Author: Bohumil Hrabal Publisher: New York Review of Books ISBN: 1590175565 Category : Fiction Languages : en Pages : 160
Book Description
Rake, drunkard, aesthete, gossip, raconteur extraordinaire: the narrator of Bohumil Hrabal’s rambling, rambunctious masterpiece Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age is all these and more. Speaking to a group of sunbathing women who remind him of lovers past, this elderly roué tells the story of his life—or at least unburdens himself of a lifetime’s worth of stories. Thus we learn of amatory conquests (and humiliations), of scandals both private and public, of military adventures and domestic feuds, of what things were like “in the days of the monarchy” and how they’ve changed since. As the book tumbles restlessly forward, and the comic tone takes on darker shadings, we realize we are listening to a man talking as much out of desperation as from exuberance. Hrabal, one of the great Czech writers of the twentieth century, as well as an inveterate haunter of Prague’s pubs and football stadiums, developed a unique method which he termed “palavering,” whereby characters gab and soliloquize with abandon. Part drunken boast, part soul-rending confession, part metaphysical poem on the nature of love and time, this astonishing novel (which unfolds in a single monumental sentence) shows why he has earned the admiration of such writers as Milan Kundera, John Banville, and Louise Erdrich.
Author: Harold B. Segel Publisher: Columbia University Press ISBN: 9780231114042 Category : Education Languages : en Pages : 692
Book Description
The Iron Curtain concealed from western eyes a vital group of national and regional writers. Marked by not only geographical proximity but also by the shared experience of communism and its collapse, the countries of Eastern Europe--Poland, Hungary, Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, and the former states of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany--share literatures that reveal many common themes when examined together. Compiled by a leading scholar, the guide includes an overview of literary trends in historical context; a listing of some 700 authors by country; and an A-to-Z section of articles on the most influential writers.
Author: Jiří Pelán Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press ISBN: 8024639092 Category : Literary Criticism Languages : en Pages : 140
Book Description
Described as “one of the great prose stylists of the twentieth century,” Bohumil Hrabal ranks among the most important and widely translated Czech authors. Jiří Pelán, a respected scholar of Czech, French and Italian literature, approaches Hrabal as a comparatist, expertly situating him within the context of European and world literature, as he explores the entirety of Hrabal’s oeuvre and its development over sixty years. Praised for its concise, clear and readable style, Bohumil Hrabal: A Full-length Portrait offers international readers an important Czech perspective on the world-class author. Contains 32 photographs of Bohumil Hrabal, a list of his works’ English translations to date, and a bibliography of international scholarship.
Author: Asher Cantrell Publisher: Simon and Schuster ISBN: 1440563314 Category : Reference Languages : en Pages : 323
Book Description
From antidisestablishmentarianism to zo, a unrivaled collection of today's greatest words! Have you ever wondered what the longest word in the dictionary is? Or the origin of your go-to curse word? With The Book of Word Records, you'll uncover hundreds of bizarre, ugly, gross, and otherwise extreme words that have what it takes to break some serious records. From the seven longest speeches ever given to twelve of the most popular passwords used today, each of these entries reveals the history behind the world's most noteworthy expressions and fascinating details on how they stack up against the competition. You'll also learn how to step up your vocabulary with pronunciations, definitions, and sample sentences for each award-winning word. Whether you're a Scrabble champ looking to get a high score or just want to impress those around you, The Book of Word Records is sure to surprise even the most skilled wordsmith with its one-of-a-kind superlative lists.
Author: Alice Steinbach Publisher: Random House ISBN: 0307484173 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 322
Book Description
Eight years ago, Alice Steinbach, a Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist for the Baltimore Sun, decided to take a break from her life. She took a leave from job, friends, and family for a European journey of self-discovery, and her first book, Without Reservations, was the exquisite result. But once Steinbach had opened the door to a new way of living, she found herself unwilling to return to the old routine. She quit her job and left home again, only this time her objective was to ?nd a way that would allow her, personally and professionally, to combine three of her greatest passions: learning, traveling, and writing. This funny and tender book is the result of her decision to roam around the world as an informal student, taking lessons and courses in such things as French cooking in Paris, Border collie training in Scotland, traditional Japanese arts in Kyoto, architecture and art in Havana. With warmth and wit, Steinbach guides us through the pleasures and perils of discovering how to be a student again. Along the way, she also learns the true value of this second chance at educating herself: the opportunity to connect with and learn from the people she meets on her journey.
Author: Bohumil Hrabal Publisher: Northwestern University Press ISBN: 9780810112780 Category : Fiction Languages : en Pages : 116
Book Description
Hrabal's postwar classic about a young man's coming of age in German-occupied Czechoslovakia is among his most beloved and accessible works. Closely Watched Trains is the subtle and poetic portrait of Milos Hrma, a timid young railroad apprentice who insulates himself with fantasy against a reality filled with cruelty and grief. Day after day as he watches trains fly by, he torments himself with the suspicion that he himself is being watched and with fears of impotency. Hrma finally affirms his manhood and, with a sense of peace and purpose he has never known before, heroically confronts a trainload of Nazis.
Author: Publisher: ISBN: Category : Fiction Languages : en Pages : 602
Book Description
This is a story of texts being lost in translation, including the story of Juliet Herbert, the English governess responsible for translating 'Madame Bovary'. It comes complete with maps, illustrations, diagrams, and 'Mademoiselle O', a story by Vladimir Nabokov about his governess, written in French and translated into English."
Author: Dale Rominger Publisher: iUniverse ISBN: 1663219044 Category : Poetry Languages : en Pages : 261
Book Description
Dale Rominger has lived a full life, rich with experiences garnered from his international travels. In a collection of essays, reflections, and meditations, Rominger captures memories from his childhood and a career that took him around the world and places them alongside musings on his favorite books, films, and television shows. In his writings, Rominger begins with three short essays that reveal his diverse thoughts about memories, and then shares chronological reflections that contemplate the meaning of poverty; rant about guns and fame; pay homage to the influence of scientists, philosophers, screenwriters, and storytellers; collect thoughts about human worth, life, and death; and document his travels as history and politics unfolded from adventures across the world stage. Throughout his ponderances, Rominger views the troubles of the world with clarity while reminding us that we are more alike than different, no matter where we live or what we believe. Midnight Memories Inside the Back Road Café shares musings on memory, language, love, and meaning that reflect on a lifetime of treasured relationships and experiences.
Author: Bohumil Hrabal
Author: Harold B. Segel
Author: Jiří Pelán
Author: Asher Cantrell
Author: Alice Steinbach
Author: Bohumil Hrabal
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Author: 
Author: Christine Zona
Author: Dale Rominger