Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv : Longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023
(Author) Andrey Kurkov"Both a pleasure and a testament to life in Ukraine, before" Sunday Times "Ukraine's greatest living novelist" New European "A Ukrainian Murakami" Guardian A love letter to the beautiful city of Lviv, by the author of Death and the Penguin and Grey Bees. Strange things are afoot in the cosmopolitan city of Lviv, western Ukraine. Seagulls are circling and the air smells salty, though Lviv is a long way from the sea . . . A ragtag group gathers round a mysterious grave in Lychakiv Cemetery - among them an ex-KGB officer and an ageing hippy he used to spy on. Before long, Captain Ryabtsev and Alik Olisevych are teaming up to discover the source of the "anomalies". Meanwhile, Taras - who makes a living driving kidney-stone patients over cobblestones in his ancient Opel Vectra - is courting Darka, who works nights at a bureau de change despite being allergic to money. The young lovers don't know it, but their fate depends on two lonely old men, relics of another era, who will stop at nothing to save their city. Shot through with Kurkov's unique brand of black humour and vodka-fuelled magic realism, Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv is an affectionate portrait one the world's most intriguing cities. Translated from the Russian by Reuben Woolley
Andrey Kurkov
Andrey Kurkov is a Ukrainian novelist known for his darkly humorous and satirical works that often explore themes of corruption, disillusionment, and political unrest. His most notable work is "Death and the Penguin," which follows the misadventures of a struggling writer and his pet penguin in post-Soviet Ukraine.
Kurkov's writing style is characterized by its dry wit, understated humor, and keen observations of the human condition. He is praised for his ability to blend elements of absurdity with poignant social commentary, creating a unique and compelling narrative voice.
Through his works, Kurkov has made significant contributions to contemporary Ukrainian literature, shedding light on the complexities of life in a post-Soviet society and challenging conventional notions of identity, power, and morality. His works have been translated into multiple languages and have garnered international acclaim for their insight and originality.