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Go, Went, Gone

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( 10,289 ratings, 1,505 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
Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck is a poignant exploration of the refugee crisis through the eyes of Richard, a retired classics professor in Berlin. As Richard encounters a group of African asylum seekers, he is drawn into their stories and struggles, challenging his perceptions and reshaping his understanding of home, belonging and humanity. The novel deftly weaves personal and political themes, offering a compassionate look at contemporary social issues.
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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 find this book appealing if you enjoy thought-provoking narratives that explore the complexities of immigration and identity. Following a retired academic's journey, the story delves into themes of cultural differences and human connection, providing a moving exploration of societal change and personal transformation.

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Now in paperback, the unforgettable German bestseller about the European refugee crisis.

'One of Europe's most highly regarded writers... Erpenbeck's most significant work to date' - Financial Times

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

One of the great contemporary European writers takes on Europe's biggest issue.

Richard has spent his life as a university professor, immersed in the world of books and ideas. But now he is retired, his books remain in their packing boxes, and he steps into the streets of his city, Berlin. Here, on Alexanderplatz, he discovers a new communityβ€”a tent city, established by African asylum seekers. Hesitantly, while getting to know the new arrivals, Richard finds his life changing as he begins to question his own sense of belonging in a city that once divided its citizens into them and us.

At once a passionate contribution to the debate on race, privilege, and nationality, and a beautifully written examination of an ageing man's quest to find meaning in his life, Go, Went, Gone showcases one of the great contemporary European writers at the height of her powers.

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?

Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck is lauded as a profound and timely novel, exploring themes like borders, identity, and empathy. Critics praise the book for its compelling narrative on refugees and immigration, emphasising its urgency and contemporary relevance. The translation by Susan Bernofsky is highlighted as astute, capturing Erpenbeck's powerful storytelling and melancholic undertones. Overall, the novel is seen as a significant and compassionate work, resonating with readers and urging a deeper understanding of human connections and compassion.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846276224

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 August 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky
  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky
  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 215g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Jenny Erpenbeck is the author of The Old Child & The Book of Words (2008), Visitation (2010) and The End of Days (2014, winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize), and Go, Went, Gone (2017), all published by Portobello. Her fiction is published in fourteen languages.

Susan Bernofsky has translated works by Robert Walser, Hermann Hesse, Gregor von Rezzori, Yoko Tawada, Ludwig Harig and Franz Kafka. She is the author of Foreign Words: Translator-Authors in the Age of Goethe and is currently at work on a biography of Robert Walser. Her translation of The Old Child and Other Stories was awarded the 2006 Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize.

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