Fateless by Imre Kertész
"Fateless" is a harrowing account of a Hungarian Jewish boy's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The protagonist is sent to Auschwitz, then Buchenwald, and finally to a factory in Zeitz, enduring brutal conditions and witnessing unimaginable horrors. Despite his experiences, he maintains a detached, almost indifferent perspective, focusing on the mundane aspects of life in the camps, which further highlights the absurdity and horror of the situation. The novel explores themes of identity, survival, and the arbitrary nature of fate.
The 613th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 27th on Big Read (Hungarian) (Hungaria)
- 31st on 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (CounterPunch)
- 847th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Bigger Read List (English PEN)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- Zeit Literaturkanon (https://www.librarything.com/award/335/ZEIT-Literaturkanon)