Go, Went, GoneNew York Times Notable Book 2018; Foreign Affairs Best Book of 2018; Lois Roth Award Winner An unforgettable German bestseller about the European refugee crisis: “Erpenbeck will get under your skin” (Washington Post Book World) Go, Went, Gone is the masterful new novel by the acclaimed German writer Jenny Erpenbeck, “one of the most significant German-language novelists of her generation” (The Millions). The novel tells the tale of Richard, a retired classics professor who lives in Berlin. His wife has died, and he lives a routine existence until one day he spies some African refugees staging a hunger strike in Alexanderplatz. Curiosity turns to compassion and an inner transformation, as he visits their shelter, interviews them, and becomes embroiled in their harrowing fates. Go, Went, Gone is a scathing indictment of Western policy toward the European refugee crisis, but also a touching portrait of a man who finds he has more in common with the Africans than he realizes. Exquisitely translated by Susan Bernofsky, Go, Went, Gone addresses one of the most pivotal issues of our time, facing it head-on in a voice that is both nostalgic and frightening. |
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Abdusalam Africans Alexanderplatz already Apollo arrive asks Richard asylum Awad says back Berlin Senate black boat Bode Museum can’t children Christmas desk Detlef didn’t door Eid Mubarak euros everything father floor friend front German Ghana goes hand hasn’t Hausa he’d he’s home house isn’t Italy Karon Karon says Khalil kitchen know lake lawyer leave left Libya living long looks money mother never Niger night nods number office Okay one’s open Oranienplatz Osarobo Osarobo says phone piano police Rashid says read refugees residence Richard asks Richard reads Richard remembers Richard says Richard thinks right room says Richard shakes his head share taxi shoes shouts sitting skin sleep someone sometimes Spandau speaks staff member standing suddenly table take tall Ithemba tell there’s they’re things three thunderbolt-hurler today Tristan Tuareg turns understand waiting walks wall want water week What’s who’s wife wife’s Wismar woman Year’s young Yussuf Zair