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Amazon.co.uk Review
The General of the Dead Army, Ismail Kadare's meditation on the consequences of war, is a hugely moving account of duty and loss. It is 20 years since the end of the Second World War and an Italian army general is sent to Albania to search again for the bodies of those who lost their lives in the campaign. He is armed with maps, lists, measurements, dental and other records. He tours the countryside organising digs and disinternments and, as he tries to find the dead sons of forgotten families, he wonders at the sense, and scale, of his task. He discusses and argues with the curt Italian priest who is accompanying him. He finds his footsteps followed, sometimes anticipated, by a fellow general who is also looking for bodies; the bodies of his German countrymen. He struggles with the Albanian countryside, weather, labourers who work for him and peasants who watch their work. And he fights the despair that grows as the size, scope and, ultimately, the hopelessness of his task becomes ever more apparent.
Kadare's plaintive novel is a consistently heartfelt lament to all those who have died and been effected by war but it is also a beautiful work displaying the skills that make him one of the great modern European writers. --Mark Thwaite --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
" "He has been compared to Gogol, Kafka and Orwell. But Kadare's is an original voice, universal yet deeply rooted in his own soil" - Independent on Sunday. "Kadare's first novel caught on in the West as nothing out of Albania had in living memory" - Observer. "Kadare is a novelist of dazzling mastery" PAUL BINDING - Independent"
--This text refers to an alternate
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Kadaré's book takes us on a journey through the Albanian landscape, and through the mind of an Italian general, who has come to Albania to collect the remains of his country's soldier from the second world war. This plot allows for a lot of deep thoughts and emotions, which Kadaré examines properly. Through glimpses into the minds of Italian soldiers during the war he also delivers comments on the pointlessness of war, the loss of identity, and many other topics which could have been explored more. But that is left to the reader, and the philosophical reader may remain with these questions at hand long after finishing the book. A very moving book, and an author I simply must explore further.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read the Quartet Books edition of this book which has a preface by David Smiley, an SOE operative in Albania during WW2. He usefully points out where Kadare's text glosses over the complexities of the war in Albania. Invaded in 1939 by the Italians, possibly as a springboard to invade Greece, it was later (when the Italians had been thrown back into Albania) simultaneously occupied by the Germans, a situation made even more complex when Italy capitulated and joined the Allies in the summer of 1943. Both before and after the Italian volte face the various factions (collaborators, monarchists, Communists, partisans, SOE operatives) waged a confusing war in unforgiving terrain. That said, Kadare was writing under difficult circumstances, and the book is gripping. Written between 1962-1966 it is a bleak picture of the futility of war. Since 1994 I have visited Albania a number of times, both independently and with guided tours, and I find the country fascinating. TGOTDA was my first Kadare novel; it won't be my last.
7 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Kadare, in my opinion, is one of the greats in literature. This story is a classic example of deep meaning intertwined in the simple story of a general gathering his dead comrades from the mountains of Albania. Few can match the subtle messages Kadare gives in his storie. Well done.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
This is one of the most important books of Kadare.
It is based in a real story happened during the 2nd World war. Kadare has reported it very realistically. Everyone can clearily and easily understand it. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 1999
EXCELLENT< SPECTACULAR JOB
This is the best novel written from Kadare. The story is so original, the style so breathtaking and the characters so interesting yet so real. Kadare is the ALBANIAN GENIUS. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 1999
A surprisingly pleasant book to read
I could not stop reading the book, from cover to cover. Very well-written. Kudos to the author.
Published on 6 Jan 1999
intriguing
Fascinating document, written in an
impressive style.
Gives an important item of the
inflections that this bloodshed country
and people underwent.
impressive style.
Gives an important item of the
inflections that this bloodshed country
and people underwent.
Published on 19 Aug 1996
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