I don't know what to say about Hrabal's I Served the King of England except perhaps to say that it's the best book I've read in a long, long time.
True, Closely Watched Trains is great, and true, Too Loud a Solitude may be even better, but King of England stands alone. Here's a novel that's so many things: sad, poignant, funny, perceptive, historical, imaginative...the list goes on.
For those with an appreciation for Czech literature, let me strongly recommend this classic: it's a work which I did not want to end.
Heartily agree! I Served the King of England manages to capture both a voice and an entire historical age, perfectly melding the two together. Reminiscent of The Good Soldier Svejk in concept, but its own animal by all other accounts.
ReplyDeleteI very much agree with you about Hrabal. My own favourite is probably Closely Watched Trains.
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