 The European scenes are often reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman's film "The Seventh Seal".Wryly funny as well as moving and evocative, it was written after Hoban's post-apocalyptic novel "Riddley Walker" which portrayed a future state for the world reminiscent of the Middle Ages.The New York Times said "Pilgermann" was wonderful despite not outperforming Hoban's previous book Riddley Walker  while Kirkus Reviews had mixed opinions about the book.