The Appointment A Novel
The Appointment by Herta Müller is a novel published by Macmillan on September 13, 2001, in its 1st American Edition. This 214-page work explores the life of a young Romanian woman navigating the oppressive environment of Ceaucescu’s totalitarian regime. The narrative begins with her anxious anticipation of an interrogation, stemming from her act of sewing personal notes into the linings of suits destined for Italy, revealing her desperate desire to escape her circumstances.
Readers will find a poignant portrayal of betrayal and fear as the protagonist reflects on her past and the people who have impacted her life, including friends and family affected by the regime’s brutality. The story delves into her complex relationships, particularly with her interrogator and her lover, Paul, while also highlighting the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance and mistrust. Through its stark and intense prose, The Appointment presents a vivid account of life under a repressive government, making it a significant addition to contemporary literary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the winner of the IMPAC Award and the Nobel Prize, a fierce novel about a young Romanian woman’s discovery of betrayal in the most intimate reaches of her life
“I’ve been summoned. Thursday, ten sharp.” Thus begins one day in the life of a young clothing-factory worker during Ceaucescu’s totalitarian regime. She has been questioned before; this time, she believes, will be worse. Her crime? Sewing notes into the linings of men’s suits bound for Italy. “Marry me,” the notes say, with her name and address. Anything to get out of the country.
As she rides the tram to her interrogation, her thoughts stray to her friend Lilli, shot trying to flee to Hungary, to her grandparents, deported after her first husband informed on them, to Major Albu, her interrogator, who begins each session with a wet kiss on her fingers, and to Paul, her lover, her one source of trust, despite his constant drunkenness. In her distraction, she misses her stop to find herself on an unfamiliar street. And what she discovers there makes her fear of the appointment pale by comparison.
Herta Müller pitilessly renders the humiliating terrors of a crushing regime. Bone-spare and intense, The Appointment confirms her standing as one of Europe’s greatest writers.
FAQ
What is “The Appointment A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “The Appointment A Novel”?
When was “The Appointment A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Appointment A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
