4 Here is the only photograph in my possession of my great-uncle Karl, one of many models for The Right Hand of Sleep's protagonist, Oskar Voxlauer, fittingly enough taken with his company on the Italian front in May of 1917. Like Voxlauer, Karl was drafted into the Austrian army late in the war and at a very young age; unlike Voxlauer Karl distinguished himself under fire, rose to the rank of sergeant and was taken prisoner by the Italians early in 1918. After a full year in captivity he was so weakened that he suffered a fatal heart-attack on being told that he was free to go. My great-grandfather, then mayor of the village, learned of his son's pending release by letter and of his death by telegram a few hours later.

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