Kokoschka's Doll

Based on a true story, Kokoschka's Doll is an imaginative and playful novel that transports the reader to Dresden, Paris, Lagos, and Marrakesh, introducing them to an unforgettable cast of characters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2021
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

A novel of unparalleled brilliance, destined to attain the status of a timeless masterpiece, reminiscent of the almost byzantine splendor it exudes. . . .

At its peak, it stands tall, worthy of comparison with the legendary Gabriel García Márquez and the esteemed Catherine Taylor. The Irish Times has hailed Afonso Cruz as one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Portuguese literature, while El Pais has praised him as a writer of remarkable talent.

At the age of forty-two, Bonifaz Vogel begins to hear a voice. However, it is not the voice of mice or woodworms, as he initially assumes. Nor is it the voice of God, as he later believes. Instead, it belongs to young Isaac Dresner, who takes refuge in the cellar of Vogel's bird shop, fleeing from the soldier who shot his best friend.

Gradually, Vogel comes to rely on this voice for guidance, as he realizes that it holds valuable insights and advice. He cannot make a sale without first consulting the floorboards, as if they possess the wisdom to guide him. Thus, the story unfolds, intertwining the fates of two Dresden families, fractured and displaced by the devastating bombing of the city in 1945. Their destinies are not only interconnected but also bound to that of a life-sized doll commissioned by the artist Oskar Kokoschka in the image of his lost lover.

Kokoschka's Doll is an imaginative and playful novel that transports the reader to the enchanting cities of Dresden, Paris, Lagos, and Marrakesh. Along the way, it introduces an unforgettable cast of characters, each with their unique stories and personalities.

Translated from the Portuguese by Rahul Bery, Rahul Bery's translations from Portuguese and Spanish have been featured in prestigious publications such as Granta, The White Review, Words Without Borders, and the T.L.S. His debut full-length translation, Rolling Fields by David Trueba, was published in 2020. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the translator-in-residence at the British Library.

This remarkable work has received support from the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Weight: 258g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529402698