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The Legend Of The Holy Drinker

By Joseph Roth
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Check link for latest rating. ( 7,331 ratings, 658 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Legend of the Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth follows the story of Andreas Kartak, an affectionate vagrant living under the bridges of Paris. He unexpectedly receives a 200 franc gift from a mysterious benefactor, which he promises to repay to a local church's statue of St. Thérèse. The novel navigates his struggles with maintaining his vow amidst a series of poignant and mystical encounters.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

The Legend Of The Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth is a captivating exploration of redemption and destiny. You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to tales of grace and humanity, where a downtrodden individual's chance encounter leads to an unexpectedly profound journey through the streets of Paris. With its lyrical prose and poignant themes, this story is perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives with a touch of magic realism.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A witty novel of 'sublime simplicity' about an alcoholic vagrant who has a series of lucky breaks that lift him briefly onto a different plane of existence.

A witty novel of 'sublime simplicity' about an alcoholic vagrant who has a series of lucky breaks that lift him briefly onto a different plane of existence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'One of the greatest European novelists of the century' - Sunday Times

This novella, one of the most haunting things that Joseph Roth ever composed, was published in 1939, the year the author died. Like Andreas, the hero of the story, Roth drank himself to death in Paris, but this is not an autobiographical confession. Rather, it is a secular miracle-tale, in which the vagrant Andreas, after living under bridges, has a surprising run of good luck that changes his circumstances profoundly.

The novella is extraordinarily compressed, dry-eyed and witty, despite its melancholic subject matter.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Legend of the Holy Drinker is praised for its concise and masterful storytelling, described as a "short, boozy, perfectly cut gem." It weaves a tale set in a dreamy Parisian Catholic world, blending destitution with fairy-tale elements and is lauded for its poignant and sublime simplicity. Regarded as showcasing the brilliance of Joseph Roth, the narrative is both funny and remarkable, confirming Roth's stature as one of the greatest European novelists of the century.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783788460

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Hofmann
  • Illustrated by Frans Masereel
  • Translated by Michael Hofmann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 87g

Pages: 112

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction Fiction in Translation General Fiction Joseph Roth Literary Fiction

About the Author

JOSEPH ROTH (1894-1939) was a prolific journalist and novelist. One of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, his work traces the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rising fascist threat in Europe. On Hitler's assumption of power, he was obliged to leave Germany for Paris, where he died in poverty a few years later. His books include What I Saw, Job, The White Cities, The String of Pearls and The Radetzky March, all published by Granta Books.

MICHAEL HOFMANN is the highly acclaimed translator of Joseph Roth, Franz Kafka, Hans Fallada, Bertolt Brecht, and many more. A poet and essayist, he also teaches at the University of Florida.

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