Putins Briefkasten. English

Putin's postbox / Marcel Beyer ; translated from German by Katy Derbyshire.

Berlin : V&Q Books, 2022.

192 pages ; 20 cm

"First published in the German language as Marcel Beyer, Putins Briefkasten -- Acht Recherchen"--Title page verso.

"Eight essays on literature, language, art, Europe and life from one of Germany's most revered living writers. After a visit to Putin's old postbox, the reader is taken to Dresden and Brixton, Gdańsk and Minsk, diverted to birds, bees, stray cats and pet dogs, confronted with Stasi and KGB, Proust and Jah Shaka, puzzled by overcoats and anoraks, Francis Bacon and Vermeer, and lost (then found) in service stations and memorial centres. Throughout, Marcel Beyer forges unexpected links and makes unpredictable leaps. Inspired by the great W. G. Sebald, Beyer's playful literary investigations wend through the high points and horrors of Europe's artistic history, towards a profoundly personal conclusion."-- Page 4 of cover.

e-book version

English

October 12, 2022