Product Description

Set in post-war Hungary between 1944 and 1956, the story follows the lives of two young men and in particular their careers in a travelling basketball team. They spend most of their time in the avoidance of work and army service and in the pursuit of sex. Won the 1992 Betty Trask Award.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #430579 in Books
• Published on: 1993-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Didn't see that coming
I bought this book whilst I was waiting for a dental appointment and knew I was in for a treat, having read the Thought Gang. Whilst having my teeth drilled was a painful experience, this book was anything but .The characterisation of this novel is the foundation of its strength. The main character is so believable because he is just like you - you can see yourself thinking his thoughts, feeling his increasing bewilderment. There is absolutely nothing about this novel which dosn't ring true, which is what makes it so funny. It is also what makes it so sad. When I had finished the novel I was so depressed I had to drink a bottle of wine. I became a pacifist almost overnight. It is the humour which makes it all so believable. At the moment I'm trying to force all of my friends to buy this book, a mission I've decided to transfer to the web. Beg, borrow, steal, buy it. You'll finish it in a day.

Tragic but amusingly so.
This is quite possibly my favourite novel. Without in any way mitagating the drama and misery of the surounding historical events, Fischer manages to involve you in the humour and lives of the individual characters. I was incredibly impressed by this book and would recomend it unreservedly.

You'll laugh, you'll cry...

The best modern novel I've read in ten years.
I first read this book about six years ago and I've read it twice more since then. Fischer has always been a worthwhile writer but I don't think he's ever bettered his first novel. It's laugh-out-loud funny and sob-into-the-pages moving. Having lived in Hungary I can also say he has a remarkable 'feel' for the place and the people. I can say with a good degree of certainty that if you give this book a chance it will stay with you for ever. Read it. Please!