Paul Bowles, a novelist known for his naturalistic explorations of life on the fringes of society, delved into themes of alienation, identity, and cultural clashes. His formative years in New York and his time in Paris, where he became part of Gertrude Stein's artistic circle, shaped his literary voice. He was deeply invested in psychological realism, offering stark depictions of his characters and their often inhospitable environments. His work is characterized by a cool, objective diction and a fascination with distant, exotic locales that serve as backdrops for universal human dramas.
In these hauntingly beautiful stories of abandonment and vengeance, extreme situations lead to disturbing conclusions. A missionary is sent to a place so distant he finds his God has no power there; a husband abandons his wife as they honeymoon in the South American jungle; a splash of water triggers an explosion of violence; and a boy's drug-induced transformation leads to cruelty enjoyed and suffered. Masterfully written, these are chilling tales from sun-drenched and brutal climes.
Master storyteller Paul Bowles delivers a compelling addition to the Art of the Story series, showcasing his exceptional talent in the short form. Celebrated for its enchanting narratives, this collection is deemed "essential reading" for those who appreciate the magic of concise storytelling. Bowles' unique voice and ability to evoke powerful imagery and emotion make this work a must-read for fans of the genre.
Set in Fez, Morocco, during that country's 1954 nationalist uprising, The Spider's House is perhaps Paul Bowles's most beautifully subtle novel, richly descriptive of its setting and uncompromising in its characterizations. Exploring once again the dilemma of the outsider in an alien society, and the gap in understanding between cultures -- recurrent themes of Paul Bowles's writings -- The Spider's House is dramatic, brutally honest, and shockingly relevant to today's political situation in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Tells the story of Dyar, a New York bank clerk who throws up his secure,
humdrum job to find a reality abroad with which to identify himself, and his
macabre experiences in the inferno of Tangiers as he gives in to his darkest
impulses.
This 50th anniversary edition of The Sheltering Sky includes an original review by Tennessee Williams. Celebrated as one of the great 20th-century novels, it is praised for its distinction among post-World War II literature by the New Republic.
Driven by famine from their home in the Rif, Mohamed's family walks to Tangiers in search of a better life. But his father is unable to find work and grows violent, beating Mohamed's mother and killing his sick younger brother in a moment of mad rage.On moving to another province Mohamed learns how to charm and steal, and discovers the joys of drugs, sex and alcohol. Proud, insolent and afraid of no-one, Mohamed returns to Tangiers, where he is caught up in the violence of the 1952 independence riots. During a short spell in a filthy Moroccan jail, a fellow inmate kindles Mohamed's life-altering love of poetry.The book itself was banned in Arab countries for its sexual explicitness. Dar al-Saqi was the first publishing house to publish it in Arabic in 1982, thirty years after it was written, though many translations came out before the Arabic version.Translated by Paul Bowles.Mohamed Choukri is one of North Africa's most controversial and widely read authors. At the age of twenty he decided to learn to read and write classical Arabic. He went on to become a teacher and writer, finally being awarded the chair of Arabic Literature at Ibn Batuta College in Tangier.Paul Bowles, perhaps best known for his novel The Sheltering Sky, collaborated closely with Choukri on the translation of For Bread Alone.The story of Choukri's life is continued in Streetwise.
On the terrace of an elaborate hilltop apartment overlooking a Central American capital, four people sit making polite conversation. The American couple—an elderly physician and his young wife—are tourists. Their host, whom they have just met, is a young man of striking good looks and charm. The girl, his mistress, is very young and very beautiful. Sitting there, watching the sunset, the Slades seem to be enjoying the sort of fortunate chance encounter that travelers cherish. But amid the civilities and small talk, the host's casual remark to the American woman proves prophetic: "It's not exactly what you think." Masterfully—with the poetic control that has always characterized his work—Paul Bowles leads the reader beneath the surface of hospitality and luxury into a tortuous maze of human relationships and shifting moods, until what seems at first a merely casual encounter is seen to be one rooted in viciousness and horror.
„Ah“, sagt Hassan, „ich glaube nicht an die Welt. Es gibt noch eine andere Welt, dort ist das Leben ganz anders.“ Dies sind Geschichten aus jener Welt. Das Wort m'hashish bedeutet in Moghrebi soviel wie voll von Haschisch und bezeichnet nicht nur eine Person im bekifften Zustand, sondern auch solche, deren Verhalten irrational oder sonstwie unerwartet ist. „In diesen Texten steckt alles, was es über Haschisch zu sagen gibt. Der Rest muß geraucht werden.“ (Grow) Aus dem Inhalt: - Meine Träume kommen aus dem Meer - Das Röhricht - Das Kif-Feld - Der Doktor aus dem Chemel - Der junge Einsiedler - Hassan und die Aghrebia - Die See auf der Straße - Zwei Freunde und der Regen - Die Datura-Blüten - Allahs Worte - Die Erzählung des Kif-Händlers - Werner Pieper: Mutationen eines Buches Dieser Titel ist der Grüne Zweig NR 49 aus Werner Pieper s Medien-Experimenten The Grüne Kraft.
