Facebook Twitter Pinterest linkedin Telegram
Dublin Literary Award Dublin Literary Award
  • ABOUT
  • Books
  • Judges
  • Libraries
  • News
  • Archive
           
Menu
Dublin Literary Award
Sold out
HomeBooks20192019 Translated Go, Went, Gone
Previous product
Manhattan Beach
Back to products
Next product
First Person

Go, Went, Gone

Author: Jenny Erpenbeck

Translated from the German by Susan Bernofsky

Richard has spent his life as a university professor, immersed in the world of books and ideas, but now he is retired, his books remain in their packing boxes and he steps into the streets of his city, Berlin. Here, on Oranienplatz, he discovers a new community — a tent city, established by African asylum seekers. Hesitantly, getting to know the new arrivals, Richard finds his life changing, as he begins to question his own sense of belonging in a city that once divided its citizens into them and us. At once a passionate contribution to the debate on race, privilege and nationality and a beautifully written examination of an ageing man’s quest to find meaning in his life.

About the author

Jenny Erpenbeck  was born in East Berlin in 1967. She has worked on opera and musical productions and her fiction has been translated worldwide. She is the author of The Old Child , The Book of Words, and Visitation.

(from publisher)

Librarians’ comments:

Go, Went, Gone tells the story of a recently returned classics professor named Richard who, widowed and childless, seeks focus and meaning in his life. Fate brings him to a group of African refugees who have been camping in Oranienplatz, Berlin. He befriends them and learns the extraordinary, brutal and fragmented narratives of their  young lives. The novel dares to ask what becomes of identity and morality in the face of our globe’s radical changes. Erpenbeck allows a crystalline human insight.

Nominated for the Man Booker International Prize 2018, Jenny Erpenbeck took on the current topic of the refugee situation. The main character, a recently retired, self-absorbed professor meeting African asylum seekers in Berlin, firstly approaching them as if they were a project and lateer discovering empathy, learns about two worlds, his society and himself. Shortlisted for the German Book Award 2015.

Erpenbeck focuses on the contemporary refugee crises and our responsibility in its creation. It is a passionate contribution to the debate on race, privilege and nationality and also a piece of written examination of an ageing man’s quest to find meaning in his life.

This is a powerful and moving insight into how displacement  – on African migrants – impacts their lives and that of an older man, Richard in the country they move to, Germany. A humane and convincing novel by a woman born in the former East Germany.

The prose is measured and austere while being rich and joyous. Erpenbeck is skilled in conveying situations with simple but highly effective compositions.

The novel reveals an almost forgotten depth of psychological and social insight into the human being in the course and context of unfolding history. The subtle craft of penmanship demonstrated by the author is matchless.

Retired and living in modern cultured Berlin, a former classics professor ponders what to do with his time. When he confronts the African refugee crisis in his city, the professor must deal with his emotional reactions, and a call for action. His academic analysis and training are of little use. Erpenbeck has created layers of tragic stories about the experience of displaced people, and the often misplaced and futile attempts to assist them.

  • Additional information
  • Libraries Ireland - Find This Book
Additional information
Author

Jenny Erpenbeck

Country

DE

Nominating Library

Germany, Stadtbuchereien Dusseldorf

Publisher

Portobello Books, UK

Translation

Translated from the German by Susan Bernofsky

Libraries Ireland - Find This Book

Libraries Ireland Search System

Search for this book in the Dublin City online system and reserve for collection at the Irish library of your choice.

Search CATALOGUE Ireland for Go, Went, Gone

This search result is offered as a helping hand to find books in the Libraries Ireland Online Catalogue. Some results may not be accurate where book titles have common words with similar titles.

Categories: 2019, 2019 Translated
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest linkedin Telegram
BROUGHT TO YOU BY

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

WITH KIND SUPPORT

CONTACT

DUBLIN Literary Award
Dublin City Library & Archive
138 – 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Ireland
literaryaward@dublincity.ie
Tel +353 1 222 4802

  • ABOUT
  • Books
  • Judges
  • Libraries
  • News
  • Archive
Copyright © 2022 Dublin City Council
Website by JET Design
close
Start typing to see books you are looking for.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Books
  • Judges
  • Libraries
  • ABOUT
  • Archive
  • News
Scroll To Top