The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati
The novel follows a young officer who spends his entire life waiting for an attack that never comes at a remote desert outpost. The protagonist's life is consumed by the monotonous routine and the fear of the unknown, reflecting on the human condition and the dread of the passage of time. The desert symbolizes the emptiness and futility of life, while the constant anticipation of a foreign invasion that never happens represents the anxiety and fear of death.
The 323rd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1940
- Nationality
- Italian
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 200-300
- Words
- 60,000
- Original Language
- Italian
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This book is on the following lists:
- 13th on El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (El Pais)
- 29th on The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Folha de São Paulo)
- 29th on Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century (Le Monde)
- 33rd on 100 Books of Classical and Modern Foreign Literature (The Union of Russian Writers)
- 57th on 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (CounterPunch)
- 73rd on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 74th on 100 Essential Books (Bravo! Magazine)
- 1090th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)