The Ruined Map A Novel
The Ruined Map A Novel by Kobo Abe is a reprint edition published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on December 4, 2001. This 304-page novel, written in English, presents a compelling narrative that intertwines elements of crime and psychological exploration. The story follows a private detective hired by the wife of a missing salesman, Mr. Nemuro, who vanished over six months ago. Armed with only a photo and a matchbook, the detective’s investigation leads him into the depths of Tokyo’s underworld, where he grapples with the complexities of identity and reality.
Readers will find that The Ruined Map combines narrative suspense with psychological depth, drawing comparisons to the works of Chandler and Dostoevsky. The novel’s surreal and fast-paced nature invites exploration into the intricacies of the human mind, making it a thought-provoking read. As the detective delves deeper into his investigation, the boundaries of his own identity begin to blur, creating a hauntingly dreamlike atmosphere that characterizes Kobo Abe’s unique storytelling style.
Official synopsis Publisher
Of all the great Japanese novelists, Kobe Abe was indubitably the most versatile. With The Ruined Map, he crafted a mesmerizing literary crime novel that combines the narrative suspense of Chandler with the psychological depth of Dostoevsky.
Mr. Nemuro, a respected salesman, disappeared over half a year ago, but only now does his alluring yet alcoholic wife hire a private eye. The nameless detective has but two clues: a photo and a matchbook. With these he embarks upon an ever more puzzling pursuit that leads him into the depths of Tokyo’s dangerous underworld, where he begins to lose the boundaries of his own identity. Surreal, fast-paced, and hauntingly dreamlike, Abe’s masterly novel delves into the unknowable mysteries of the human mind.
Translated from the Japanese by E. Dale Saunders.
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