Fiction in translation

Book SynopsisA daring novel that made Christine Angot one of the most controversial figures in contemporary France recounts the narrator's incestuous relationship with her father.

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Book SynopsisBringing together all of Kafka''s stories including those released during his lifetime and others after his death, a complete anthology offers insight into his valuable literary contributions. Reprint.

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Book SynopsisLispector’s most shocking novel.Trade Review"She is quite a thing to discover indeed." -- The Los Angeles Times"[Lispector] left behind an astounding body of work that has no real corollary inside literature or outside it." -- Bookforum"Her images dazzle even when her meaning is most obscure, and when she is writing of what she despises she is lucidity itself." -- The Times Literary Supplement"Over time, I’ve come to admire and even love this novel. In fact, as soon as I slammed the book shut, my understanding of G.H.’s story began to take on an almost-corporeal reality. Trying to put this into words is a slippery thing. What I was beginning to appreciate was that I could not consider Lispector’s philosophical concerns for any length of time without losing my grasp on those concerns, yet I could somehow feel them, sense the substance of them in my own mind, in those deep pools of thought where language doesn’t quite reach, and which words can’t express." -- Emma Komlos-Hrobsky - Tin House"Lispector's prose is unforgettable... still startling by the end because of Lispector's unsettling forcefulness." -- Boston Globe"A lyrical, stream of consciousness meditation on the nature of time, the unreliability of language, the divinity of God, and the threat of hell." -- The Rumpus"One of 20th-century Brazil’s most intriguing and mystifying writers." -- The L Magazine"I had a sort of missionary urge with her... but I started thinking, even when I was 19: How can I help this person reach the prominence she deserves?" -- San Francisco Chronicle"A penetrating genius." -- Donna Seaman - Booklist"Reading G.H., you follow the narrator’s logic to its most physically and philosophically shocking conclusions. You, too, learn to “want the God in whatever comes out of the roach’s belly." -- Bennett Sims - Electric Literature

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Book SynopsisA bold translation of Nobel Prize-winner Herman Hesse's most inspirational and beloved work, which was nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American ReadA Penguin Classic Hesse's famous and influential novel, Siddartha, is perhaps the most important and compelling moral allegory our troubled century has produced. Integrating Eastern and Western spiritual traditions with psychoanalysis and philosophy, this strangely simple tale, written with a deep and moving empathy for humanity, has touched the lives of millions since its original publication in 1922. Set in India, Siddhartha is the story of a young Brahmin's search for ultimate reality after meeting with the Buddha. His quest takes him from a life of decadence to asceticism, through the illusory joys of sensual love with a beautiful courtesan, and of wealth and fame, to the painful struggles with his son and the ultimate wisdom of renunciatioTrade ReviewBy the Winner of the Nobel Prize in LiteratureTable of ContentsSiddhartha IntroductionSuggestions for Further ReadingA Note on the TranslationSIDDHARTHA

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Book SynopsisThe new novel from the Nobel Prize-winning author of international bestseller ‘Soul Mountain’. ‘Unforgettable. “One Man’s Bible” burns with a powerfully individualistic fire of intelligence and depth of feeling.’ New York TimesTrade Review‘Brilliant and poetic, keen and original…Gao has written a book drenched in the political turmoil in China. But his ambition is to transcend the specifics of time and place, to write a meditation on literature itself and its ability to reveal the raging, brutal, brilliant beast that is mankind…“One Man’s Bible” burns with a powerfully individualistic fire of intelligence and depth of feeling…Unforgettable.’ New York Times ‘An absorbing historical primer on the decades of Maoist terror…Both more personal and more political than its predecessor, “Soul Mountain”, “One Man’s Bible” is a Chinese variation on an important global literary theme: the desperate quest by those living under dictatorships of all kinds to escape the crushing forces of totalitarian collectivism.’ TLS ‘Everything a novel should be…Like all good novelists Gao creates a world, not as a kind of wallpaper or filling but as a place in which the protagonist suffers and sometimes is happy.’ Literary Review ‘Dreamlike, elegant and haunting.’ Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisStunning Japanese thriller with a chilling supernatural twist – the follow-up to Ring.Trade Review'Suzuki blends the dispassionate, inquisitive, sometimes terrifying urban character-types to be found in Haruki Murakami's work with the plot mechanics of a Stephen King or Michael Crichton' Kim Newman’ Independent 'Spiral is a truly spooky read' Metro Praise for Ring: ‘The pace doesn't slacken for a moment … a guaranteed page-turner’ Observer ‘Suzuki builds tension brilliantly’ Guardian ‘Bristles with menace and fear’ Uncut

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Book SynopsisYi Mun-yol's Meeting with My Brother is a sobering yet hopeful depiction of the volatile relationship between the divided Koreas. Yi, the narrator, is a South Korean university professor searching for his father, who defected to the North at the outbreak of war. Instead he finds his half-brother, and their tense meeting takes a surprising turn.Trade ReviewYi Mun-yol is one of South Korea's most gifted writers, and this translation gives his simple style all of the elegant force it can bring to bear. This story of two brothers who find each other only after their defector father has died balances the weight of the country's history on their meeting as effortlessly as only a master could achieve. Compelling and essential reading. -- Alexander Chee, author of the novels The Queen of the Night and Edinburgh Meeting with My Brother is renowned writer Yi Mun-yol's fictional account of the different politics and desires coalescing along the Chinese side of the North Korean border, where people are both dreading and ardently wishing for national reunification between the two Koreas. The reunion of two brothers in Yi's story is deeply moving. Yi refuses to romanticize blood ties or to take recourse to melodrama. Instead, nuance and sensitivity color this story, which should be read by all those interested in a possible reunification. -- Janet Poole, translator of Eastern Sentiments by T'aejun Yi I've always wondered why more Korean literature in translation isn't available in the United States. Heinz Insu Fenkl's stylish translation of beloved Korean author Yi Mun-yol's complexly layered novella might change that. Meeting with My Brother trenchantly explores the ruptures of Korea's partition and hopes of reunification. -- Marie Myung-Ok Lee, author of the novel Somebody's Daughter A haunting, powerful story about a divided family and country by one of South Korea's most important writers. -- Krys Lee, author of the novel How I Became a North Korean A modest but quietly controversial look at two very different Koreas, questioning long-held orthodoxies... Yi's novella complicates our understanding of relations between North and South. Kirkus Reviews Yi's exploration of identity, family, citizenship, and nationhood is urgently profound and deeply compelling. Booklist (starred review)Table of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgments Meeting with My Brother

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRiver of Fire and Other Stories tracks the career of one of South Korea's most consummate writers, subtly suggesting the violent undertones of life under military dictatorship and the malaise of urban life, and coming to a close with a moving meditation upon aging. The themes here are universal, yet their expression is unique to the controlled precision and delicate interior description that are so characteristic of O Chonghui's style. A highly enjoyable read. -- Janet Poole, University of Toronto A strong addition to any international fiction collection, not to be overlooked. Midwest Book Review A wonderful collection of stories... a great writer, great translators and a beautiful-looking book - it all makes for an excellent addition. Tony's Reading ListTable of ContentsThe Toy Shop Woman One Spring Day A Portrait of Magnolias River of Fire Morning Star Fireworks Lake P'aro The Release The Old Well Afterword

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Book SynopsisFrom Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, the highly acclaimed translators of War and Peace, Doctor Zhivago, and Anna Karenina, which was an Oprah Book Club pick and million-copy bestseller, The Eternal Husband and Other Stories brings together five of Dostoevsky’s short masterpieces. Filled with many of the themes and concerns central to his great novels, these short works display the full range of Dostoevsky’s genius. The centerpiece of this collection, the short novel The Eternal Husband, describes the almost surreal meeting of a cuckolded widower and his dead wife’s lover. Dostoevsky’s dark brilliance and satiric vision infuse the other four tales with all-too-human characters. The Eternal Husband and Other Stories is sterling Dostoevsky—a collection of emotional power and uncompromising insight into the human condition.

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Book SynopsisBad things happen in Mossmarken... and now Nathalie has come home, they seem to be happening again. A dark, brilliant suspense novel from a fantastic new voice in international literature.Trade ReviewA bone-chillingly cool crime debut. -- Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainThe atmosphere is what makes me fall, head over heels: a lonely woman who rents out her city apartment and heads out into the wilderness . . . The Forbidden Place is one of the best and most complete debut novels I've ever read -- Lotta Olsson, Dagens NyheterSusanne Jansson's debut novel is thrilling, at times both creepy and frightening...sent shivers down my spine. * Nya Wermlands Tidning *Jansson paints an atmospheric and mysterious portrait of the mire with the help of mist, light, and old legends. It becomes a place where life and death collide, a sort of anteroom to the realm of the dead...one of the absolute best suspense debuts this year * Crimegarden *A well-balanced combination of horror, suspense, folklore, and biology...it leaves you begging for more. * Johannas deckarhörna *Fans of Scandi Noir are sure to be hooked on this atmospheric and suspenseful thriller. -- Marika CobboldAn ominous read with a creepy ambience. * Prima *

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Book Synopsis THE NO.1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ''These days I''m reading a book called DallerGut Dream Department Store and when they talk about the dream department store I can see it in my head. I imagine I''m shopping there as I read.'' WONWOO, member of the K-Pop group Seventeen''The writer of this novel must be brilliant, because this world was so creative. You need to read this too!'' YUGYEOM, member of the K-Pop group Got7FOYLES TRANSLATED BOOK OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 2023In a mysterious town hidden in our collective subconscious there''s a department store that sells dreams. Day and night, visitors both human and animal shuffle in to purchase their latest adventure. Each floor specializes in a specific type of dream: childhood memories, food dreams, ice skating, dreams of stardom. Flying dreams are almost always sold out. Some seek dreams of loved ones who have died.For Penny, an enthusiastic new hire, working at the store is the opportunity of a lifetime. As she uncovers the workings of this whimsical world, she bonds with a cast of unforgettable characters, including DallerGut, the flamboyant and wise owner, Babynap Rockabye, a famous dream designer, Maxim, a nightmare producer, and the many customers who dream to heal, dream to grow, and dream to flourish.A captivating story that will leave a lingering magical feeling in readers'' minds, this is the first book in a bestselling duology for anyone exhausted from the reality of their daily life.READERS CAN''T GET ENOUGH:''What a ride! I DEVOURED this book in one sitting!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''There were so many more layers to this book. It''s totally cute, but also clever [and] insightful!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I cannot wait to read the sequel, and I hope it is translated soon!'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''It was wholesome, gentle and made me smile the whole time'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐''I absolutely adored this. It''s the kind of book I could read over and over again'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Trade ReviewThe writer who wrote about dreams is now achieving her dreams. A dream-like story has happened in the publishing world resulting in this becoming a bestseller after its initial e-book publication. * The Dong-A Ilbo *The author who revolutionised the world of Korean fiction is also influencing and changing the broader realm of Korean literature now. * Maeil Business News Korea *This book has the unique ability to evoke both tears and tranquility. A perfect read for moments of exhaustion and the yearning to escape reality, it possesses the power to mend weary hearts. * Insight Korea *DallerGut Dream Department Store provides empathy and comfort to readers who have found it increasingly difficult to dream in the midst of the painful realities of life. * Opinion News *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Waterstones Book Club choice THE LIST OF MY DESIRES, a heart-breaking, heart-warming story about a man who loses everything, then goes out to get it back.Trade ReviewA very moving French story.. Delacourt writes with potent simplicity; I didn't want to stop reading. * EVENING STANDARD *

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Several years after emigrating from the USSR, the author discovers the battered suitcase he had brought with him gathering dust at the back of a wardrobe. As he opens the suitcase, the items he finds inside take on a riotously funny life of their own as Dovlatov inventories the circumstances under which he acquired them. A poplin shirt evokes a story of courtship and marriage, a pair of boots calls up the hilarious conclusion to an official banquet, two pea-green crêpe socks bring back memories of his attempt to become a black-market racketeer, while a double-breasted suit reminds him of when he was approached by the KGB to spy on a Swedish writer. Imbued with a comic nostalgia and overlaid with Dovlatov’s characteristically dark-edged humour and wry power of observation, The Suitcase is a profoundly human, delightfully ironic novel from one of the finest satirists of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisGillian seems to have it all - she is beautiful, successful, and securely married. But one night, after an argument with her husband, their car crashes on a wet road, and everything is lost. When she wakes in the hospital, she is a widow with a ruined face and no way back to the person she thought she was. It is only when she begins to piece together the painful shards of her present existence and revisit a relationship from her past that she is able to glimpse the freedom that might come with her loss. From the master of unadorned storytelling, All Days Are Night is a quietly disquieting exploration of identity, inside and out.

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Book SynopsisThe story is violent, pacy and full of black humour. Imagine the Soprano family arriving in France, or perhaps better, Ray Liotta, the snitch from 'Goodfellas' settling down with his family in a small town in Normandy. Under cover of darkness, an American family moves into a villa in Cholong-sur-Avre in Normandy. Fred Blake tells everyone he is writing a history of the landings. In fact Blake is Giovanni Manzoni, an ex-Mafia boss who grassed and is now in the FBI Witness Protection Program. Having blown his cover a number of times in the US, the FBI finally sends him to France. Things happen to this thuggish family: a plumber who angers Fred with delays and exorbitant estimates 'falls down the stairs' and breaks both arms, the manager of the local supermarket insults Maggie behind her back so that afternoon his supermarket burns down, Warren, the son, starts a gang in his lycee, to intimidate and extort other pupils. A coincidence beyond belief blows Fred's cover yet again and, with the arrival of the shooters from Newark, he is able to dive back into the violent life of crime he misses so much.Trade Review"A sharp vengeance thriller filled with charm and humour." Times "Savagely funny and surprisingly touching." Guardian "What would happen if a mafia boss took FBI protection in return for grassing and settled in with his folks in Normandy? A queasily-comic, stylishly-executed romp." Independent

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Book SynopsisAs a child, Elias Almeida loses both his parents during the Angolan uprising against colonial rule. As an adult and professional revolutionary, he bears witness to mankind at its pitiless worst. Yet he continues to believe in a better world and in the redeeming power of love -- even though he cannot be with the woman he loves, who rescued him from thugs one snowy night on the streets of Moscow. Spanning forty years of Africa''s past as a battleground between East and West, this powerful novel explores the heights and depths of human nature as it tells a profoundly affecting story of sacrifice and idealism.Trade ReviewA powerful meditation on the price of ideology and the nature of love . . . The novel, remorseless in its depiction of man's inhumanity, is poetically alive to the redeeming power of love. * Eithne Farry, Daily Mail *A beautiful, haunting fugue that carries the weight of decades of suffering on a continent that the West prefers to romanticise or ignore . . . [Makine's] reputation as one of the significant novelists of our age is only strengthened by this book. * Stephanie Merritt, Observer *Andreï Makine has exceptional gifts for getting to the heart of true feeling . . . HUMAN LOVE is a haunting, often very tender story written in a kind of meditative fury . . . one of the best novels about Africa in a long time * Christopher Hope, Guardian *All his books are wonderful . . . But HUMAN LOVE, full of feeling, wisdom and tenderness amidst horror, is one of his best. If you ever despair of modern literature, read Makine. * Allan Massie, Scotsman *Makine looks reality in the face and yet retains a belief in beauty and the transforming power of love * Allan Massie chooses his book of 2008 for the Spectator *Wonderful . . . his work is exhilarating * Alan Massie choses HUMAN LOVE for The Scotsman Christmas Books *

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Book SynopsisA young mother resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, as she struggles to keep custody of her son, with devastating results … First in the addictive, award-winning Reykjavik Noir Trilogy by the Queen of Iceland Noir. ***Longlisted for the CWA International Dagger*** ‘ Stylist, taut and compelling’ Daily Express ‘Snare will ensnare you’ Marie Claire ‘A taut, gritty, thoroughly absorbing journey into Reykjavik’s underworld’ Booklist –––––––––––––––––––––––– After a messy divorce, young mother Sonia is struggling to provide for herself and keep custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated when Sonia embarks on a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath of the Icelandic financial crash. Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a dark, fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction. –––––––––––––––––––––––– 'A tense thriller with a highly unusual plot and interesting characters' The Times ‘Tense, edgy and delivering more than a few unexpected twists and turns’ Sunday Times 'Sharp shocks of chapters hit with increasing energy ... a towering powerhouse of read and I gobbled it up in one intense sitting’ LoveReading ‘The intricate plot is breathtakingly original, with many twists and turns you never see coming. Thriller of the year’ New York Journal of Books 'This first novel of a planned trilogy is stylish, taut and compelling and a film adaptation is in the pipeline. With characters you can’t help sympathising with against your better judgement, Sigurdardottir takes the reader on a breathtaking ride’ Daily Express ‘Lilja Sigurdardottir delivers a diabolically efficient thriller with an ultrarealistic plot … We cannot wait for Sonja’s next adventure’ L’Express ‘A smart, ambitious, and hugely satisfying thriller. Striking in its originality and written with all the style and poise of an old hand. Lilja is destined for Scandi super stardom’ Eva Dolan ‘For a small island, Iceland produces some extraordinary writers, and Lilja is one of the best. Snare is an enthralling tale of love and crime that stays with you long after you have turned the last page’ Michael Ridpath ‘Zips along, with tension building and building … thoroughly recommended’ James Oswald ‘Crisp, assured and nail-bitingly tense, Snare is an exceptional read, cementing Lilja’s place as one of Iceland’s most outstanding crime writers’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir ‘Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading Snare, you won’t be able to stop until the final page’ Michael Wood ‘Snare is a great read and the finale is both shocking and unexpected … a Wizard-of-Oz ending, without the laughs. Terrific and original stuff' European Literature NetworkTrade Review`A smart, ambitious, and hugely satisfying thriller. Striking in its originality and written with all the style and poise of an old hand. Lilja is destined for Scandi super stardom' Eva Dolan * 'For a small island, Iceland produces some extraordinary writers, and Lilja is one of the best. Snare is an enthralling tale of love and crime that stays with you long after you have turned the last page' Michael Ridpath * `An emotional suspense rollercoaster on a par with The Firm, as desperate, resourceful, profoundly lovable characters scheme against impossible odds' Alexandra Sokoloff * `Clear your diary. As soon as you begin reading Snare, you won't be able to stop until the final page' Michael Wood * `Zips along, with tension building and building ... thoroughly recommended' James Oswald * `Crisp, assured and nail-bitingly taut, Snare is an exceptional read, cementing Lilja's place as one of Iceland's most outstanding crime writers' Yrsa Sigurdardottir * `Sleek and taut, Snare delivers a breathtaking blend of Nordic Noir and high-stakes thriller. Not to be missed!' Crime by the Book

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Metamorphosis and The Trial—one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century—the haunting tale of K.’s relentless, unavailing struggle with an inscrutable authority in order to gain access to the Castle. Translated and with a preface by Mark Harman.Arriving in a village to take up the position of land surveyor for the mysterious lord of a castle, the character known as K. finds himself in a bitter and baffling struggle to contact his new employer and go about his duties. The Castle's original manuscript was left unfinished by Kafka in 1922 and not published until 1926, two years after his death. Scrupulously following the fluidity and breathlessness of the sparsely punctuated original manuscript, Mark Harman’s new translation reveals levels of comedy, energy, and visual power previously unknown to English language readers.

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Book SynopsisA middle-aged judge driven by curiosity and the intellectual challenge of his work, a nervous and neurotic young historian willing to run all manner of risks to uncover the state crimes of the forties, a nerdy, well-educated and good-natured young journalist motivated principally by the desire to enjoy life and not to dwell on the miseries of the past, a KGB general once responsible for some of the purges and now an Islamist radical, an inept, capricious and delightfully self-aware Jewish actor, and an Islamic cleric loyal to the Soviet Union, whose murder has so many repercussions, all these carefully constructed characters could be found in any society but Alessandro Barbero has brought them to life in one of the most elusive, unstable and neglected historical realities: Gorbachev's Russia. And this proves to be fertile ground for Barbero, one that generates endless themes and the opportunity to express his love for Russian literature and culture. Barbero used his skills as a historian to study the reality of that society through its newspapers and journals, and his skills as a novelist to weave a complex plot - a tale of two cities: Moscow and Baku. And throughout, the narrative voice - perhaps the greatest protagonist of them all - represents not the author's views but those of the Russian public as they emerged from one dismal reality and hurtled unknowingly towards another.Trade Review"The first surprise is that this novel was written by an Italian, since it deals so deftly with Russian history from the inside. ... He even writes in a bright and breezy satirical style, brilliantly conveyed by Allan Cameron in his translation, that leads the reader to believe that some Russian Master had been leaning over his shoulder, guiding his hand" - The Herald; "[Barbero's] book is first a quite remarkable piece of impersonation. He is Italian, his novel Russian, set during the Gorbachev years when Soviet certainties were crumbling and change and anxiety were in the air. ... the plot which the reader follows through a dense and intricately designed maze ... is a circuitous and often puzzling as in any Le Carre novel (and Le Carre fans will love this one too). Yes what is a plot for, as Scott remarked, 'but to bring in fine things?' and there are fine things in spades" - The Scotsman; "This is a literary miracle - unique, witty and gripping. It reads like Bulgakov's prose somewhat modernised or even a careful and sensitive translation of one of the great Russian classics. It is stunningly authentic, and I cannot believe that the author and translator are NOT Russian... A book to savour and consume slowly..." - Vitali Vitaliev; "Barbero uses the diabolic skills of an erudite and professional narrator to seek out massacres of the distant and recent past. The Anonymous Novel concerns the past-that-never-passes (whether Tsarist or Stalinist) and the future that in 1988 was impending and has now arrived" - Il Giornale; "As in a vast Russian rive, thousands of rivulets and currents intersect with each other in Barbero's novel, which provides us with an amazing snapshot of the reality of yesterday and today with all the endless nuances, and holds our attention with events of a police investigation" L'indice;

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Book SynopsisUn sensible homenaje a la narración, la infancia y el poder transformador de la música.El segundo libro traducido al inglés de Luis Sagasti emprende un recorrido circular que hace eco de las Variaciones Goldberg de Bach para narrarnos historia tras historia, al estilo de Scheherazade, entretejidas de manera sutil y sorprendente, creando un tapiz que vibra al son de armonías celestiales. Sagasti nos guía en un viaje que va desde la música nacida bajo el sol a la música enviada al espacio en la misión Voyager. Desde Rothko hasta el rock, desde aquellos compositores en los campos de concentración hasta una habitación donde se escuchan los lamentos de los reclutas argentinos en Malvinas. Un delicado homenaje a la narración, la infancia y el poder transformador de la música. The Spanish language edition of A Musical Offering_. Tracing a circular course that echoes Bach’s_ Goldberg Variations_, Luis Sagasti’s second book to appear in English takes the guise of a musical scheherazade, recounting story after story, vibrating to celestial harmonies. From the music born of the sun to the music sent into space on the Voyager mission, from Rothko to rock music, from the composers of the concentration camps to a weeping room for Argentinian conscripts in the Falklands,_ A Musical Offering_traverses the shifting sands of fiction and history._A lyrical celebration of storytelling, of childhood, and of the transformative power of music.Tracing a circular course that echoes Bach’s Goldberg Variations , Luis Sagasti’s second book to appear in English takes the guise of a musical scheherazade, recounting story after story, vibrating to celestial harmonies. From the music born of the sun to the music sent into space on the Voyager mission, from Rothko to rock music, from the composers of the concentration camps to a weeping room for Argentinian conscripts in the Falklands, A Musical Offering traverses the shifting sands of fiction and history.Trade ReviewRepublic of Consciousness Prize (Shortlist)"Una fascinante suite de historias sobre música, tanto escuchada como desconocida." —The Arts Desk"Una interpretación hermosa y fragmentaria que siempre da con la nota precisa." —Irish Times"Una ofrenda musical no es tanto un intento de escribir sobre música sino una verdadera partitura que usa palabras como un nuevo tipo de notación."" —Will Ashon , autor de CHAMBER MUSIC y STRANGE LABYRINTH"Adquirí conocimientos que no sabía que necesitaba." —Joyzine"Sagasti logra crear un mundo rico en iluminaciones y reflexiones filosóficas." —Morning Star"El equivalente literario a una sinfonía." —Books and Bao"Un trabajo de inmensa complejidad, con un gran balance y una belleza extraordinaria." —The Monthly Booking"Sagasti articula sus elementos magistralmente. Con sutileza y destreza, entreteje nuevos hilos en su tapiz." —BookBlast"La cuidadosa construcción a contrapunto de Sagasti entreteje una variedad de viñetas eclécticas que trascienden sus partes, dejando un impacto emocional indeleble que desafía la racionalización." —Gutter Magazine**********Praise for Luis SagastiSociety of Authors TA First Translation Prize (Shortlist)"A subtle marvel...a nimble writer who merits wider readership in English." —Kirkus"A genre-defying collection of associative musings on art, music, philosophy, and literature." —Publishers Weekly"Innovative, playful, and beautifully executed."" —Carlos Fonseca , author of COLONEL LAGRIMAS"Simply genius."" —Enrique Vila-Matas , author of DUBLINESQUE"A work of wonderful analogies and disparate historical footnotes." —Morning Star"Like Borges before him, Sagasti has produced a rare thing: a work of fiction as learned as it is fun." —Gary M. Perry, Foyles Charing Cross"Sagasti produces here a magnificent constellation of stories, and in doing so pays tribute to art." —Fnac"One hundred pages of pure intelligence, to be enjoyed listening to Sun Ra." —L’Arbre Vengeur**********

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Book Synopsis ‘This new generation of Latin American writers has exchanged history for memory, dictators for narcos and political engagement for gender and class consciousness.’ El País Ten years on from the first Bogotá 39 selection, which brought writers such as Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Alejandro Zambra and Junot Díaz to fame, comes this story collection showcasing thirty-nine exceptional new talents. Chosen by some of the biggest names in Latin American literature, together with publishers, writers and literary critics and a panel of expert judges, this exciting anthology paves the way for a new generation of household names. These stories have been brought into English by some of the finest translators around, including familiar names such as Daniel Hahn, Christina MacSweeney and Megan McDowell, as well as many new and exciting translators who are just launching their careers. With authors from fifteen different countries, this diverse collection of stories transports readers to a host of new worlds, and represents the very best writing coming out of Latin America today.Trade Review‘A stunning and timely collection of short stories, worth reading for the sheer variety of voices as much as for its scope and literary quality.’ * Morning Star *‘This anthology allows us all to see before us a bright future for literature in Spanish.’ * New York Times (Spain) *‘A swirling celebration of breakthrough names who are producing diverse and intriguing stories.’ * Emerald Street *‘This short story anthology collects some of the best fiction by Latin American authors under 40, ensuring you’ll find new voices to love.’ * Paste Magazine *‘This new generation of Latin American writers has exchanged history for memory, dictators for narcos and political engagement for gender and class consciousness.’ * El País *‘A diverse and thought-provoking group of writers.’ * El Mercurio (Chile) *‘Readers can delve deep into the pages of this book just like someone getting lost in a forest: with a feeling of both wonder and surprise.’ * El Comercio (Peru) *

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Book SynopsisWritten between 1954 and 1957 and treating events from the Stalinist era of Czechoslovakia’s postwar Communist regime, Midway Upon the Journeyof Our Life flew in the face of the reigning aesthetic of socialist realism, an anti-heroic novel informed by the literary theory of Viktor Shklovsky and constructed from episodes and lyrical sketches of the author and his neighbors’ everyday life in industrial north Bohemia, set against a backdrop of historical and cultural upheaval. Meditative and speculative reflections here alternate and overlap with fragmentary accounts of Jedlicka’s own biography and slices of the lives of people around him, typically rendered as overheard conversations. The narrative passages range in chronology from May 1945 to the early 1950s, with sporadic leaps through time as the characters go about the business of “building a new society” and the mythology that goes with it. Due to its critical view of socialist society, Midway remained unpublished until 1966, amid the easing of cultural control, but a complete version of this darkly comic novel did not appear in Czech until 1994.

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Book SynopsisA rediscovered German classic novel from 1942, The Seventh Cross is both a gripping escape story and a powerful novel of resistance.Trade ReviewSimply put, a novel against dictatorship -- Marcel Reich-RanickiThe material that this book is made from is long-lasting and indestructible; very few things on earth can be compared to it. It is known as justice -- Christa WolfIt was [Seghers] who taught my generation and anyone who had an ear to listen after that not-to-be-forgotten war to distinguish right from wrong. The Seventh Cross shaped me; it sharpened my vision -- Gunter GrassAt once a suspenseful manhunt story and a knowing portrait of the perils of ordinary life in Hitler's Germany, The Seventh Cross is not only an important novel, but an important historical document. This new, unabridged translation is a genuine publishing event. -- Joseph Kanon, author of 'The Good German' and 'Leaving Berlin'A fascinating insight into life in pre-war Nazi Germany just as the horrors of the Nazi regime were beginning to unfold. This is an important novel, as much for its picture of German society as for its insight into the psyche of ordinary people confronting their personal fears and mixed loyalties while an escapee from an early concentration camp attempts to avoid recapture -- Simon Mawer, author of 'The Glass Room'A masterpiece. Written in the midst of terror, but with such clarity, such acuity; Seghers is a writer of rare insight -- Rachel Seiffert, author of 'A Boy in Winter'As a demonstration of what life under Nazism does to the mind and soul of many typical Germans, The Seventh Cross is a searching, brilliantly skilful job -- Orville Prescott * The New York Times *The Seventh Cross is multi-layered, compelling and so human, wise and compassionate. We are taken inside different characters' heads to see the human side of monstrous people and the monster within the most humane. We see the poignancy of ordinariness in times of crisis and horror. Through the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary times we get to see how fascism can take hold and that is an important thing for us to grasp right now! -- Virginia Baily, author of 'Early One Morning'[The Seventh Cross] ranges over an array of characters and narrative strands to present a panoramic, yet fine-grained view of German society at a particular moment of the Nazi era . . . In the book's minor characters and subplots, Seghers shows the different ways Nazism ripples through people's lives. She powerfully conveys an atmosphere of paranoia and resignation, quiet resistance and flickering hope -- Jane Yager * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThe people of China tell of an ancient tale, where the mantis hunts the cicada, unaware of the yellow bird behind it. In a small corner of one of its many cities, a random act of violence sets off a spinning top, entwining the lives of three people.Baorun, the compulsive bondage expert, is forever aided and abetted by Liu Sheng, a brash troublemaker, to indulge in his obsessions; and the lady Fairy Princess, ever-youthful, becomes the target of the pair’s escalating antics.As the years pass, many things begin to change, but in the dysfunctional world of a mental hospital at the end of Red Toon Street, just who is prey, and who is predator?Often insightful and occasionally unsettling, Shadow of the Hunter is a memorable tale concerned with guilt, injustice, madness and the struggle not to lose one’s soul to history. It is one of Su Tong’s most acclaimed works, now available in English for the first time.

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Book SynopsisAfter enlisting in a revolutionary terrorist organization, the university student Nikolai Apollonovich Ableukhov is entrusted with a highly dangerous mission: to plant a bomb and assassinate a major government figure. But the real central character of the novel is the city of Petersburg at the beginning of the twentieth century, caught in the grip of political agitation and social unrest. Intertwining the worlds of history and myth, and parading a cast of unforgettable characters, Petersburg is a story of apocalypse and redemption played out through family dysfunction, conspiracy and murder.Trade ReviewThe most important, most influential, and most perfectly realized Russian novel written in the 20th century The New York Times Book Review This modernist novel, rightly regarded as one of the pinnacles of twentieth-century Russian literature, presents great challenges to the translator. With unswerving loyalty to the original, Elsworth has succeeded in capturing its idiosyncratic rhythms and elusive layers of meaning, producing a masterful translation that reads like a work of art in its own right 2012 Rossica Prize Judging Panel One of the four most important works of twentieth century literature -- Vladimir Nabokov

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Book SynopsisYalo was a soldier on one of the many sides in Lebanon's sectarian civil war, before becoming a deserter and a thief, a nightwatchman in Paris, an arms smuggler, and then a rapist. And then he falls in love with his victim - who turns him in to the police. This novel is a modern Thousand and One Nights, a series of confessions extracted under torture, a recitation of all of his memories, all his sorrows, all his guilt - and of the other crimes his interrogators have him confess to. Beirut and the legacy of the wars of the Middle East are the texture of Elias Khoury's extraordinary literary achievement.Trade Review'A compelling, relentlessly immediate tale' Daniel Hahn, Independent on Sunday. * Independent on Sunday *'A highly compelling performance, presented in beautifully crafted, often lilting prose... This novel is about a corrupted individual in a corrupting time, but it speaks of and to us all' Guy Mannes-Abbott, Independent. * Independent *'A curiously mesmerizing novel … an ambitious piece of work … It would be hard to think of a more worthwhile endeavour for fiction to embark on' James Lasdun, Guardian. * Guardian *'Los Angeles has Joan Didion and Raymond Chandler, and Istanbul, Orhan Pamuk. The beautiful, resilient city of Beirut belongs to Khoury' Laila Lalami, Los Angeles Times. * Los Angeles Times *'A dizzying journey into the extremes of human experience - into intense sensuality and stomach-turning violence' Adam Lebor, New York Times. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisIt's as if he's being mocked from beyond the grave...When John Nichols arrives to identify the body of an old friend, he is instantly caught up in the wreckage of Alan Mustgrave's life. This is the side of Paris the tourists don't see, where everyone has a past but very few count on a future. But what can he expect from a man who bled to death in his own S&M show? Now there's a maverick police lieutenant on the prowl who thinks that Mustgrave was murdered. As the horrific extent of police abuse is revealed, the race is on to find the link between a slew of apparent suicides - and the key to it is buried deep in Nichols' past.Trade Review'An intriguing read, with a bold and surprisingly moving ending' Guardian. * Guardian *'Imaginative and disturbing' The Times. * The Times *'Both the plot and the characters are strikingly original, and the story's pessimism is balanced by Varenne's inexhaustible human sympathy' Sunday Times. * Sunday Times *'Simply superb' Joan Smith. * Joan Smith *

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Book Synopsis*A Possibility of Violence has now been adapted for television in a new series called The Calling out in November 2022*The threat to the innocent. An explosive device is found outside a nursery in Tel Aviv. The children are taken to safety; a man is caught fleeing the scene. The fear of the father. Chaim Sara, taking care of his children alone, watches with anticipation as the police search for clues and his sons grow more unsettled. The suspicion of the guilty. Inspector Avraham is sure that off the street, and in the home, a darker possibility hides. If he is right, a child is in danger. If he is right.Trade Review'Compelling ... Morally complex and psychologically convincing, A Possibility of Violence is a terrifying and disturbing psychological drama' Sunday Herald. * Sunday Herald *'Definitely lives up to the promise of its excellent predecessor ... Strong on police procedure and quotidian detail, with a refreshingly average and self-doubting protagonist, A Possibility of Violence is both tense and touching' Laura Wilson, Guardian. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together remarkable short stories by the Russian Symbolist Fyodor Sologub that explore the lengths to which people will go to transcend the mundane. Renowned as one of late imperial Russia’s finest stylists, Sologub bridges the great nineteenth-century novel and the fin-de-siècle avant-garde.Trade ReviewSologub's prose is beautiful: limpid, clear, balanced, poetical, but with a keen sense of measure. . . . -- Dmitri Svatopolk-Mirsky, author of A History of Russian Literature: From Its Beginnings to 1900[Sologub’s] vivid, honed, stinging style . . . combines simplicity and elegance, coldness and fire, tenderness and austerity. . . . His anguishing conceptions more and more convincingly lift the cover of enchantment that all of reality turns out to be. He is the singer of death: but he sings of death with all the tenderness of a prayer, all the ardor of passion; he speaks of death the way a passionate lover speaks of his beloved. -- Andrei Bely, author of PetersburgAlternately funny and frightening, charming and chilling, Sologub's short fiction remains curiously undervalued. Fusso's excellently selected and masterfully translated collection, accompanied by an exemplary introduction and copious notes, finally allows readers of English to appreciate the full power of Sologub's relentlessly double vision and the depth of his literary craft. -- Stanley J. Rabinowitz, Amherst College[A] richly painted world . . . The stories collected in To the Stars contain echoes of Baudelaire, Huysmans and Wilde. . . [Fusso's] English versions capture not just the morbid corporeality of Sologub’s prose, but also its radiant poetry and extravagant wordplay. -- Philip Ross Bullock * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction by Susanne FussoSelected Works About Sologub in EnglishNote on Transliteration and Translation Issues1. To the Stars (1896)2. Beauty (1899)3. In Captivity (1905)4. The Two Gotiks (1906)5. The Youth Linus (1906)6. In the Crowd (1907)7. Death by Advertisement (1907)8. The White Dog (1908)9. The Saddened Fiancée (1908)10. The Sixty-Seventh Day. A Novella (1908)11. The Road to Damascus (1910) (written with Anastasia Chebotarevskaya)12. The Kiss of the Unborn Child (1911)13. The Lady in Shackles. A Legend of the White Nights (1912)14. Little Fairy Tales (selection, 1898–1906)NotesPublication History of the Stories

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Book SynopsisA brilliant translation of one of the most important novels of the twentieth century, revealing a tale that is as full of energy and power as it was when it was first written. From the author of The Metamorphosis.Written in 1914, The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information. Whether read as an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, Kafka's nightmare has resonated with chilling truth for generations of readers. This new edition is based upon the work of an international team of experts who have restored the text, the sequence of chapters, and their division to create a version that is as close as possible to the way the author left it.

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Book Synopsis'I had never heard of Zweig until six or seven years ago, as allthe books began to come back into print, and I more or less by chance bought a copy of Beware of Pity. I immediately lovedthis book, his one, big, great novel-and suddenly there weredozens more in front of me waiting to read.' Wes Anderson The Society of the Crossed Keys contains Wes Anderson's selections from the writings of the great Austrian author Stefan Zweig, whose life and work inspired The Grand Budapest Hotel. A CONVERSATION WITH WES ANDERSON Wes Anderson discusses Zweig's life and work with Zweig biographer George Prochnik. THE WORLD OF YESTERDAY Selected extracts from Zweig's memoir, The World of Yesterday, an unrivalled evocation of bygone Europe. BEWARE OF PITY An extract from Zweig's only novel, a devastating depictionof the torment of the betrayal of both honour and love. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IN THE LIFE OF A WOMAN One of Stefan Zweig's best-loved stories in full-a passionate tale of gambling, love and death, played out against the stylish backdrop of the French Riviera in the 1920s. "I defy anyone to read these tasters of Zweig's work without being compelled to read on. Pushkin might as well do their readers all a favour and sell The Society of the Crossed Keys with a complete Zweig back catalogue." Independent 'The World of Yesterday is one of the greatest memoirs of the twentieth century, as perfect in its evocation of the world Zweig loved, as it is in its portrayal of how that world was destroyed.' -- David Hare 'Beware of Pity is the most exciting book I have ever read...a feverish, fascinating novel' -- Antony Beevor 'One of the joys of recent years is the translation into English of Stefan Zweig's stories.'--Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with the Amber Eyes Stefan Zweig was born in 1881 in Vienna. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and, between the wars was an international bestselling author. With the rise of Nazism, he left Austria, and lived in London, Bath, New York and Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Wes Anderson's films include Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr Fox, and Moonrise Kingdom. He directed and wrote the screenplay for The Grand Budapest Hotel.Trade ReviewThe World of Yesterday is one of the greatest memoirs of the twentieth century, as perfect in its evocation of the world Zweig loved, as it is in its portrayal of how that world was destroyed. -- David Hare Beware of Pity is the most exciting book I have ever read...a feverish, fascinating novel -- Antony Beevor One of the joys of recent years is the translation into English of Stefan Zweig's stories. -- Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with the Amber Eyes I defy anyone to read these tasters of Zweig's work without being compelled to read on. Pushkin might as well do their readers all a favour and sell The Society of the Crossed Keys with a complete Zweig back catalogue. Independent ...Anderson hasn't so much adapted Zweig's writings as channeled their spirit, reconstructed their atmospheres and taken up their major obsessions. Los Angeles Review of Books The Grand Budapest Hotel is distinctively and uniquely Zweigian. The Daily Beast Stefan Zweig refuses to go away and seems, in fact, poised for a major comeback... [Wes Anderson and George Prochnick's] spirited give-and-take serves as a lively introduction to the filmmaker's selection of texts TLS

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Brilliant drawings and a powerful translation make Madame d’Aulnoy’s seventeenth-century fairy tales feel just as immediate and necessary as when they were written. . . . Natalie Frank’s stylized drawings work with the text to bring its heartwrenching and gruesome scenes to life, heightening the emotional impact of crucial moments."---George Hajjar, Foreword Reviews"Madame d’Aulnoy’s 17th-century French fairy tales are interpreted by the feminist visual artist Natalie Frank in surreal, contemporary images." * New York Times *"The new illustrations by Natalie Frank are another triumph of this collection, and they heighten the potential for d’Aulnoy’s radical stances. Frank’s women are larger than life; they’re clearly defined in a realist style while surrounded by surreal splashes of color and figures that blend into one another."---Megan Otto, Chicago Review of Books

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Book SynopsisBenito Perez Galdos (1843-1920) Novelist and playwright, born in Las Palmas, Canary Is, Spain. Regarded as Spain's greatest novelist after Cervantes, his 46 short Episodios nacionales (National Episodes) give a vivid picture of 19th-c Spain from the viewpoint of the people. Some of his longer novels have been translated, including Doña Perfecta (1876, trans 1886). His plays, many of them based on his novels, have also been successful.

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Book SynopsisHaving spent some time in Rome, Antonio - the handsomest young man in Catania - returns to his native town with the reputation of being a playboy and with a long list of amorous adventures behind him. To please his father, Antonio agrees to marry the beautiful Barbara. A year after their marriage however - scandal erupts. Barbara is still a virgin! The bride's family attempt to annul the marriage and Antonio's honour seems irrevocably lost.

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Book Synopsis''It was a very momentous day, the day on which I was to be slaughtered'' Bringing together tales of melancholy and madness, nightmare and fantasy, this is a new collection of the most haunting German stories from the past 200 years. Ranging from the Romantics of the early nineteenth century to works of contemporary fiction, it includes Hoffmann''s hallucinatory portrait of terror and insanity ''The Sandman''; Chamisso''s influential black masterpiece ''Peter Schlemiel'', where a man barters his own shadow; Kafka''s chilling, disturbing satire ''In the Penal Colony''; the Dadaist surrealism of Kurt Schwitters'' ''The Onion''; and Bachmann''s modern fairy tale ''The Secrets of the Princess of Kagran''. Macabre, dreamlike and expressing deep unconscious fears, these stories are also spiked with unsettling humour, showing stylistic daring as well as giving insight into the darkest recesses of the human condition.Peter Wortsman''s powerful translations are accompanied by brief overviews of the lives of each author, and an introduction discussing the notion of ''angst'' and the stories'' place in the context of German history.Translated, selected and edited with an introduction by Peter WortsmanTrade ReviewAppealing -- The New YorkerAll twenty-five tales make absolutely riveting reading and are almost all suitable for reading to children as bedtime stories. As for the adults - within the pages of Tales of the German Imagination is a treasury of delicious, old fashioned story-telling -- The BayA solid collection of classic stories ... a labor of love -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Man-Jung’s tale is a hypnotic journey, a scholarly, instructive Buddhist bildungsroman set across Tang dynasty China, and in Insu Fenkl’s skilled translation, a glimpse into the rich crossroads of religions and society therein.”—Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisBarcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe, a multilingual capital of an autonomous region that longs to be independent of Spain. The city is famous for its painters, modernist architecture, style of football, and its history, but as Peter Bush reveals it has always been a major centre of literary talent and creativity. Barcelona Tales presents a selection of newly translated short stories by 14 writers, many of them Catalan. The stories explore the themes of migration and class conflict in a city renowned in world literature from the day rural innocents Don Quixote and Sancho Panza visited its streets at the beginning of the seventeenth-century, and witnessed the wonders of the printing press and the cruelties of slavery. Together, they open up the city in ironic, tragic, and lyrical ways, inviting readers to explore fictional lives and literary styles that reflect the dynamic, conflict-ridden character and history of this great European city.Trade ReviewA fascinating and varied collection, which captures the diversity and atmosphere of the city. * Karen Langley, Shiny New Books *One can always think of some omissions when reading an anthology ... There can be little complaint, though, about these fourteen tales, set in different areas of Barcelona ... They reveal how this industrial port city has been and is a magnet for migrants. They show the class divisions between areas. They trace, too, the development of modern Catalan literature in both Catalan and Spanish. * Michael Eaude, Catalonia Today *Peter Bush, the translator, does an excellent job translating both from Spanish and Catalan into English. He very well replicates the style and flow of the original author ... Helen Constantine and Peter Bush have produced a quite excellent, if slightly quirky, book. A great read for anyone heading to the Catalan capital. * TripFiction *Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction, Helen Constantine Introduction, Peter Bush 1. What happened to Don Quixote when he went to Barcelona?, Miguel de Cervantes 2. Transplanted, Narcís Oller 3. A Brief, Heart-warming Story of a Madame Bovary Born and Bred in Gràcia, Following our Best Principles and Traditions, Montserrat Roig 4. Ramon from Montjuic, Josep Pla 5. Blitz on Barcelona, C.A. Jordana 6. A Detective Story, Juan Marsé 7. Three Steps, Miquel Molina 8. Dead Time, Teresa Solana 9. The Shoe-shine and La Locomotora, Alfredo Bryce Echenique 10. Neighbours, Jordi Nopca 11. Which Country Do You Want?, Empar Moliner 12. The Sound of Keys, Najat El Hachmi 13. The Boy who was Sure to Die, Quim Monzó 14. Julio, the Parrot and the Taxi Driver, Jorge Carrión Notes on the Authors Further Reading and Viewing Publisher's Acknowledgements Map

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Book SynopsisCharles the king, our emperor great,Has been a full seven years in Spain.As far as the sea he conquered this haughty land.Not a single castle remains standing in his pathCharlemagne (768-814) was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 and presided over a huge empire. He frequently appears in literature as a great warlord and pious crusading figure. In 778, the rearguard of Charlemagne''s retreating army was ambushed and defeated at the battle of Roncevaux. This became the inspiration for songs and poems celebrating deeds of valour in the face of overwhelming odds, through the character of Charlemagne''s nephew (the imaginary) Roland. The Song of Roland is the most stirring and moving epic poem of the European Middle Ages, offering a particularly heady mixture of history, legend, and poetry. Presented here in a lively and idiomatic new translation, the Song of Roland offers fascinating insights into medieval ideas about heroism, manhood, religion, race, and nationhood which were foundational for modern European culture. The Song of Roland is accompanied here by two other medieval French epics about Charlemagne, both of which show him to be a far more equivocal figure than that portrayed by the Roland: the Occitan Daurel and Beton, in which he is a corrupt and avaricious monarch; and the Journey of Charlemagne to Jerusalem and Constantinople, which gives the heroes of the Roland a comic makeover.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDagerman wrote with beautiful objectivity. Instead of emotive phrases, he uses a choice of facts, like bricks, to construct an emotion -- Graham GreeneDagerman can evoke such emotion in a single sentence -- Colm ToibinThere are some writers (Kafka and Lorca immediately spring to mind) who come to enjoy the status of saint; their lives and deaths constitute statements about existence and its proper priorities. A saint of this type is the Swedish writer Stig Dagerman. * Times Literary Supplement *A writer of uncommon urgency and power -- Siri HustvedtA literary giant in Sweden, Dagerman conjures a Strindbergian atmosphere of shadowy menace in his brief, intense novel, A Moth to a Flame... The novel absorbs the reader effortlessly... The landscape round Stockholm, with its fog-bound flatlands and grey winter seas, is vividly evoked. This moody, death-haunted novel is well worth reading * Evening Standard *This searing tale of bereavement and loathing feels all too relevant today * Guardian *

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