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"An outstanding addition to an impressive oeuvre" Times Literary Supplement "One of the greatest modern novelists" AS Byatt "One of the most remarkable writers of our time" Alberto Manguel Arthur Daane, a documentary film-maker and inveterate globetrotter, has lost his wife and child in a plane crash. In ALL SOULS'' DAY we follow him as he wanders the streets of Berlin, a city uniquely shaped by history. Berlin provides the backdrop for Daane''s reflections on life as he plans his latest project - a self-funded film that will show the world through Daane''s eyes. With a new circle of friends - a philosopher, a sculptor and a physicist - Arthur discusses everything from history to metaphysics, and the cumulative power of remembered images and philosophical musings on the meaning of our contemporary existence comes to permeate the atmosphere of the book. Then one cold, wintry day, Daane meets the young history student Elik Orange and his world is turned upside down. Whenever this mysterious woman beckons, Daane is compelled to follow. ALL SOULS'' DAY is, finally, an elegiac love story in which the personal histories of the characters are skilfully interwoven with the history of the countries in which they find themselves. It is also the poignant and affecting tale of a man coming to terms with his place in the world. Translated from the Dutch by Susan Massotty
About the author
Cees Nooteboom was born in The Hague in 1933, and now lives in Amsterdam and on the island of Menorca. He is a poet and novelist who has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards such as the Pegasus Prize and the Aristeion Prize for his novels, which include
Rituals (1983),
The Following Story (1994), and
All Souls' Day (2001). His books of travel writing,
Roads to Santiago (1997) and
Roads to Berlin (2012) have become backlist classics.
Summary
"An outstanding addition to an impressive oeuvre" Times Literary Supplement
Arthur Daane, a documentary film-maker and inveterate globetrotter, wanders the streets of Berlin, a city whose recent past provides the perfect backdrop for his reflections on life and the universe as he collects images for his latest project - a film that will show the world through his eyes.
With his circle of friends - a philosopher, a sculptor and a physicist - Daane discusses everything from history to metaphysics and the meaning of our contemporary existence, often over a hearty meal. Then, one cold winter's day, Daane meets the history student Elik Oranje and his world is turned upside down. And when she unexpectedly leaves the city for Spain, Daane is compelled to follow.
All Souls' Day is an elegiac love story, a poignant and affecting tale in which the city of Berlin plays a prominent role, by one of Europe's major contemporary writers.
Translated from the Dutch by Susan Massotty
"Displays with admirable lucidity the workings of a humane, civilized, and consistently interesting mind" Kirkus Reviews
"One of the most remarkable writers of our time" ALBERTO MANGUEL
