IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER and other stories by Balla

(jointly translated from the Slovak V mene otca)

With an introduction by Gábor Németh and an afterword by Marta Součková, published by Jantar Publishing, London, ISBN 978-80-89737-51-2; e-book ISBN 978-80-89737-61-1, May 2017.

Longlisted for the 2018 European Bank for Research and Development Literature Prize

“A series of short stories that explore the themes of identity and belonging and confront the meaning of reality. This is Central European existential angst at its best, perfectly captured by the Sherwoods’ outstanding translation from the Slovak.” – Peter Frankopan, EBRD judge

“Try to imagine Kafka, Beckett, Bukowski and Borges sitting down together over beer, bread and Eisbein then you get the flavour of Balla’s rather earthy, existential quest.  Bizarre, intense and passionate, In the Name Of The Father reads beautifully, in spite of the bleak, banal and lonely life of the protagonist.”  Rosie Goldsmith, #Riveting Reviews

“Almost 25 years after Slovakia attained independence as a state, however, its writers are finally appearing on the global scene, with at least three new English translations, including a comprehensive contemporary anthology, published in the last few months alone. Of these, perhaps the most significant is In the Name of the Father, by the award-winning postmodernist Balla.” Charles Sabatos, Los Angeles Review of Books

“Balla is a master of magic realism and postmodernism, and, most importantly, is able “to express the unspeakable” with frankness unprecedented in Slovak literature. Julia and Peter Sherwood’s skilful translation of his best novel, In the Name of the Father and three other short stories skilfully conveys the forceful impact of his terse parables.” Zuzana Slobodová, Times Literary Supplement

Link to buy here