The range of Suskind's writing as well as its richness and diversity causes it to speak to the reader upon several planes coincidentally. Such complexity lends itself readily to inter pretation. The author seems, at times, to be speaking about something else by the use of analogy. His fictional figures and events may suggest literary or historical personalities and occurrences. And further comparisons are elicited by Suskind's strong orientation toward literary traditions and his occasional borrowing from the voices of other authors in instances which may be interpreted as irony or parody.

1. It has been said that The Double Bass owes its success less to its literary quality than to its theatrical effectiveness. Of course, the experiences of reading and attending a stage performance are essentially different; however, did you, while reading the work, wish you could be seeing it acted instead? Was there anything you...