{"product_id":"9788494115332","title":"The Javanese","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Javaneese\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA choral, tragicomic novel that portrays the lives of a group of displaced workers in the lead and silver mines of the French Riviera in the late 1930s. With irony and acerbity, Jean Malaquais weaves a human fresco where Germans fleeing Nazism, Russians persecuted by Stalinism, anti-fascists of various nationalities, and other outcasts of the earth coexist. Between Estève’s brothel and the xenophobic Madame Michel’s tavern, these \"Javaneese\" survive in subhuman conditions while two clumsy gendarmes search for a certain Stalin. A masterpiece of black humor, previously unpublished in Spain and a recipient of prestigious awards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is it about?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe novel is set in a mining operation on the French Riviera during the years leading up to World War II. There, a motley group of exiles and political outcasts earns a living in miserable conditions. They are \"the Javaneese,\" a derogatory term applied to these foreign workers. The plot combines the harsh reality of labor exploitation with absurd situations: two inept gendarmes obsessed with capturing a mysterious \"Stalin,\" a mine manager more interested in his games of solitaire than in the safety of his employees, and a gallery of characters seeking a bit of dignity in alcohol and paid sex. Malaquais constructs a scathing satire on power, bureaucracy, and human resistance, where bitter laughter becomes an act of rebellion against hopelessness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMain themes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eLabor exploitation and the living conditions of migrant workers in interwar Europe.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eForced exile and the coexistence of different nationalities and political sensibilities (anti-fascists, refugees, the persecuted).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAbsurd bureaucracy and the incompetence of local authorities in the face of major historical conflicts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSocial and political satire, exercised through black humor and irony as critical tools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSurvival on the fringes of society and the search for spaces of freedom (the brothel, the tavern) in a hostile environment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is it recommended for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor readers interested in the social and political novel of the 20th century, with a critical approach and a strong satirical bent. Especially recommended for those who enjoy choral literature with complex, marginalized characters, in the style of authors such as John Steinbeck or Louis-Ferdinand Céline. Also for lovers of tragicomedy and black humor, as well as those seeking unpublished or recovered works from the European literary canon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat this book offers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA lucid and biting look at the Europe of totalitarian regimes from the perspective of the forgotten.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA choral plot that combines social protest with sharp humor and high-quality literary prose.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eThe discovery of an award-winning author, previously unpublished in Spanish, who enriches the landscape of interwar literature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eA reflection on resistance, solidarity, and dignity under extreme conditions, without falling into sentimentality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eAuthor: Jean Malaquais\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Hoja de Lata Editorial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eLanguage: Spanish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eSubject: Literature and literary studies, classical texts, modern and contemporary fiction, classic fiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eCollection: Sensibles a las letras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003ePublication date: August 2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eNumber of pages: 308\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 391 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEditorial review\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA necessary and valuable editorial recovery. Jean Malaquais demonstrates an exceptional command of tone and choral structure, making a gallery of marginal characters come alive with their own recognizable voices. The work masterfully balances the most acidic social criticism with a humor that never feels gratuitous. Its publication in Spanish is an opportunity to get to know an author who deserves a prominent place in 20th-century European narrative. Recommended for demanding readers who seek literature with historical depth and aesthetic commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJA DE LATA EDITORIAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53406723244379,"sku":"9788494115332","price":19.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1018\/0650\/6331\/files\/978849411533.jpg?v=1781839035","url":"https:\/\/kalamobooks.com\/en\/products\/9788494115332","provider":"Kalamo Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}