The Rise and Fall of Parkinson’s Disease

Basara (The Cylicst Conspiracy) spins an invigorating if digressive tale of a Russian prophet and crank. Born in the late 19th century, Demyan Lavrentyevich Parkinson claims to have discovered a disease he calls Parkinson’s, which has nothing to do with the real-life neurological disorder previously discovered in England by another Parkinson. This Parkinson’s is symptomless, claims Demyan, who also heralds its “redemptive” qualities, arguing that it can purify nations and liberate people from worshipping at the “abhorrent shrines of godless health.” A Zelig-like figure who plays a central role in key moments of Russian and Soviet history, Demyan denies that a healthy mind can exist in a healthy body, seeing an obsession with fitness and medical treatments as indicative of moral, spiritual, and intellectual decline. Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Vladimir Nabokov contribute their own reflections on Demyan’s writings (the former bemoans the “boring, strained style” of Demyan’s novel). Basra stuffs a great deal of material into the fragmented narrative, including state archival documents, philosophical treatises, and ruminations on the history of walled cities. Though the novel tests the reader’s patience, Basara’s playful erudition impresses. (Mar.)