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Zbinden's Progress: Winner of the 2010 Bern Literature Prize Paperback – 20 July 2012

by Christoph Simon (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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Lukas Zbinden leans on the arm of Kazim, as they walk slowly down the stairway towards the door of his old people's home. Step by step, the irrepressible Lukas recounts the life he shared with his wife Emilie and his son. She loved to walk in the countryside; he loved towns and meeting strangers. Different in so many ways, what was the secret of their life-long love? And why is it now so hard for him to talk to his son? Gradually we get to know a man with a twinkle in his eye and learn the captivating story of this man, his late wife, their son and the many people he has met along the way. Zbinden's Progress is heart-rending, heart-warming and hilarious. --- Winner of the Bern Literature Prize 2010
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  1. Print length
    182 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    And Other Stories
  4. Publication date
    20 July 2012
  5. Dimensions
    13.72 x 2.03 x 20.57 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    190827610X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1908276100
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Product description

Review


'Zbinden invites comparison with Leo Tolstoy's Ivan Ilych.' Alexander Starritt, TLS

'A jewel of a novel ... This book is a little Odyssey, a little Ulysses; the story of one day's journey, skilfully playing in tandem with another, life-long journey.' Barbara Trapido,

'With its slow pace and winning ways, Zbinden's Progress casually sidles up and takes its place alongside a number of remarkable recent works [on] the art of taking a walk.' Ian Sansom, The Guardian

'A tender, restrained celebration of life's simple pleasures, beautifully translated by Donal McLaughlin.' Lucy Popescu, The Independent

'Christoph Simon has produced a wonderful, heart-rending, beautiful book; witty, multi-layered and moving.' Buchkultur

'Simon's novel is a polished gem, with insight and perception that know no cultural bounds.' Neue Zurcher Zeitung

'Zbinden's Progress is a delight: a warm, wise, and compassionate book, as attuned to the complexities and mysteries of life as it is to the simple, pleasing colours of its beloved walking-frames.' Benjamin Morris, The Berlin Review Of Books

'It's a story that is not action-packed but is nonetheless full of human emotion and poignancy.' Lizzy's Literary Life

'...an idiosyncratic exploration of what it means to be an elderly member of society with an intense desire to participate in it.' --Dan Eltringham, The Literateur

'Zbinden invites comparison with Leo Tolstoy's Ivan Ilych.' Alexander Starritt, TLS

'A jewel of a novel ... This book is a little Odyssey, a little Ulysses; the story of one day's journey, skilfully playing in tandem with another, life-long journey.' Barbara Trapido

'With its slow pace and winning ways, Zbinden's Progress casually sidles up and takes its place alongside a number of remarkable recent works [on] the art of taking a walk.' Ian Sansom, The Guardian

'A tender, restrained celebration of life's simple pleasures, beautifully translated by Donal McLaughlin.' Lucy Popescu, The Independent

'Christoph Simon has produced a wonderful, heart-rending, beautiful book; witty, multi-layered and moving.' Buchkultur

'Simon's novel is a polished gem, with insight and perception that know no cultural bounds.' Neue Zurcher Zeitung

"Zbinden's Progress is a delight: a warm, wise, and compassionate book, as attuned to the complexities and mysteries of life as it is to the simple, pleasing colours of its beloved walking-frames.' Benjamin Morris, The Berlin Review Of Books

'It's a story that is not action-packed but is nonetheless full of human emotion and poignancy.' Lizzy's Literary Life

..'.an idiosyncratic exploration of what it means to be an elderly member of society with an intense desire to participate in it.' --Dan Eltringham, The Literateur

About the Author

Christoph Simon was born in 1972 in Emmental, Switzerland. After travels through the Middle East, Poland, South America, London and New York, he has settled in Berne. His first novel, Franz, or Why Antelopes Run in Herds (2001) has sold over 10,000 copies, while Planet Obrist (2005) was nominated for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. Zbinden's Progress is his fourth novel and won the 2010 Bern Literature Prize.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ And Other Stories
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 20 July 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 182 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 190827610X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1908276100
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 227 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.72 x 2.03 x 20.57 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

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  1. Christoph Simon

    Christoph Simon

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Christoph Simon was born in 1972 in Emmental, Switzerland.

    After travels through the Middle East, Poland, South America, London and New York, he has settled in Berne. His first novel, Franz, or Why Antelopes Run in Herds (2001) has sold over 10,000 copies, while Planet Obrist (2005) was nominated for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. Zbinden's Progress is his first novel in English translation and his seventh book in German.

    www.christophsimon.ch

    new york short stories: www.christophsimon.ch/new-york-short-stories/

    on facebook:

    http://www.facebook.com/christoph.simon.bern

    Press:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/17/zbindens-progress-christoph-simon-review

    http://www.perlentaucher.de/suche?sid=024334292&start=1

    http://www.derbund.ch/kultur/buecher/Der-Dichter-als-Schlitzohr/story/26097614

    http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/kultur/buecher/Christoph-Simon-wagt-sich-an-die-grossen-Gefuehle-heran/story/24296963

    Christoph Simon besuchte das Gymnasium in Thun und die Swiss Jazz School in Bern. In der Folge bereiste er Israel, Jordanien, Ägypten, Polen, Südamerika, London und New York. 2001 veröffentlichte Simon seinen ersten Roman Franz oder Warum Antilopen nebeneinander laufen. Als zweiter Roman folgte 2003 Luna Llena, dessen Personal sich regelmässig in der gleichnamigen Gelateria trifft. 2005 schrieb er mit Planet Obrist die Geschichte der Hauptfigur seines ersten Romans weiter. Mit einem Auszug daraus wurde er 2006 zu den Tagen der deutschsprachigen Literatur, einer "Besichtigung des Literaturbetriebs" (Simon), nach Klagenfurt eingeladen. Für den vierten Roman "Spaziergänger Zbinden" wurde er 2010 mit dem Literaturpreis des Kanton Bern ausgezeichnet. 2011 erschien das Sammelsurium "Viel Gutes zum kleinen Preis", das Simon auch von seiner bisher unbekannten Seite als Zeichner und Cartoonist zeigte. Auf Youtube veröffentlicht er regelmässig Videos zur Gestalt "Babypunk".

    Zudem schreibt Simon Beiträge für Anthologien und Literaturzeitschriften. Zusammen mit Urs Mannhart und Lorenz Langenegger ist er Mitglied der Autorengruppe Die Autören. Mit Renato Kaiser und Sam Hofacher betreut er die Lesebühne "Rauschdichten". Er lebt in Bern.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Christoph Simon

    Christoph Simon

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
8 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Critical-look
    4.0 out of 5 stars One foot in front of the other
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I am a fan of this publisher so I tend to approach their books with anticipation knowing I am likely to be in for a thought provoking read. This book does not disappoint. The introduction to the book says it all and I cannot improve on that.
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  • Eleanor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Going for a walk
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2012
    Lukas Zbinden is an elderly widower living out his days in a Swiss retirement home. "Zbinden's Progress" consists of the old man's monologue as he slowly descends several flights of stairs on the arm of his carer Kâzim. In the course of his journey we hear about his wife Emilie, her wonderful character, and their great love. We also hear about their son Markus with whom he has much difficulty communicating. It is their relationship or lack of one which provides some of the books most painful moments.

    Although often endearing Zbinden also reveals himself to be a flawed man, a great talker who doesn't always ask the right questions. Zbinden is also a great walker; he believes that all life's problems can be solved with a walk and much of his monologue consists of elaborations on this theme, which contain gems such as "The opportunity to die peacefully as you do it is a great measure of the rightness of such an activity." Amusingly we hear the effect these discourses have on the other eccentric and cantankerous residents of the home, but occasionally I too wished he would give it a rest; as his wife tells him:

    "There is big and little happiness. Big happiness is our love. The little one would be if you'd just listen to the silence."
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Venantius
    5.0 out of 5 stars But It!
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 April 2020
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    Superb.
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