Upon its publication in Germany in 1983, this author's book stirred both critical acclaim and consternation, attracting a wide readership. He finds cynicism the dominant mode in contemporary culture, in personal and institutional settings; his book is both a history of the impulse and an investigation of its role today, among those whose earlier hopes for social change have crumbled and faded away.
Persoonlijk relaas over de depressie van de schrijver, afgewisseld met meer algemene beschouwingen over deze aandoening.
Een Amerikaanse schrijver begint een nieuw leven als hotelmanager op Hawaiï en observeert de levens van de hotelgasten en personeelsleden.
Een Zuid-Amerikaanse leraar filosofie, die de drugsmafia aanklaagt in de krant, vindt regelmatig als afschrikmiddel een lijk in zijn tuin.
Nadat een 16-jarig zwerfstertje in 1999 in de bossen bij Washington een visioen van Maria heeft gehad, wordt het stadje, waar velen werkloos zijn, overspoeld door gelovigen, fanatici en verkopers van religieuze artikelen.
De dochter van een Griekse dokter wordt tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog gescheiden van haar geliefde, een kapitein in het Italiaanse leger.
Het wonderlijke levensverhaal van een sensuele, voluptueuze joodse vrouw in Jeruzalem tussen 1948 en de jaren '90.
Shrouding themselves & their aims in secrecy, the leaders of the Taliban movement control Afghanistan with an inflexible, crushing fundamentalism. The most extreme & radical of all Islamic organizations, the Taliban inspires fascination, controversy & fear in both the Muslim world & the West. Correspondent Ahmed Rashid brings the shadowy world of the Taliban into focus in this enormously interesting & revealing book. It's the only authoritative account of the Taliban & modern day Afghanistan available to English language readers. Based on his experiences as a journalist covering the civil war in Afghanistan for 20 years, traveling & living with the Taliban, & interviewing most of the Taliban leaders since their emergence to power in 1994, Rashid offers unparalleled 1sthand information. He explains how the growth of Taliban power has already created severe instability in Russia, Iran, Pakistan & five Central Asian republics. He describes the Taliban's role as a major player in a new Great Game: a competition among Western countries & companies to build oil & gas pipelines from Central Asia to Western & Asian markets. The author also discusses the controversial changes in American attitudes toward the Taliban--from early support to recent bombings of Osama Bin Laden's hideaway & other Taliban-protected terrorist bases--& how they've influenced the stability of the region.
Louis de Bernières is a masterful writer, showcasing his skills in character creation, innovative description, and storytelling. From the outset, as Dionisio Vivo and Ramón "Cochinillo" Dario encounter a cravate corpse left by coca lords, readers are drawn into the world of Ipasueño, filled with passion, irony, and political intrigue. Dionisio, a philosophy professor, writes letters for La Prensa condemning the coca trade, launching the narrative into a whirlwind of subplots. Among these are the epic love affair between Dionisio and Anica Moreno, and Lazaro's tragic struggle with leprosy. Fans of Bernières's previous work will also enjoy the return of magical jaguars and characters from Cochadebajo de los Gatos. The plot unfolds as a grand tragicomedy, blending expected devastation with unexpected joy, all infused with Bernières's playful tone. Set in a mythical South American country that reflects real history and the author's imagination, this book is a captivating companion for any south-of-the-border adventure, rich with the realities and flavors of South America and the whimsical genius of Bernières.
