The Flounder

Loosely based on the Grimms' fairy tale "The Fisherman and His Wife," The Flounder is an epic, satirical novel that chronicles the enduring conflict between the sexes across 4,000 years, beginning in the Neolithic period and extending through modern times. The narrative is told by a continually-reincarnated man named Edek who, along with his female companion, Ilsebill, experiences numerous lives throughout history. In each era, he is guided by the titular Flounder, a magical, talking fish who serves as a spiritual adviser and a symbol of the gender struggle. The Flounder initially counsels the males to overthrow the primeval matriarchy and establish patriarchy, but later expresses a desire for redemption by supporting women. The novel's structure mirrors the months of a pregnancy, with nine chapters corresponding to a new historical incarnation of the couple. The overarching plot involves a modern trial where a group of feminists puts the Flounder on trial for its historical role in perpetuating male dominance, allowing the narrator to use the proceedings to reflect on the development of gender relations, love, domesticity, and power dynamics throughout human history.

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