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Slaughterhouse 5

50th Anniversary Edition
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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
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is a unique blend of science fiction and historical events, focusing on the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, an American soldier and optometrist who becomes "unstuck in time." Set against the backdrop of World War II, it explores themes of free will, fatalism, and the absurdity of war through a series of disjointed and non-linear flashbacks, including his experiences in Dresden during its bombing. The narrative style and tone create a profound commentary on human existence and resilience.
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Format: Hardback
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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 a unique blend of science fiction and dark comedy. Its exploration of the absurdity of war and human existence, told through a nonlinear narrative, offers a thought-provoking and entertaining read. If you appreciate stories that challenge traditional storytelling and provoke reflection on fate and free will, this novel might be a fascinating choice for you.

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50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

As a young man and a prisoner of war, Kurt Vonnegut witnessed the 1945 US fire-bombing of Dresden in Germany, which reduced the once proudly beautiful city to rubble and claimed the lives of thousands of its citizens.
For many years, Kurt tried to write about Dresden but the words would not come.

50th anniversary hardback edition of the bestselling cult US classic - with extra material

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

50th anniversary hardback edition of the bestselling cult US classic - with extra material

50th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

As a young man and a prisoner of war, Kurt Vonnegut witnessed the 1945 US fire-bombing of Dresden in Germany, which reduced the once proudly beautiful city to rubble and claimed the lives of thousands of its citizens.

For many years, Kurt tried to write about Dresden but the words would not come. When he did write about it, he combined his trademark humour, unfettered imagination, boundless humanity and keen sense of irony to create one of the most powerful anti-war books ever written, and an enduring American classic.

This special edition is published with notes of appreciation from some of the book's ardent fans (Kate Atkinson, Richard Herring, Robin Ince) as well as fascinating extra material from Vonnegut's archive which casts light on the genesis, reception, and enduring influence of an iconic American classic.

Design: DIEGO BECAS

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?

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is praised for its incisive wit and its poignant, artistic reaction to the fire-bombing of Dresden in 1945. Joseph Heller admires its literary artistry, while Elizabeth Strout appreciates its delicate exploration of post-traumatic stress. The novel evokes sharp humour, receiving acclaim for its unique perspective and impact on modern literature, as noted by the Daily Telegraph, New York Times, and Doris Lessing.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784874858

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 28 March 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 144.0mm

Height: 204.0mm

Weight: 345g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922 and studied biochemistry at Cornell University. An army intelligence scout during the Second World War, he was captured by the Germans and witnessed the destruction of Dresden by Allied bombers, an experience which inspired his classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five. After the war he worked as a police reporter, an advertising copywriter and a public relations man for General Electric. His first novel Player Piano (1952) achieved underground success. Cat's Cradle (1963) was hailed by Graham Greene as 'one of the best novels of the year by one of the ablest living authors'. His eighth book, Slaughterhouse-Five was published in 1969 and was a literary and commercial success, and was made into a film in 1972. Vonnegut is the author of thirteen other novels, three collections of stories and five non-fiction books. Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007.

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