The Map and the Territory
2013 Shortlist

The Map and the Territory

Translated from the original French by Gavin Bowd
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

Artist Jed Martin emerges from a ten-year hiatus with good news. It has nothing to do with his broken boiler, the approach of another lamentably awkward Christmas dinner with his father or the memory of his doomed love affair with the beautiful Olga. It is that, for his new exhibition, he has secured the involvement of none other than celebrated novelist Michel Houellebecq.

The exhibition brings Jed new levels of global fame. But, his boiler is still broken, his ailing father flirts with oblivion and, worst of all, he is contacted by an inspector requiring his help in solving an unspeakable, atrocious and gruesome crime, involving none other than celebrated novelist Michel Houellebecq…

 

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Michel
Houllebecq

Michel Houellebecq is a French novelist, poet, and literary critic. His novels include the international bestseller The Elementary Particles and The Map and the Territory, which won the 2010 Prix Goncourt. He lives in France. (from Publisher)

Michel Houellebecq is a French novelist, poet, and literary critic. His novels include the international bestseller The Elementary Particles and The Map and the Territory, which won the 2010 Prix Goncourt. He lives in France. (from Publisher)

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Gavin
Bowd

Gavin Bowd teaches French at St Andrews University. He has written widely on Scottish, French, and Romanian culture and politics. He is also a poet, fiction writer, and journalist. He is the translator of Michel Houllebecq’s novels The Possibility of an Island and The Map and the Territory, and has been shortlisted for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award.

Gavin Bowd teaches French at St Andrews University. He has written widely on Scottish, French, and Romanian culture and politics. He is also a poet, fiction writer, and journalist. He is the translator of Michel Houllebecq’s novels The Possibility of an Island and The Map and the Territory, and has been shortlisted for the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

The Map and the Territory is an intellectually demanding novel about the interaction of art and life, ironically introducing ‘Michael Houellebecq’ as a fictional character.

A most interesting and substantial novel by the amazing French author, Michael Houellebecq.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
03/09/2010
Country
France
Original Language
French
Publisher
William Heinemann
Translator
Gavin Bowd
Translation
Translated from the original French by Gavin Bowd

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