- Night Work (book)
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Night Work 
UK paperback editionAuthor(s) Thomas Glavinic Original title Die Arbeit der Nacht Translator John Brownjohn Country Austria Language German Genre(s) Literary fiction Publisher Hanser (Germany)
Canongate (UK)Publication date 2006 Published in
English2008 Media type Print (hardcover and paperback) Pages 400 (Germany)
386 (UK)ISBN 9781847670519 OCLC Number 442553734 Preceded by Wie man lebel soll Followed by Das bin doch ich Night Work (German: Die Arbeit der Nacht) is a 2006 novel by Austrian writer Thomas Glavinic. The book was translated into English in 2008 by John Brownjohn for Edinburgh-based publisher Canongate.
Contents
Plot summary
The novel, set in modern day Vienna, is a post-apocalyptic exploration around themes of solitude and existential philosophy. The plot concerns a central character, Jonas, who wakes up one day to discover that everyone else has vanished from the city, perhaps the world, without trace; he appears to be the only person left.
As he attempts to discover what could possibly explain such a situation, the days pass and he begins to realise that he is performing strange activities when asleep. A struggle ensues as Jonas tries to control his unconscious actions while searching for other human life.
Critical reception
The UK edition received a generally positive reception from critics. The Guardian referred to the book as being “at times genuinely horrific” because of the author’s skill in manipulating the “reader's constant anxiety that [he] won't, indeed can't, deliver a solution to his own mystery”.[1] The Independent claimed that the novel, “functions both as an outstanding fictionalisation of Freud's essay The Uncanny, and as a superior literary thriller packed with invention and suspense”.[2] The Scotland on Sunday said it was “strong on intrigue” and “seriously frightening”.[3]
References
- Glavinic, Thomas (2008-25-07), Night Work (1st ed.), Edinburgh: Canongate ISBN 9781847670519
- ^ "Review: I am legend". The Guardian. 26 July 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/26/fiction5. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ "Night Work, by Thomas Glavinic, trans John Brownjohn". The Independent. 11 August 2008. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/night-work-by-thomas-glavinic-trans-john-brownjohn-890086.html. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ "Book review: Night Work by Thomas Glavinic". Scotland on Sunday. 11 August 2008. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/edinburghinternationalbookfestival/Book-review-Night-Work-by.4281365.jp. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
External links
Categories:- 2006 novels
- Austrian novels
- German-language novels
- Novels set in Vienna
- Post-apocalyptic novels
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