Death in the Museum of Modern Art : six stories by Alma Lazarevska ; translated from the Bosnian by Celia Hawkesworth

Avoiding the easy traps of politics and blame, Lazarevska reveals a world full of incidents and worries so similar to our own, and yet always under the shadow of the snipers and the bombs that we know are out there and that occasionally impinge on the story in shocking ways. One of the finest works to have emerged from the tragedy that was the siege of Sarajevo, Death in the Museum of Modern Art received the "Best Book" award from the Society of Writers of Bosnia & Herzegovina upon its publication, and Lazarevska is considered by many to be the undiscovered genius of contemporary Bosnian literature. 'The Great War'is a novel that comprehensively and passionately narrates a number of stories covering the duration of World War One, starting with the year 1914 - the year that truly marked the beginning of the twentieth century. Following the destinies of over seventy characters, on all warring sides, Gatalica depicts the experiences of winners and losers, generals and opera singers, soldiers and spies; managing to grasp the atmosphere of the entire epoch, not only of these crucial four and a half bloody years, but also in the innocent decades that preceded the war, and the poisoned ones that followed. The stories themselves are various but equally important: here we find joyful as well as tragic destinies, along with examples of exceptional heroism. Yet'The Great War'never becomes a chronicle, nor a typical historical novel; above all it is a work of art that uses historic events as means to tell many fantastic stories, with unbelievable and unthinkable convolutions. It is commendable in its breadth, its vision and its relevance to modern history. 'One of the most ambitious novels of our time.'Goffredo Fofi, Internationale'- excitement and tension throughout. I loved the book.'John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International'..An historical novel, philosophical diary, and awork of Zen: a superb exercise in modesty -'- Fabio de Propris, Il Manifesto'A work of stunning intellectual, structural and narrative complexity, written in clear, engaging and witty prose.'- Drew Adamek, Valley Advocate'With evocative descriptions of life in the twin cities of the Ottoman Empire, Bajac conjures images and situations that encourage readers to question and consider human values and relations. Fans of Orhan Pamuk should appreciate this novel, while those wishing to indulge in an originally crafted historical tale with modern resonance should be rewarded with an original and stimulating read.'Marcus Agar, WildRooster The New Bulgarian Ambassador To London Is Determined To Satisfy The Whims Of His Bosses At All Costs. Putting Himself At The Mercy Of A Shady Pr-agency, He Is Promised Direct Access To The Very Highest Social Circles. Meanwhile, On The Lower Levels Of The Embassy, Things Are Not As They Should Be. With Criminal Gangs Operating In The Kitchens, Police On The Trail Of Missing Ducks From Richmond Park And A Sexy Princess Diana Impersonator Employed As The Cleaner, How Is An Ambassador Supposed To Do His Job? Combining The Themes Of Corruption, Confusion, And Outright Incompetence, Popov Masterly Brings Together The Multiple Plot Lines In A Sumptuous Carnival Of Frenzy And Futile Vanity, Allowing The Illusions And Delusions Of The Post-communist Society To Be Reflected In Their Glorious Absurdity! Contemporary fiction. This is a tale of East and West, of Christianity and Islam and the age-old struggle between them. By focusing on the larger-than-life personalities of two Balkan men who were taken from their Serbian homeland and introduced into the Turkish Sultan's private guard, the author provides us with a harrowing insight into religion and identity. Framed within the contemporary literary landscape of Pamuk, Ginsberg and Prenz, the reader is constantly shuttled between historical fact and modern dilemma, as 'Hamam Balkania' reminds us of lessons already learned A book that lives in two parts: one in the 16th century Ottoman empire and the other in our own 21st century reality. Here we have the story of 4 friends, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, a Serbian shepherd boy who rose to the position of Grand Vizier and Koca Mimar Sinan, the 'Michelangelo of the East'. In our own time, the author and his friend Orhan Pamuk One of the very few novels about WWI to have reached the UK market from the Eastern Front. Winner of every literary prize in Serbia upon its publication, The Great War is author Aleksandar Gatalica's opum magnus; following the lives and deaths of spies, singers and soldiers from all warring sides, as each is drawn into this world-changing conflict A tender and revealing set of stories by the uniquely delicate Bosnian writer, Alma Lazarevska. Avoiding the easy traps of politics and blame, she reveals a world full of incidents and worries so similar to our own, and yet always under the shadow of the snipers. One of the finest works to have emerged from the tragedy of the siege of Sarajevo. A Novel That Narrates A Number Of Stories Covering The Duration Of World War I. It Follows The Destinies Of Over 70 Characters On All Warring Sides Including Generals, Opera Singers, Soldiers, And Spies. In the best European absurdist tradition, Popov has created a very funny novel about the trials and tribulations of transition society and the comedy to be found when cultures clash.