The Witness
Published on 23. April 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
172 pages
978-1-84668-691-7 (ISBN)
Description
In sixteenth-century Spain, a cabin boy is bound for the New World. An inland expedition ends in disaster when it is attacked by Indians, leaving the young boy, as sole survivor, to face his fate amidst the natives.
The Witness is a reflection on memory, on the role of objects in the construction of our world, on the relationship between existence and meaning, on foreignness, cultural identity and otherness.
The Witness is a reflection on memory, on the role of objects in the construction of our world, on the relationship between existence and meaning, on foreignness, cultural identity and otherness.
Reviews / Votes
The most important Argentinean writer since Borges * Independent * Saer's novel combines elements of the haunting metaphysical ambiguity of Jorge Luis Borges' poetry and Graham Greene's sensual description of the dark corners of the physical world and the human soul. The evocative imagery and ideas revealed in The Witness are not easily forgotten. * Washington Times * Haunting and beautifully written... The author's preoccupations are reminiscent of his fellow Argentinians Borges and Cortazar but his vision is fresh and unique. * Independent on Sunday * Let me make myself clear: The Witness is a great book and the name of its author, Juan Jose Saer, must be added to the list of the best South American writers. * Le Monde * Shades of Melville and Conrad's Heart of Darkness * Irish Times * This beautifully carved novella by the Argentinian born writer, who died four years ago, is a mini masterpiece... A spell-binding, provocative and disturbing read -- Lesley McDowell * Independent on Sunday *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Profile Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84668-691-7 (9781846686917)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Born in Santa Fe, Argentina in 1937, Juan Jose Saer was the leading Argentinian writer of the post-Borges generation. In 1968, he moved to Paris and taught literature at the university in Rennes, Brittany. In 1988, Juan Jose Saer was awarded Spain's prestigious Nadal Prize. His work is translated into all major languages. He died in 2005.