Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia - Softcover

West, Rebecca

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0862414288 ISBN 13: 9780862414283

Publisher: Canongate, 1996

Synopsis

First appearing in two volumes in 1942, this book was written as a result of the author's three journeys to Yugoslavia: one in 1936, another in 1937 and finally, in the summer of 1938. At first, she thought it was folly to consider a book on such a subject and it seems that her publishers thought so too. But the book became a historical, archaeological and political analysis of the country, as well as a conversation and an account of folklore, prophecy, and a record of landscape. The book also includes the author's views on religion, ethics, art, myth and gender. The book was completed as Yugoslavia was plunged into political turmoil, followed by invasion and four years of merciless civil and partisan warfare. It is being re-published half a century later during equally critical times for the people of the Balkans. Rebecca West is the author of nonfiction works such as "The Meaning of Treason" and "A Train of Powder", and works of fiction including "The Thinking Reed", "The Fountain Overflows" and "The Birds Fall Down".

About this title

Review:

Surely one of the great books of our century. (Diana Trilling)

Rebecca West's magnum opus . . . one of the great books of our time. (Clifton Fadiman, "The New Yorker")

Rebecca Westas magnum opus . . . one of the great books of our time. (Clifton Fadiman, "The New Yorker")

Rebecca West s magnum opus . . . one of the great books of our time. (Clifton Fadiman, "The New Yorker")

A masterpiece . . . as astonishing in its range, in the subtlety and power of its judgment, as it is brilliant in expression. The Times (London)
Surely one of the great books of our century. Diana Trilling"

"A masterpiece . . . as astonishing in its range, in the subtlety and power of its judgment, as it is brilliant in expression." --The Times (London)

"Surely one of the great books of our century." --Diana Trilling

From the Back Cover:

'Impossible to put down, both timeless and of its time - a travel book and epic narrative history brimming with passion, anger, scholarship and intuition, hatred and love.' Observer

First published in 1942, Rebecca West's epic masterpiece is widely regarded as the most illuminating book to have been written on what was once Yugoslavia, essential for anyone attempting to understand the enigmatic history of the Balkan states.

'Such incandescent writing - you find yourself wanting to mark every sentence in order to go back and relish it again.' Brian Eno

'One of the supreme masterpieces of the twentieth century . . . As a book about Yugoslavia it's a kind of metaphysical Lonely Planet that never requires updating . . . this is history as it might have been written by Ryszard Kapuscinski or Gabriel García Márquez'. Geoff Dyer, from his introduction

'It is hard to convey the flavour of a book so rich in observation, history, philosophy, political ideas and ironic humour. West is full of digressions which are extraordinary, but never boring.' The Times

'The sheer quality and depth of the writing make it one of the great books of the century.' Times Literary Supplement

About this edition

• Publisher: Canongate
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0862414288
• ISBN 13: 9780862414283
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1184