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In the Congo

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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
In the Congo by Urs Widmer is a captivating tale that blends adventure with philosophy as it explores the heart of the Congolese jungle. Following a Swiss journalist's expedition, the novel delves into themes of colonial history and personal discovery in an exotic and mystifying setting. Filled with evocative imagery and cultural insights, this story invites readers into a world far removed from their own.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy gripping tales set against an exotic backdrop. Through vivid storytelling, it explores themes of adventure and mystery, offering readers an intriguing glimpse into the heart of Africa. Fans of imaginative narratives with a touch of surrealism might find this novel particularly captivating.

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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

Kuno, a male nurse in a Swiss retirement home, has a new inmate: his father. In the confines of their new home, the pair does something surprising – they finally begin to talk. Kuno had always regarded his father as a boring man without a history or a destiny, until they are thrust together and he learns that his father risked his life in the war.

Stunned, Kuno embarks on a journey into his own psyche, taking him to the depths of the Congo. Here, longings awaken and dreams come true – rays of light in the darkness, meetings with kings, seductive women, and the songs of the jungle. This alluring far-away place he once regarded as the heart of darkness suddenly becomes an exciting locale of lunacy, wildness, and tests of inner strength.

In Urs Widmer's characteristic style, In the Congo is a riveting yarn, threading through not only the relationship between a father and son, but that of Africa and Europe. Translated by Donal McLaughlin, this novel will delight Widmer fans the world over and will turn our notions of colonialism on their heads.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857428257

Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 May 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Seagull Books London Ltd

Contributors:

  • Translated by Donal McLaughlin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Urs Widmer(19382014) was a Swiss novelist, playwright, essayist, and short story writer and thecofounder of Verlag der Autoren, an author-owned publishing house focusing on texts related to the performing arts. His other books includeThe Blue Soda SiphonandMy Father's Book, also published by Seagull Books.

Donal McLaughlinspecializes in translating contemporary Swiss fiction. He has translated more than one hundred writers for theNew Swiss Writinganthologies.

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