I would like to welcome you all to the first Pushkin press fortnight two weeks celebrating one of the true champions of fiction in translation in the Uk .For me they have brought a number of names to me as a reader , that I wouldn’t have read other wise ,the biggest of course is Stefan Zweig but also modern writer like Andres Neuman ,Peter Stephen Jungk and Pietro Grossi .
Some recent reviews from me are
I was Jack mortimer by Alexander Lernet-Holenia – tense noir is fictrion ,as a man takes over a dead man’s identity .
The parrots by Flippo Bologna Italian wrioter compete for a to[ prize one is young one in the middle of his career and another considered a great writier near the end of his career .
Traveller of the century by Andres Neuman the wonderful book set in Europe a wonderful book on translation book shifting realities one of the best books of recent times also he has a new short story collection out soon .
This next two weeks I ll be reviewing two books from Stefan Zweig Amok and other stories and Journey into the past .The break by Pietro Grossi and Oliver VII by Antal Szerb all of which I have read I also have Butterflies in November by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir and from the fatherland with love by Ryu Murakami to try and read .
Have you a favourite book from Pushkin press ?
Rock Crystal by Adalbert Stifter – it’s sublime.
Thanks not tried that one
I can’t say that I have an absolute favourite as they have published so many quality novels. I just bought a handful of their titles and one of them may compete for the ‘top spot.’ Looking forward to your reviews
This is true Guy they seem to be one of the most consistent publisher around in translation
I’ve got Amok to read too, Stu, will get back to you when my review is done:)
Great Lisa I read that as well as was on offer on kindle last year
I absolutely loved Andres Neuman’s ‘Traveller of the Century’, probably my favourite of all the books I read last year. I’ve bought his new one (Talking to Ourselves) so I’ll aim to read it over the next fortnight. I’ve a few other Pushkins on the tbr pile, including ‘I was Jack Mortimer’ and a couple by Antal Szerb, so plenty to keep me going there.
I hope to get his new one at some point traveller of the century is one few books I may reread it was that good
Time to go out on a limb and say I couldn’t get on with Traveller of the Century at all. Hubby choose it, read about 50 pages and ground to a halt. I picked it up, got about half way through and decided it wasn’t worth carrying on. Anybody like to persuade me to persevere?
Oh not sure what say mary it is a book I think you like or don’t I loved the shifts use of translation and clever jokes like the names
I loved the Zweigs I’ve read best!
He is one best male writers of women I have found
I’ve just got to reread the new Neuman, and then I’ll be posting a review – hopefully, before the end of your fortnight 🙂
Look forward to your thoughts tony
I’ve not read Szerb- but I do have the Pendragon Legend and Oliver VII on my shelves! Don’t know which to read…
I just read oliver and enjoyed the humour at times in this one
Just got The Rabbit Back Literature Society looking forward to it after reading the reviews
If you’re new to Szerb, I 100% recommend his short stories. Here are a couple of links to free ones online: ‘A Dog Called Madelon’ at http://pushkinpress.com/?p=3493 and ‘The Incurable’ at http://recommendedreading.tumblr.com/post/52213924426/pushkin-press-recommends-the-incurable-by-antal-szerb
Thanks I not totally new had read journey by moonlight before this