Paperback, 112 pages
English language
Published Sept. 27, 2019 by Jonathan Cape.
Jim Sams has undergone a metamorphosis. In his previous life he was ignored or loathed, but in his new incarnation he is the most powerful man in Britain – and it is his mission to carry out the will of the people. Nothing must get in his way: not the opposition, nor the dissenters within his own party. Not even the rules of parliamentary democracy.
With trademark intelligence, insight and scabrous humour, Ian McEwan pays tribute to Franz Kafka’s most famous work to engage with a world turned on its head.
Sich in der Einleitung auf den großen Jonathan Swift beziehen und dann eine so unwitzige Satire abliefern. Also, nee.
This novel takes a satirical look at Brexit and the populism surrounding it. It is quite humorous in its descriptions of politicians' day-to-day and a quick read. Its ties to Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis are loose and only extend to mirroring the opening lines describing a human-insect-transformation. Neither the writing style nor the explored topics are very Kafkaesque.
The focus is disappointingly shallow, namely the politicians and the absurdity of their politics and behaviour. How exactly this fits with (the will of) the people is not explored to a satisfying conclusion. After reading—as before—we are wondering how such a thing as Brexit could happen and why the politicians went through with it and why the people voted for it.
Die Kafka-Analogie ist offensichtlich und den Brexit anhand des Reversalismus zu thematisieren ist eine schöne Idee. Mir gefällt auch das Gedankenspiel mit der Umkehrung des Geldflusses, aber so richtig geflutscht hat es für mich insgesamt leider trotzdem nicht - das mag aber auch an der Übersetzung liegen, weil stellenweise hatte ich den Eindruck, dass es im Original stimmiger sein könnte.
(Die digitale Version in der OnLeihe ausgeborgt)
Fun at first, but steadily soured by sexist tropes and the gradual falling away of creativity and cleverness in general.
Lame.
One wonders what McEwen was thinking when he published this Thinly disguised ridicule of Britain’s Brexiteer leaders. It’s really in a vein Perhaps more suited to a John Crace column. While Not lacking in humour, I’m glad it didn’t go on too long – unlike for the British, where the cockroaches remain at the tiller.
No será por esta novela, quizá un poco apresurada, por la que se recuerde a McEwan. Pero tiene gracia y es una explicación del Brexit tan plausible como cualquier otra.
