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The Woman in the Dunes

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( 36,318 ratings, 3,404 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe is a compelling tale about an entomologist who ventures to a remote desert to collect insects. He finds himself trapped in a village where he is forced to assist a woman in endlessly shovelling sand that threatens to engulf their home. The story dives into themes of existentialism, captivity, and human endurance against an oppressive environment.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2600
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by a compelling blend of psychological suspense and existential themes. It's a haunting tale that delves into human isolation and the relentless struggle against the inexorable forces of nature, leaving you reflecting long after you turn the last page.

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The Woman in the Dunes

Niki Jumpei, an amateur entomologist, searches the scorching desert for beetles. As night falls he is forced to seek shelter in an eerie village, half-buried by huge sand dunes. He awakes to the terrifying realization that the villagers have imprisoned him with a young woman at the bottom of a vast sand pit.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New to Penguin Modern Classics

One of the premier Japanese novels in the twentieth century, The Woman in the Dunes combines the essence of myth, suspense, and the existential novel.

In a remote seaside village, Niki Jumpei, a teacher and amateur entomologist, is held captive with a young woman at the bottom of a vast sand pit where they are pressed into shovelling off the ever-advancing sand dunes that threaten the village.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe has been praised for its detailed exploration of its protagonist's shifting psychological and emotional states, enhancing the novel's bizarre plot with vivid realism. Its existential themes have drawn comparisons to the works of Kafka and Beckett, highlighting the narrative's focus on a symbolic setting that reflects the human condition.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141188522

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2006

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by David Mitchell

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 194g

Pages: 256

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About the Author

Kobo Abe was born in Tokyo in 1924, grew up in Manchuria, and returned to Japan in his early twenties. Before his death in 1993, Abe was considered his country's foremost living novelist. His novels have earned many literary awards and prizes, and have all been bestsellers in Japan. They include THE WOMAN IN THE DUNES, THE ARK SAKURA, THE FACE OF ANOTHER, THE BOX MAN, and THE RUINED MAP.

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