Summer House with Swimming Pool
2016 Longlist

Summer House with Swimming Pool

Translated from the Dutch by Sam Garrett
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Marc Schlosser is a doctor to the rich and famous.

When his most famous patient, the actor Ralph Meier, invites him and his family on holiday, Marc finds that he can’t refuse. But by the time the suntans fade, Ralph Meier is dead.

The medical board accuses Marc of negligence.

Ralph’s wife, however, accuses him of murder…

 

Librarian’s Comments

A real black comedy/drama with plenty of moral and ethical questions to be answered. Some of the events portrayed aren’t particularly savoury, but it’s an intriguing story nevertheless with many twists and delemmas. There are some uncomfortable moments especially with the main character and some of the dispassionate and morally ambiguous views he holds. Much enjoyed story by all our panel.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Herman
Koch

Herman Koch, born in 1953, is a Dutch writer. He was a renowned television actor on the series Jiskefet and a former columnist for the newspaper Volkskrant. His novel The Dinner won the prestigious Publieksprijs Prize in 2009 and went on to be a huge international bestseller. Summer House with Swimming Pool is his seventh novel. He currently lives in Amsterdam.

Herman Koch, born in 1953, is a Dutch writer. He was a renowned television actor on the series Jiskefet and a former columnist for the newspaper Volkskrant. His novel The Dinner won the prestigious Publieksprijs Prize in 2009 and went on to be a huge international bestseller. Summer House with Swimming Pool is his seventh novel. He currently lives in Amsterdam.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Sam
Garrett

SAM GARRETT has translated some 50 novels and works of nonfiction. He has won prizes and appeared on shortlists for some of the world’s most prestigious literary awards, and is the only translator to have twice won the British Society of Authors’ Vondel Prize for Dutch-English translation.

SAM GARRETT has translated some 50 novels and works of nonfiction. He has won prizes and appeared on shortlists for some of the world’s most prestigious literary awards, and is the only translator to have twice won the British Society of Authors’ Vondel Prize for Dutch-English translation.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

A real black comedy/drama with plenty of moral and ethical questions to be answered. Some of the events portrayed aren’t particularly savoury, but it’s an intriguing story nevertheless with many twists and delemmas. There are some uncomfortable moments especially with the main character and some of the dispassionate and morally ambiguous views he holds. Much enjoyed story by all our panel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
02/04/2015
Country
Germany
Original Language
German
Author
Publisher
Atlantic Books
Translator
Sam Garrett
Translation
Translated from the Dutch by Sam Garrett

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