Krull House

The Krull House is a novel by Simenon that was written on the eve of the Second World War. It is a taut, strangely prophetic novel about how distrust and hostility towards outsiders descends into hate-filled violence. The world of Chez Krull is a common, shared one that exploits modest, hospitable decency.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 01 October 2020
\n Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
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Vintage Simenon, a dark masterpiece, is a hauntingly prophetic work that delves into the depths of human nature.

John Banville, in his review for the Guardian, aptly describes it as "not because you're foreigners. It's because you aren't foreign enough." This statement reflects the novel's exploration of the boundaries between different cultures and the complexities of identity.

Just as the Krull house sits on the edge of a rural French town, the family occupies a marginal place in the life of the community around them. Despite having lived there for decades, they are snubbed by the locals, who view them as outsiders. To make a living, they rely on trade with passing sailors, a situation that further exacerbates their sense of isolation.

However, when their relative arrives unannounced from Germany, with his unsettling, nonchalant ways, the family becomes the target of increasing suspicion and the scapegoat for a terrible crime. The arrival of this mysterious figure sets in motion a series of events that will test the limits of their loyalty and morality.

Written on the eve of the Second World War, The Krull House is a taut, strangely prophetic novel that explores the dark side of human nature.

Simenon meticulously depicts the way selfish, conscience-free greed exploits modest, hospitable decency. The world of Chez Krull is a common, shared one, but it is also a place where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and the consequences of one's actions can be devastating.

Julian Barnes, in his review for the London Review of Books, praises Simenon's writing, stating that he "lays out with ruthless exactitude the way selfish, conscience-free greed exploits modest, hospitable decency." Barnes further notes that The Krull House is a "masterpiece" that "will stay with you long after you have finished reading it."

\n Weight: 158g\n
Dimension: 197 x 127 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780241453414\n \n