"The fox has always been a hunter" by Herta Müller, "The cat and the mouse" by Gunther Grass and "The fish in the water" by Mario Vargas Ljosa are the new titles of the Nobel laureates in Laguna. All these books deal in some way with forms of social government and the way society leaves an imprint on ordinary people.
"The fox has always been a hunter" (translated by Nebojša Barać), a novel by Herta Miller from 1992, is a unique literary confrontation with the horrors of totalitarianism.
The book describes life and survival under Eastern Bloc socialism in Romania during the last days of Ceausescu's dictatorship. In the omnipresent mood of fear and horror, teacher Adina, factory worker Klara and musician Paul try to survive. The fox fur on the floor next to Adina's bed, which, when she was not in the apartment, first cut off the tail, then one hind leg, then the other, and then both front legs and finally the head, is proof that Adina is under the surveillance of the Romanian secret of the police. Fox fur is a message that her life is not her own. Everyone is hoping for change, everyone is already seeing it. But what will the change bring?
Neither the popular uprising, nor the overthrow of the Ceausescus, nor what came after the general burst of joy and tears and all the accompanying madness subsided, seemed to have not changed the previous situation much. Some people are still in danger. Some are still hungry, poor, suspicious. Some friends turned traitor, others disappeared, probably killed; former principals are suddenly teachers, administrators have turned into principals overnight. Because, as the writer says, "the world is spinning, and so are we." The novel "The fox has always been a hunter" is a great confrontation with the horrors of totalitarianism, but also with the horrors that come after totalitarianism and hopelessness. Because, no matter how terrible the dictators were at the height of their rule, they are what they are only because behind them stands a powerful machine whose will, that is, interests, everyone and everything depends on. And the dictators themselves. Just "one coat replaces another". Because the fox has always been and will be a hunter.
The novel "Cat and Mouse" by Gunter Grass (translated by Vera Kolaković) from 1961 is part of the writer's so-called Gdańsk Trilogy, which, in addition to this title, also includes the novels "Limeni Doboš" and "Dog Years".
Teenager Joakim Malke was gifted by nature with a sizeable Adam's apple. When one day a black cat sneaks up and pounces on his mouse-sized bump on his neck, this incident will determine Malke's fate. Outcasted not only for his physical defect but also for his genius, supernatural ability to long dive, refined sense of ethics and precocity, Malke goes to great lengths to perform a series of incredible feats that will even lead to him becoming a national hero. But the price this exceptional individual will pay to the system for his virtues will be too high.
Virtuously written, the novel "Cat and Mouse" is full of humorous episodes, in the background of which hides a poignant story about the attempt to preserve human dignity in the horrors of total war and the politics that led to it. "Cat and Mouse" describes the world of the writer's hometown of Gdańsk, which is called Dancing in German, and deals with Germany's experience in World War II and criticism of Nazism. The Gdańsk trilogy and this novel as its integral part defined Günter Gras as a writer.
An insight into the creation of Mario Vargas Ljosa's most significant works
"Fish in Water - Memoirs" (translated by Ljiljana Popović Anđić) is the last book of the Peruvian Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Ljosa.
In it, he revealed his life to a certain extent and pointed out the most significant moments, from his birth to the present day. "Fish in Water" is also an autopoetic book because it gives explanations about the origin of his most famous books.
With the memoir "Fish in Water", Mario Vargas Llosa provided his readers with an insight into the key years of his youth and adulthood in which he decided to run for the presidency of Peru. The first stream of memories takes us back to the period from 1946, when he met his father, who he was told was dead, until 1958, when the young writer left Peru and went to Europe. In the second part, we learn how and why Vargas Llosa led the presidential campaign in Peru, which ended with a defeat by Fujimori in the second round. The very next morning, June 13, 1990, he traveled to Europe again and thus began a new period in his life in which literature once again "took center stage".
Mario Vargas Llosa presents the simple truth about the key stages of his life in a recognizable masterly style, providing us with the motives that gave rise to his most important literary works and the opportunity to see them in a new light. "Fish in Water" is not only a passionate and indispensable testimony, but also one of the most significant books from his literary oeuvre.
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