- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: Serpent's Tail (30 Aug 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1852428694
- ISBN-13: 978-1852428693
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 14.9 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 593,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"'Pawel Huelle is one of the most well known Polish writers. In this new book his writing is at least as well oiled as a Mercedes-Benz 170 ought to be, full of stories and reads like a song' TAZ; 'Strictly enclosed by cars and roads, this city-road-movie explores the history of a whole family and era. Wonderful. As Brecht said, the simplest things are the most difficult to create' Bookmarket; 'Highly recommended. It's truly wonderful what this writer from Gdansk has managed to fit into such a tiny car' Focus"
The Independent, 3 March 2006
'Playful, bittersweet, juggling irony with regret'
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There's much to enjoy in this quite whimsical tale of the recent history of one man's family, as necessarily affected by the events of the 20th century, recounted to a female driving instructor over a course of lessons during which the relationship between the narrator and the driving instructor develops. Fans of Bernhard Schlink's "The Reader" will find much of the style and nature of the book familiar. Indeed, the translation is of a similarly outstanding quality.
There is plenty of humour, originality and wit in the novel; towards the end, however, it becomes a little too literary and Central European in its intent, sacrificing readability for worthiness and apparent philosophical profundity.
There is plenty of humour, originality and wit in the novel; towards the end, however, it becomes a little too literary and Central European in its intent, sacrificing readability for worthiness and apparent philosophical profundity.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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1 review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
An unforgettable work of fictional literature
3 May 2006
Format:Paperback
Written in homage to the late Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, Mercedes-Benz: From Letters to Hrabal is Polish author Pawel Huelle's novel based on stories from Pawel's family. In the format of a descriptive letter to Hrabal, Mercedes- Benz relates how Pawel took driving lessons in the 1990's, after the end of communism in Poland; how Pawel's father owned Mercedes-Benz cars, which were sometimes raced and even crashed; how Pawel's grandparents had to survive the Russian Army's confiscations, and much more. The indomitable Mercedes-Benz is a running theme through the family memoirs, and a handful of illustrative b/w photographs pepper this poignant look at the transition between generations. An unforgettable work of fictional literature.
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