Dr Mabuse", that's what! The psychological thriller that took Germany by storm in the early 20th century is up for discussion in this episode. First translated into English by Lilian Claire in 1923, our review concentrates on the Carrier translation from 2026. From sweeping set-pieces to convoluted fever-dream prose, we ponder all the mysteries here in our first Autumn read of the season.

FastFacts@11:00; Summary@30:30; PIPES@58:30