After a visit from a gray man, a barber with a gift for gab and a meaningful personal life chooses to discard his personal connections with others so he can work more quickly, but in the process becomes almost unrecognizable to an old friend: “so changed, so nervous, so weary and sad … the man has become his own shadow.” A bartender chases off the old men who used to linger communally in his business all day to make room for a steady turnover of higher paying customers. As the people of the city begin to put their personal needs second to time efficiency, life becomes less pleasing. They are time thieves, and their battle with Momo is a conflict between efficiency and consumerism versus individuality and joy. The plot progresses in a simple and linear way, with tension building as the gray men exert their influence more heavily around the city. Black and white drawings sprinkled throughout the text capture important characters and events in detail, adding a pleasing visual dimension to the story. The cover art and interior illustrations, by Marcel Dzama, give the book an updated appearance. Lucas Zwirner’s translation elegantly captures the dreamy and philosophical tone readers expect from an Ende novel. This edition puts Ende’s novel in the hands of a new translator and a new illustrator, to good effect. Long out of print, this surreal fantasy, by the author of The Neverending Story, is a modern classic for all ages. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the book’s original publication in 1973. When shadowy gray men begin infiltrating the city, her talents are the best weapon humanity has against their invasion.

Momo, a young orphan living on her own in the amphitheater of a nameless European city, is a gifted and empathetic listener who lives in the moment.

Simple, elegant prose makes this new edition of a classic tale relatable and touching, resonating with modern readers.

Momo book michael ende