Der Tunnel

Der Tunnel

The Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–90) was one of the most important literary figures of the second half of the twentieth century. During the years of the cold war, arguably only Beckett, Camus, Sartre, and Brecht rivaled him as a presence in European letters. Yet outside Europe, this prolific author is primarily known for only one work, . With these long-awaited translations of his plays, fictions, and essays, Dürrenmatt becomes available again in all his brilliance to the English-speaking world.

This second volume of reveals a writer who may stand as Kafka’s greatest heir. Dürrenmatt’s novellas and short stories are searing, tragicomic explorations of the ironies of justice and the corruptibility of institutions. Apart from , a requiem to the detective story that was made into a film starring Jack Nicholson, none of the works in this volume are available elsewhere in English. Among the most evocative fictions included here are two novellas: and . tells the story of a woman filmmaker investigating a mysterious murder in an unnamed Arab country and has been hailed by Sven Birkerts as “a parable of hell for an age consumed by images.” , meanwhile, is a chilling comic novella about a traveling salesman who agrees to play the role of the defendant in a mock trial among dinner companions—and then pays the ultimate penalty.

Dürrenmatt has long been considered a great writer—but one unfairly neglected in the modern world of letters. With these elegantly conceived and expertly translated volumes, a new generation of readers will rediscover his greatest works.

Review

—Short-listed for The Orwell Prize and The Commonwealth Writers' Prize (South Asia and Europe)
—Long listed for the Man Booker Prize

"An emotionally charged thriller, The Betrayal unfolds breathlessly and with great skill. . . . You don't want to put it down. . . . Elegant yet devastating."—The Seattle Times

“Enormously readable, [The Betrayal] personalizes in intimate detail a harsh and important period in modern Russian history.”—Library Journal

“Beautifully crafted, gripping, moving, enlightening. Sure to be one of the best historical novels of the year.”—Time Out (London)

“Magnificent, brave, tender.”—Independent on Sunday

"Eloquently conveys . . . a terrible chapter in history. . . . This is a book that should be read and valued." —Washington Times

"Historical fiction of the highest order." —Kirkus Reviews

“A masterpiece. An extraordinarily powerful evocation of a time of unimaginable fear. We defy you to read it without a pounding heart and a lump in your throat."—Grazia

"With precise period detail and astute psychological insight, Dunmore brings the last months of Stalin's reign to life and reminds us why some eras shouldn't be forgotten."—Publishers Weekly

“A remarkably feeling, nuanced novel . . . With her seemingly small canvas, Dunmore has created a universe.”—Sunday Herald

"Enthralling. Emotionally gripping . . . ordinary people struggling against a city’s beautiful indifference, and clinging on for dear life."—Daily Telegraph

"Scrupulous, pitch-perfect. With heart-pounding force, Dunmore builds up a double narrative of suspense."—Sunday Times (UK)

"Dunmore chillingly evokes the atmosphere of Soviet suspicion, where whispered rumors and petty grievances metastasize into lies and denunciation. A gripping read."—Daily Mail

"Meticulous, clever, eloquent. An absorbing and thoughtful tale of good people in hard times."—The Guardian

"Dunmore’s genius lies in her ability to convey the strange Soviet atmosphere of these very Soviet stories using the most subtle of clues."—Spectator

"Storytelling on a grand scale."—The Times (UK)

About the Author

Helen Dunmore is the author of eleven novels, including The Siege, short listed for the Whitbread Novel of the Year Award and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; A Spell of Winter, winner of the Orange Prize; and With Your Crooked Heart.

Visit her website at helendunmore.com

Magisch schöne Nixen-Fantasy »Das Wasser flüstert mir etwas zu. Seine Stimme hebt und senkt sich wie das ewige Auf und Ab der Gezeiten. Ich will dieser Stimme folgen. Ich will auf das Meer hinaus und dem Land den Rücken kehren ...« Immer stärker, immer dringlicher wird der Ruf des Meeres. Immer schwerer wird es für Sapphy, ihm zu widerstehen. Verspricht er doch das, was sie sich am meisten wünscht: das Zusammensein mit ihrem Freund Faro, dem jungen Wassermagier, und das Wiedersehen mit ihrem verschwundenen Vater ... Eigentlich wollte Sapphy sich vom Meer und ihrem Freund Faro, dem jungen Wassermagier, fernhalten, da ruft dessen Lehrmeister Saldowr sie zu sich: Der Gezeitenknoten - ein magischer Stein in der Tiefe des Meeres, der die Gezeiten lenkt - ist dabei, sich aufzulösen. Einzig Sapphy, halb Mensch, halb Nixe, vermag ihn wieder zusammenzusetzen und zu verhindern, dass eine riesige Flutwelle die Küste zerstört. Ein Wettlauf mit der Zeit beginnt.