Lagerfeld's final years: A novel by Grazer's master author Wallner!

Lagerfeld's final years: A novel by Grazer's master author Wallner!

The new book “Karl”, written by Michael Wallner, sheds light on the life of the legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Wallner, a native of Graz and an established author, presents a fascinating mix of biographical elements and fictional stories in this work. The author is known for his young adult books and novels, including the bestseller April in Paris, which has been translated into over 20 languages. In “Karl,” Wallner brings Lagerfeld’s world to life and offers the reader an emotional perspective on the designer, who died in 2019. oe24 reports about this exciting literary contribution.

The book has 288 pages and is available at a price of 22.70 euros. With his novel, Wallner not only strives to capture the key moments in Lagerfeld's life, but also to create close proximity to the fashion scene. The writer, who has been working and writing screenplays with opera houses and theaters since the 1980s, combines narrative artistry with emotional depth in “Karl” to reveal Lagerfeld’s complex personality. Piper informs about the details of the book.

Insights into Karl's life

The first chapter of “Karl” takes place in Davos, Switzerland, in March 2010. Here, the seventy-year-old Lagerfeld is fighting a snowstorm at an altitude of 2,000 meters. Despite the extreme cold, he feels strong and free. After he is found by a game warden and taken to a high mountain clinic, he receives a concerned call from Baptiste Giabiconi, a male model who is concerned about his health. Baptiste, who has an assignment in Los Angeles, offers to visit Karl, but he refuses. It is an interesting detail that Baptiste mentions having a cat named Choupette who could live with Karl temporarily. Although Lagerfeld is skeptical about pets, he eventually agrees to take in the cat.

After three days he returns to Paris, where he initially feels uncomfortable at the thought of the cat. Martine, his employee, has already let Choupette into Karl's house. This scene is particularly amusing because Karl immediately looks for his new roommate and initially finds her hidden. When he finally discovers the French Birman cat in his armchair, he becomes upset because it is sitting on his valuable piece of furniture. Puls24 illuminated this amusing moment in detail.

A special relationship

As the story progresses, an unexpected relationship develops between Karl and Choupette. The fashion designer, initially reluctant, eventually realizes that he has taken the cat to his heart. He even starts promising her a welcome meal and orders food from the Ritz. Through such details, Wallner manages to portray Lagerfeld as a human and emotionally accessible figure who, despite his celebrity and fame, struggles with the same challenges and fears as anyone else.

Overall, “Karl” not only offers a look at the life of one of the most famous fashion designers, but also at the personal side of his existence. Wallner's book is therefore an important supplement for anyone interested in the world of fashion and its complex protagonists.