Etica Press Ltd Releases Jonathan Harnisch: An Alibiography

Malvern, UK

Etica Press Ltd announces the release of Jonathan Harnisch: An Alibiography, a fictionalized journey through the conditions of schizoaffective disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The novel has been released in both paperback and Kindle format.

"Harnisch's sense of the inner machinations of human experience spring into life through the text," writes one reviewer. "An almost ritualized sojourn, much like the classic hero's journey, takes place before the reader's eyes and leads to insights both sanguine and sometimes disturbing," the reviewer continues. "True to the modern form of literature, Harnisch uses all tools available to catch the reader in a spider's web of story while exposing humanity's own false prophets. Truly a great read!"

Dissociative disorders have become well-known themes in literature since the release of Sybil in 1973. The public has become familiar with the syndrome of alternative personalities and the issues that arise when some alters choose to overcome their situation by handing over their being to another person.

Jonathan Harnisch introduces the reader to Georgie Gust, the friend, contact or "alter-ego" of Ben Schrieber. Georgie is real, and Ben can see him. However, this is but one string in Harnisch's bow. The average reader may know that the hosts of multiple alters are unaware of their existence, although the various alters know intimately of the host's life and often speak disparagingly of the original identity's existence. This is not the case with Georgie.

Two personalities sharing the same body usually succumb to jealousy and conflict. The introduction of a romantic interest into the two men's lives could be expected to result in a schism. Although the alluring Claudia attracts both men, Ben is content to thrill in the experiences that Georgie enjoys from his sexual contact with Claudia.

Practitioners and students of psychiatry will find this exploration of schizoaffective disorder a fascinating insight into the mental conflicts and defense mechanisms of sufferers of the condition, and the lay reader will enjoy the plot twists of this psychiatric thriller. The premise of the novel gives rise to a transgressive style, which is most familiarly expressed in the works of Jean Genet. However, readers that find Genet difficult to follow will find a more palatable example of this genre in Jonathan Harnisch: An Alibiography. The novel is an inspirational and brilliant tearjerker, which arises from the genius of an intricate, mentally ill mind.

Jonathan Harnisch suffers from schizoaffective disorder and associated comorbidities, which serve as the inspiration for his novel. Harnisch has exploited the insights brought to him by his condition to become an accomplished mental health advocate, film, and TV producer, musician, and visual artist.

To post a comment, you must register and login.