The Ministry of Special Cases

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In the heart of Argentina’s Dirty War, Kaddish Poznan grapples with a son who rejects him, a wife who perpetually saves him, and the burden of protecting a community that denies his existence and a complex history only he remembers. This novel from Nathan Englander, acclaimed author of a celebrated collection of stories, begins with a haunting scene in a forgotten Buenos Aires cemetery. As the nightmare of disappeared children devastates the Poznan family, they are drawn into the relentless corridors of the Ministry of Special Cases, their last refuge. Englander’s debut novel explores the timeless themes of father-son relationships amidst a corrupt government that distorts truth and reality. One man, hopeless yet determined, strives to confront his past and seek redemption, even if just for a moment. The narrative showcases Englander’s signature wit, cosmic absurdity, and ability to juxtapose joy and despair. Through the lens of a single family’s tragedy, he poignantly captures the collective grief of a nation. This work, like his earlier stories, celebrates humanity in its frailty while offering a glimmer of hope.