This literary cycle delves into the intricate tapestry of familial relationships and personal histories spanning generations. Readers follow the journeys of characters grappling with their pasts, seeking their identities, and confronting profound life choices. The narrative is imbued with melancholy, introspection, and a deep understanding of the human psyche. It offers a poignant exploration of life's complexities and the enduring search for meaning.
La 4ème de couv. indique : "Ce recueil de nouvelles dont le sous-titre est tiré d'un poème de Max Jacob - Pour les enfants et pour les raffinés - raconte une enfance en Europe centrale pendant les années de guerre. Les divagations d'un père persécuté, les premières pulsations de la sensualité d'un paysage cruel et tendre, l'amitié fidèle d'un chien, tout un monde vu par les yeux d'un gamin égaré à la campagne. Portrait d'écrivain en jeune chien."
From young Andi Scham's memories emerges the story of his father, who recedes from life in Yugoslovia and then disappears in the Holocaust. Andi's search for him is a story that "claims you like a symphonic poem" (Library Journal). Translated by William J. Hannaher.
'The Hourglass' tells the story of the final months of one man's life in the period leading up to his dispatch to a concentration camp. It is considered to be Danilo Kis's masterpiece.