Oliver VII
Encyclopedia
Oliver VII is a novel by Antal Szerb
. Originally published in 1942, the book's first English translation was published in 2007. In the book, the restless ruler of an obscure Central European state plots a coup against himself and escapes to Venice
in search of ‘real’ experience. There he falls in with a team of con men
and ends up, to his own surprise, impersonating himself. His journey through successive levels of illusion and reality teaches him much about the world, about his own nature and the paradoxes of the human condition
.
Translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix
, ISBN 978 1901285 796 and ISBN 978 1 901285 901 for the reprint edition
Antal Szerb
Antal Szerb was a noted Hungarian scholar and writer. He is recognized as one of the major Hungarian literary personalities of the 20th century.-Life and work:...
. Originally published in 1942, the book's first English translation was published in 2007. In the book, the restless ruler of an obscure Central European state plots a coup against himself and escapes to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in search of ‘real’ experience. There he falls in with a team of con men
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
and ends up, to his own surprise, impersonating himself. His journey through successive levels of illusion and reality teaches him much about the world, about his own nature and the paradoxes of the human condition
Human condition
The human condition encompasses the experiences of being human in a social, cultural, and personal context. It can be described as the irreducible part of humanity that is inherent and not connected to gender, race, class, etc. — a search for purpose, sense of curiosity, the inevitability of...
.
Translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix
Len Rix
Len Rix is a translator of Hungarian literature, noted for his translations of Antal Szerb's Journey by Moonlight and The Pendragon Legend and of Magda Szabó's The Door.-Personal life:...
, ISBN 978 1901285 796 and ISBN 978 1 901285 901 for the reprint edition
External links
- PushkinPress.com English editions of works by the author Antal Szerb
- Financial Times Review by Alberto Manguel
- Review in The Guardian
- Review by Complete Review