Kleinzeit [Hardcover]

Russell Hoban (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1974

On a day like any other, Kleinzeit gets fired. Hours later, he finds himself in hospital with a pair of adventurous pyjamas and a recurring geometrical pain. Here, he falls instantly in love with a beautiful night nurse called Sister. And together they are pitched headlong into a wild and flickering world of mystery Kleinzeit. In German that means 'hero', or 'smalltime'. It depends on whom you ask. 'Russell Hoban is our Ur-novelist, a maverick voice that is like no other' - "Sunday Telegraph".

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A tour de force... entirely delightful' Auberon Waugh, Evening Standard; On a day like any other, Kleinzeit gets fired, is booked into hospital for a recurring pain, falls in love with a beautiful night sister, and finds himself pitched headlong into a wild and flickering world of mystery...; 'Masterly... a mosaic in which each tiny fragment of wit or dirt or profundity has its appointed place' TLS; 'Outstanding... brimming with humanity and humour... brilliant' Glasgow Herald; 'An original... a delight to read' The Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Russell Hoban is the author of many extraordinary novels including ANGELICA'S GROTTO, also available from Bloomsbury. He has also written some classic books for children including THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD and THE FRANCES books. He lives in London. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd; First edition (March 21, 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0224009648
• ISBN-13: 978-0224009645
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,552,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A hugely imaginative and amusing odyssey, January 27, 2012

By 

Stealer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kleinzeit (Paperback)

Russell Hoban, who died just recently, was without question one of the most imaginative fiction writers of the 20th century, and while it is his 4th adult novel (and his crowning masterpiece) "Riddley Walker" that is most often cited as his best work, it is all too easy to overlook his previous magical, magnificent novels, which is why I wanted to stake a claim for the lesser know "Kleinzeit" as his most enjoyable novel, bringing together (as it does) his gift for storytelling, his fabulous playfulness with language and ideas, his wonderful facility with visual and literal puns, all set in his unique re-imagining of London. For anyone who has read "Kleinzeit", travel on the London Underground (Subway) will never be the same again! It you've heard about this fantastic writer but are daunted at the thought of dealing with the strange, made-up language of "Riddley Walker", try this first. I guarantee that, if you like your literary fiction on the rare side, then you'll be hooked for life.

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding, August 31, 2010

By 

Bret Moore (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kleinzeit (Hardcover)

This is simply a great novel. A good, quick read, but heavy and rich like a delicious cake. So many layers and interesting nuance. And the language is great, a little "British" here and there but nothing too bad. I think Hoban's themes are pretty constant, and this book follows those pretty well, but it really is fantastic. Loved this one.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A smalltime Hero, December 3, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kleinzeit (Hardcover)

Quite simply the best, most mysterious, other-wordly book I've read. And re-read. Times 4. Kleinzeit, protagonist and smalltime Hero, lives in a numinous universe populated by characters such as Sky, Hospital, Bed, Death, etc. Excellent.