A runaway tiger, the deathless man, mysterious deaths and more. A magical novel with multiple storylines, set in the war-ridden Balkans. A review by Nadja Filipovic.

It is rare to see modern-day writers delve into folklore stories, let alone create their own. In Téa Obreht´s The Tiger’s Wife, the importance of folklore, legends and superstitions in the European region of the Balkans is skillfully presented to the reader. Intertwined with Natalia’s story set in the present are tales that she has heard from her grandfather, who had recently passed away: the humorous but dark fable of the deathless man, the tragic life of the tiger’s wife and snippets of her grandfather´s childhood. The vague structure of events, along with the constant change of timelines, makes even Natalia’s present story feel dreamlike. 

The consequences of war

The novel itself has a grim setting, for in the background, a war and its consequences are visible. Even if violence as such is not always depicted when the war is mentioned, many characters give away a certain fear, sadness and longing for a peaceful life. Tense relations between the different people of the Balkans can be discerned in some of the scenes, but we never know where the events take place. No countries or cities are named, implying that places and territories don’t really matter, that the differences between cultures in the Balkans were not a problem until presented as such. 

Main themes

Although the story continuously follows Natalia, who is on a medical mission to an orphanage, it is her grandfather and his presence and meaning in her life that shine throughout. His death is clouded with mystery, and Natalia constantly feels the need to find out what happened. It is somehow moving that she is travelling to save the lives of orphans of war, while grieving the death of a loved one herself. Her grief, along with that of her family, is touched upon, emphasising death as one of the most prominent themes of the novel itself. In some way, every character is confronted with death, as much as with life. 

Folklore elements

The story the book is named after is the last one to be told. Seemingly a love story between a tiger that escaped from a zoo and a young girl that lived in the village where Natalia’s grandfather grew up, it is much more a cautionary tale about superstitions and folk beliefs, and about what happens when these go too far. 

In a way, the novel feels autobiographical, even though it is not. Téa Obreht manages to write so poetically, that it is almost absurd to think her stories are not real. With elements of magical realism, political agenda and the pain of losing a loved one, it is a delight to read, especially if one would like more insight into the past and present of the Balkans.