The novella by Urs Faes, translated from the German by Jamie Lee Searle, is possibly the first German translated fiction that I've read and it's simply b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. Set during the period between Christmas and Twelfth Night, it tells the story of Manfred, returning to his childhood village after 40 years, hoping to seek a reconciliation with his estranged younger brother Sebastian after a huge falling out over the inheritance of the family farm. The festive season is a joyous …