George Saunders emerged from a diverse career path, including roles as a geophysical engineer and a slaughterhouse worker, to become a celebrated literary voice. His writing delves into ethical dilemmas and the complexities of the human condition, often infused with a distinct blend of dark humor and profound empathy. Saunders is renowned for his innovative narrative techniques and his deep, compassionate exploration of characters navigating challenging circumstances.
George Saunders erzählt in seiner aufrüttelnden Geschichte von der Zerstörung durch einen Populisten in dem fiktiven Land Innen-Horner, das nur einen Bürger gleichzeitig aufnimmt. Als die Bevölkerung schrumpft und viele in das Nachbarland Außen-Horner gedrängt werden, entsteht Angst vor einer Invasion und die Herrschaft des machthungrigen Phil beginnt.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “One of our most inventive purveyors of the form returns with pitch-perfect, genre-bending stories that stare into the abyss of our national character. . . . An exquisite work from a writer whose reach is galactic.”—Oprah Daily Booker Prize winner George Saunders returns with his first collection of short stories since the New York Times bestseller Tenth of December. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Oprah Daily, NPR, Time, USA Today, The Guardian, Esquire, Newsweek, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Library JournalThe “best short-story writer in English” (Time) is back with a masterful collection that explores ideas of power, ethics, and justice and cuts to the very heart of what it means to live in community with our fellow humans. With his trademark prose—wickedly funny, unsentimental, and exquisitely tuned—Saunders continues to challenge and Here is a collection of prismatic, resonant stories that encompass joy and despair, oppression and revolution, bizarre fantasy and brutal reality.“Love Letter” is a tender missive from grandfather to grandson, in the midst of a dystopian political situation in the (not too distant, all too believable) future, that reminds us of our obligations to our ideals, ourselves, and one another. “Ghoul” is set in a Hell-themed section of an underground amusement park in Colorado and follows the exploits of a lonely, morally complex character named Brian, who comes to question everything he takes for granted about his reality. In “Mother’s Day,” two women who loved the same man come to an existential reckoning in the middle of a hailstorm. In “Elliott Spencer,” our eighty-nine-year-old protagonist finds himself brainwashed, his memory “scraped”—a victim of a scheme in which poor, vulnerable people are reprogrammed and deployed as political protesters. And “My House”—in a mere seven pages—comes to terms with the haunting nature of unfulfilled dreams and the inevitability of decay.Together, these nine subversive, profound, and essential stories coalesce into a case for viewing the world with the same generosity and clear-eyed attention Saunders does, even in the most absurd of circumstances.
This collection marks the first short story release in a decade from the acclaimed author known for his Man Booker Prize-winning work. Celebrated for his humor and narrative skill, the writer returns with a series of stories that reflect on our troubled world, following the success of his previous bestseller. Recognized as one of the best short story writers in English, he presents a masterful exploration of power, ethics, and community. His trademark style—witty, unsentimental, and finely crafted—delivers a collection rich in emotional depth, juxtaposing joy with despair and fantasy with harsh reality. In "Love Letter," a grandfather's heartfelt message to his grandson unfolds against a dystopian backdrop, urging reflection on our ideals and connections. "Ghoul" features Brian, a morally complex character in a Hell-themed amusement park, who begins to question his understanding of reality. "Mother's Day" depicts an existential confrontation between two women linked by their love for the same man during a hailstorm. Meanwhile, "Elliott Spencer" follows an elderly man grappling with memory loss as he becomes a pawn in a political scheme. These nine profound stories invite readers to view the world with the same generosity and clarity that the author embodies, even amidst absurdity.
From the New York Times bestselling Booker Prize-winning author comes a literary master class on storytelling and its relevance in today's world. For two decades, George Saunders has taught a class on the Russian short story at Syracuse University. In this work, he shares insights from his class, exploring what he and his students have learned. The book features seven essays paired with iconic short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, aimed at anyone curious about the mechanics of fiction. Saunders introduces the essays by stating that they serve as "scale models of the world," designed to address fundamental questions about life and purpose. He examines how narrative functions, why we engage with stories, and the essential virtues writers must cultivate. Writing is presented not only as a technical craft but also as a means to develop a more open and curious perspective on the world. This exploration delves into how great writing operates and how reading and writing foster genuine connections. Ultimately, it offers a profound look at the interplay between storytelling and the human experience.
From the 'New York Times' bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author comes a literary master class on the mechanics of great storytelling and its relevance to our lives today. For two decades, George Saunders has taught a class on the Russian short story at Syracuse University. In this work, he shares insights from that class, paired with iconic stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol. The seven essays aim to engage anyone curious about how fiction operates and its importance in contemporary society. Saunders introduces the essays by inviting readers to explore intricately constructed narratives that address fundamental questions about life: How should we live? What are our purposes? What do we value? He examines stories with both technical precision and accessibility, revealing how narrative captivates us or provokes resistance, while highlighting essential virtues for writers. Writing, he argues, is not only a technical skill but also a means of cultivating openness and curiosity about the world. This exploration delves into the cognitive processes involved in reading and writing, emphasizing how stories foster genuine connections.
Ein paar Gedanken zur Güte
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, übrigens … … zu diesem besonderen Buch. Es beinhaltet eine kurze Rede des großen Schriftstellers George Saunders, die dieser 2013 vor Studenten der Universität von Syracuse gehalten hat. Diese Rede ging anschließend um die Welt und wurde innerhalb weniger Tage von mehr als einer Million Menschen gelesen. Sie füllt nur wenige Seiten, doch was auf diesen wenigen Seiten steht, ist ein unvergleichliches Geschenk: Saunders sagt, worauf es im Leben wirklich ankommt – und hat dafür beflügelnde Worte gefunden, die jeder Mensch gelesen haben sollte.
An enchanting and darkly comic fable of human greed and nature, from the Man Booker Prize-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, exquisitely illustrated by Chelsea CardinalFox 8 has always been curious, and a bit of a daydreamer. And, by hiding outside houses at dusk and listening to children's bedtime stories, he has learned to speak 'Yuman'. The power of words and the stories built from them is intoxicating for a fox with a poetic soul, but there is 'danjur' on the horizon: a new shopping mall is being built, cutting off his pack's food supply. To save himself and his fellow foxes, Fox 8 will have to set out on a harrowing quest from the wilds of nature deep into the dark heart of suburbia.
The stories In Persuasion Nation are easily his best work yet. "The Red Bow," about a town consumed by pet-killing hysteria, won a 2004 National Magazine Award and "Bohemians," the story of two supposed Eastern European widows trying to fit in in suburban USA, is included in The Best American Short Stories 2005. His new book includes both unpublished work, and stories that first appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, and Esquire. The stories in this volume work together as a whole whose impact far exceeds the simple sum of its parts. Fans of Saunders know and love him for his sharp and hilarious satirical eye. But In Persuasion Nation also includes more personal and poignant pieces that reveal a new kind of emotional conviction in Saunders's writing. Saunders's work in the last six years has come to be recognized as one of the strongest—and most consoling—cries in the wilderness of the millennium's political and cultural malaise. In Persuasion Nation's sophistication and populism should establish Saunders once and for all as this generation's literary voice of wisdom and humor in a time when we need it most.
On February 22, 1862, two days after his death, Willie Lincoln was laid to rest in a marble crypt in a Georgetown cemetery. That very night, shattered by grief, Abraham Lincoln arrives at the cemetery under cover of darkness and visits the crypt, alone, to spend time with his son's body. Willie finds himself in a strange purgatory-- the bardo-- where ghosts commisserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance ... and where a struggle erupts over his soul
An inspiring message from the inaugural Folio Prize winner, George Saunders, one of today's most influential and original writers