'They didn't seem to take much interest in my private parts which to tell the truth were nothing to write home about, I didn't take much interest in them myself.' From the master of the absurd, these two stories of an unnamed vagrant contending with decay and death combine bleakness with the blackest of humour. Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet known for his minimalist and absurdist style. He is best known for his play "Waiting for Godot," which explores themes of existentialism and the human condition. Beckett's works often feature bleak and dark humor, as well as a focus on the futility of human existence. His contributions to literature have had a significant impact on the genre of absurdist theatre and have influenced countless writers and artists. Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 for his groundbreaking work in the field.