Poetics of Work

The narrator is struggling to make a living off of the small royalties from a novel they created based on the stories of a brilliant and brittle grand dame of theatre. They are sparring with the spectre of an over-bearing father and are torn between the push to find a job and the pull to write. Poetics of Work takes a jab at the values of late capitalism and offers ten lessons to today's young poets on how to survive in the face of adversity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 105 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2021
Publisher: Les Fugitives

Sparring with the spectre of an over-bearing father, torn between the push to find a job and the pull to write, the narrator wanders into a larger debate, one in which the troubling lights of Kafka, Kraus, and Klemperer shine bright. Set against the backdrop of police brutality and rising nationalism that marked the state of emergency following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, Poetics of Work takes a jab at the values of late capitalism. Hence these ten lessons to today's young poets - a blistering treatise of survival skills for the wilfully idle.

The narrator's struggle to reconcile their artistic ambitions with the demands of the job market is a central theme of the novel. While they initially try to avoid thinking about work altogether, they soon realize that their financial situation is precarious and that they need to find some form of employment. However, the narrator is reluctant to compromise their artistic vision and feels that finding a job that aligns with their values is impossible. As a result, they find themselves in a constant state of tension, oscillating between the desire to pursue their dreams and the fear of financial instability.

The novel also explores the broader societal implications of the narrator's situation. The state of emergency following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris serves as a backdrop for the story, highlighting the tensions between security and freedom, and the ways in which the government uses fear to control its citizens. The narrator's struggle to find work is seen as a metaphor for the broader struggle of young people to find their place in a society that is rapidly changing and uncertain. The novel suggests that the values of late capitalism, which prioritize profit and productivity over creativity and individuality, are ultimately harmful to both individuals and society as a whole.

Through its vivid portrayal of the narrator's struggles and its critical analysis of the societal forces that shape them, Poetics of Work offers a powerful commentary on the challenges facing young people today. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of pursuing one's dreams, even in the face of adversity. While the narrator's situation may be unique, the themes that the novel explores are universal, and they will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

Weight: 84g
Dimension: 120 x 179 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838014131