A Guide to the Perplexed
Published on 24. October 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-85242-826-6 (ISBN)
Description
The year is 2052, and the state of Israel has been defunct for forty years, the majority of its citizens having become refugees overseas. In order to provide Israel with a decent burial, an Institute for the Documentation of Zion is established, and among its archives is the autobiography of one Gunther W?nker. A Guide to the Perplexed is the story of Gunther?s life. Born in Israel, Gunther becomes fiercely anti-Zionist through the experience of national service. He loves European, especially German, women and soon leaves Israel to find fame, fortune and fornication in Germany: cultured country of his ancestors whose collective guilt-trip is a goldmine for the licentious professor. Before long Gunther is a famous professor of philosophy and the founder of ?Peepology? - an intellectual discipline derived from the exile's position as voyeur. A Guide to the Perplexed is a darkly funny reflection on the dangers of racial purity and the position of the outsider in Western Europe. Gilad Atzmon's book marries the playfulness of Nabokov with the sexiness of Philip Roth. It is an angry reflection on the effects of ethnic cleansing of both our bodies and our minds.
Reviews / Votes
?Operation Shylock meets Portnoy?s Complaint: Atzmon?s merciless take on Israeli post utopia is in the great tradition of Jewish literary subversion. And funny too!? Elena Lappin ?A Guide to the Perplexed is that most welcome and necessary thing, a satire with a target and a true aim? Nicholas Blincoe ?One of the funniest books I have come across. He manages to finely scrutinise male apathy and come up with very accurate observations about men, women and unimportant subjects such as global politics? Ynet ?This is a brilliant parody of all of us and behind this comedy hides our terrible tragedy? Yediot AcharonotMore details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 199 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-85242-826-6 (9781852428266)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gilad Atzmon grew up in Israel. National Service in the army made him a convinced anti-Zionist. He now lives in London where he is a prominent jazz saxophonist, playing with the Orient House Ensemble. Since 1998 Atzmon has toured with the late Ian Dury's legendary backing band, The Blockheads.