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The Geometer Lobachevsky

Shortlisted for the 2023 Walter Scott Prize and the 2023 Kerry Group Novel of the Year
By Adrian Duncan
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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
The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan is a thoughtful exploration of the life of a Soviet geometer who finds himself in Ireland during the late 1950s. As he navigates a foreign culture and country, the story delves into his inner world and thought processes, touching on themes of belonging, mathematics, and existential contemplation, all set against the backdrop of historical events. It's a seamless blend of fiction and philosophical inquiry, capturing the essence of a man steeped in his work while grappling with personal and professional upheaval.
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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 story if you're captivated by the intersection of mathematics and human emotion. Set amid the challenges of post-Cold War Berlin, the narrative explores themes of displacement, identity, and the pursuit of understanding in an unfamiliar world. This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by how personal experiences and professional expertise are interwoven in a richly textured tale.

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An inventive and original Irish writer arrives at the Tuskar Rock list on a wave of prize listings and critical prestige

An inventive and original Irish writer arrives at the Tuskar Rock list on a wave of prize listings and critical prestige

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

"When I was sent by the Soviet state to London to further my studies in calculus, knowing I would never become a great mathematician, I strayed instead into the foothills of anthropology ..."

It is 1950, and Nikolai Lobachevsky, great-grandson of his illustrious namesake, is surveying a bog in the Irish Midlands, where he studies the locals, the land, and their ways. One afternoon, soon after he arrives, he receives a telegram calling him back to Leningrad for a 'special appointment'.

Lobachevsky may not be a great genius, but he is not foolish: he recognises a death sentence when he sees one and leaves to go into hiding on a small island in the Shannon estuary, where the island families harvest seaweed and struggle to split rocks. Here Lobachevsky must think about death, how to avoid it, and whether he will ever see his home again.

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The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan is praised for its eerie and exquisite nature, drawing comparisons to the works of Laszlo Krasznahorkai and Milan Kundera. It is regarded as a profound meditation on exile, showcasing Duncan as a writer with a distinctive and visionary voice, redefining the world in his unique terms. The novel contributes significantly to the tradition of experimental Irish literature, positioning Duncan as a subtle and compelling explorer of linguistic and existential themes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788169738

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 June 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tuskar Rock

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 208

Collections

Adrian Duncan Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Adrian Duncan is an Irish artist and writer who originally trained as a structural engineer. His novels are Love Notes from a German Building Site (2019) and A Sabbatical in Leipzig (2020), and he published a story collection Midfield Dynamo in 2021. Duncan was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award 2021, longlisted for the 2021 Edge Hill Prize and won the John McGahern Book Prize in 2020.

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