Episode 616 - Ken Krimstein

LIVE from Labyrinth Books, artist and vulgarizer of history (in the French sense) Ken Krimstein returns to the show to celebrate his new book, EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND (Bloomsbury)! We talk about the mystery of the 15 months Einstein & Kafka overlapped in Prague, how the two of them invented the modern world, what Ken has learned about graphic storytelling after 3 books, how the theory of relativity bedeviled him since childhood, and how he managed to make a graphic novel about Jews in Prague and not include a golem. We get into all the research and rabbit-holes of this project, including his monthlong research-stay in Prague, as well as the chapter he had to cut on Kafka's love of Yiddish theater, the challenges of portraying Einstein's professional and personal struggles, and his discovery that readers would follow his phantasmagoric flights and surreal episodes. We also discuss Ken's fixations on Mitteleuropa and scenes & salons, Sam Gross' observation about his art, Kenny Werner's concept of effortless mastery, why he wants to bring some joy to his next project, and more. Follow Ken on Instagram • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Patreon or Paypal and via our e-newsletter