Go, Went, Gone
Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck is a reprint edition published by New Directions Publishing Corporation in 2017. This novel, written in English and spanning 286 pages, follows Richard, a retired classics professor in Berlin, whose life takes a turn after he encounters African refugees staging a hunger strike in Alexanderplatz. As he becomes involved in their lives, Richard experiences a profound transformation that challenges his routine existence and prompts him to confront the complexities of the European refugee crisis.
Readers will find that Go, Went, Gone delves into themes of compassion, identity, and the impact of political decisions on individual lives. Through Richard’s journey, the narrative explores the connections between him and the refugees, highlighting shared humanity amid the backdrop of war and displacement. This work engages with significant contemporary issues while offering a psychological and literary examination of its characters, making it a thought-provoking addition to world literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
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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