{"title":"Ágota Kristóf","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our carefully curated selection of books by Ágota Kristóf, a celebrated author known for her stark and powerful storytelling. Kristóf, originally from Hungary, became an influential voice in the world of fiction after resettling in Switzerland. Her work is renowned for its minimalistic style, offering profound insights into the human condition and the complexities of life under oppressive regimes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her celebrated works, you'll find \u003cem\u003eThe Notebook Trilogy\u003c\/em\u003e, a compelling series that delves into the lives of twin brothers navigating the harsh realities of war and totalitarianism. This trilogy is a masterpiece that has captivated readers worldwide with its intense narrative and profound themes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlso featured is \u003cem\u003eI Don't Care\u003c\/em\u003e, another striking exploration of identity and existential musings that showcases Kristóf's unique ability to blend simplicity with deep philosophical inquiry. Her books, often categorised under General Fiction, are lauded for their raw honesty and ability to evoke deep reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the world of Ágota Kristóf and immerse yourself in stories that challenge perceptions and leave a lasting impact. Her work is not just read; it is experienced, with each page inviting you to ponder the intricacies of life and the human psyche.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-notebook-trilogy-by-kristof-agota-9781925240894","title":"The Notebook Trilogy","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Notebook Trilogy\u003c\/em\u003e by Kristof Agota and Ágota Kristóf is a profound exploration of the aftereffects of trauma, particularly on children, and the nature of storytelling. The series consists of three novels: \u003cem\u003eThe Notebook\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Proof\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eThe Third Lie\u003c\/em\u003e, tracing the turbulent journey of twin brothers Claus and Lucas through a tumultuous Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir story begins amidst the turmoil of wartime, as they are left with their grandmother, known as the 'Witch', in a village within an occupied country. Despite their angelic appearances, the twins are implacable and dangerously ethical, driven by an intrinsic morality defined by absolute need. The narrative spans from the Second World War, through the years of communism, and into a fractured modern Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a compelling allegory of post-war Europe, the twins become separated and find themselves isolated in different countries, yearning to reconnect. As perspectives shift and memories diverge, the instability of identity is poignantly portrayed in Kristof's spare, direct prose style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eResonating with the traditions of J.M. Coetzee and Herta Muller, \u003cem\u003eThe Notebook Trilogy\u003c\/em\u003e captures truth and lies through a breathtaking artistic lens that is both shocking and unforgettable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe Notebook Trilogy\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"An almost lyrical intensity... A fierce and disturbing novel.\" - \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A haunting, harrowing tale that lingers in the imagination long after you've turned the last page.\" - \u003cem\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"I found it profoundly disturbing, incredibly well-written, and extraordinarily brave. And the fact that it was written by a woman—it has a startling brutality and ferocity about the style that I find very inspiring.\" - Eimear McBride, \u003cem\u003eThe Believer\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"At the heart of this acrid trilogy, in all its studied understatement and lack of portentousness, we can feel the author's slow-burning rage at the wholesale erasure of certainty and continuity in the world of her childhood and adolescence. At the same time, we sense Kristof saturninely enjoying this annihilation for its imaginative potential. She will reassemble a shattered world on her own rigorous terms, and watch us wince and shudder in the process.\" - \u003cem\u003eTimes Literary Supplement\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"In prose stripped to a bare yet powerful structure, this intense parable reveals the triumph of literature in a politically repressive state.\" - \u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eThe Notebook\u003c\/em\u003e is a transfixing house of horrors.\" - \u003cem\u003eNew Statesman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"A dark study of the human psyche.\" - \u003cem\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Closing this chillingly unsentimental novel, I felt that it had contrived to say absolutely everything about the Second World War and its aftermath in Central Europe.\" - \u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46496173785324,"sku":"9781925240894","price":36.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/12734273482873.jpg?v=1748493102"},{"product_id":"i-dont-care-by-agota-kristof-9780241774052","title":"I Don't Care","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNever before translated short stories by the legendary genius Ágota Kristóf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Don't Care\u003c\/em\u003e – it's not even pretty. The song is sad, and old, so old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Don't Care\u003c\/em\u003e presents the best short fiction by the Hungarian master Ágota Kristóf, selected by the author herself and available in English for the first time. Written immediately before her acclaimed Notebook trilogy, the works here oscillate between parables, surrealist anecdotes, and stories animated by a realism stripped to the bone. By turns harrowing and whimsical, cruel and sharply funny, Kristóf's world shifts our gaze to a shared reality, past and present. Here, exile and existential alienation are undeniable – as is the force of every sentence, making for extraordinary and essential reading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTranslated from French by Chris Andrews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46546391367916,"sku":"9780241774052","price":30.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241774052.jpg?v=1750034564"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/agota-kristof.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}