The Catastrophist
Author: Ronan Bennett
Format: Medium Softcover
Condition: Very Good
R48.00
1 in stock
1 in stock
The Catastrophist is a novel of love, passion, violence, and desire, set in the Belgian Congo in 1959. While expatriates loll about their pools in a colonial paradise soon to erupt into chaos, huge crowds are drawn to the charismatic Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba – and his even more dangerous rivals.
One man sees the cracks appearing around him and struggles to hold on to his lover, his sanity, and ultimately his life. Gillespie, the outsider, a journalist, is in Leopoldville for the beautiful Italian, Ines. He is desperate for her love, while she is obsessed with the unfolding drama, caught up in history, ideology, hero worship.
In a world slipping out of control, gripped by disgust, fear, and incomprehension, Gillespie feels that events threaten to overwhelm him – as does his friendship with the amiable but sinister American, Stipe; his relationship with his canny native driver, Auguste; and, above all, his love for Ines.
It is Ines who defines Gillespie as a catastrofista, an Italian word for somebody for whom “no problem is small. Nothing can be fixed; it’s always the end,” for Gillespie is deeply pessimistic and skeptical about their relationship as well as politics, while Ines believes in engagement and commitment, whatever the risks – which, as it turns out, are greater than either of them can foresee.
As colonial corruption and injustice give way to turmoil, brutality, and murder, Gillespie is finally forced to confront what is happening before his eyes.
Delivery Options
Build a Bundle
To save on shipping you can buy books and when you are ready, you pay for the shipping and we send all your books at once.
Paxi (Pep to Pep)
Standard Bag R60: delivery within 7 – 9 days to a Pep near you.
Pudo (Locker to Locker)
We will send your package to the nearest locker of your choice.
Aramex (Store to Door Courier)
Convenient delivery to your door.
Collection
Collect your package from our address in Montana, Pretoria.
Description of book condition:
New – Brand new and unread book.
As New – A secondhand book that can easily pass for a new one.
Very Good – Book is in great condition with only a minor blemish here and there.
Good – Book shows visible reading wear but nothing serious.
Fair – Book shows clear and more significant wear, especially on the cover, but is still solid and intact.
Worn – Book shows severe wear and tear while still being intact (commonly known as a “reading copy”). Worn books are still good perfect for a good read, all pages will be intact with none threatening to fall out.
Beskrywing van boeke se toestand:
Nuut – ‘n Nuwe, ongeleesde boek.
Soos Nuut – ‘n Tweedehandse boek wat nog maklik vir ‘n nuwe een kan deurgaan,
Baie Goed – Die boek wys minimale verweer,
Goed – Die boek wys sigbare verweer, maar niks ernstigs nie.
Redelik – Die boek wys duidelike leesverweer, veral op die omslag, maar is steeds stewig en heel.
Verweerd – Die boek wys ernstige verweer, maar is steeds heel en heeltemal leesbaar (ons noem dit ‘n “leeskopie”). Geen bladsye is los nie.
Book Formats
Paperback: Mass market paperback, roughly 180mm x 110mm
Medium Softcover: Larger paperback, roughly 200mm x 130mm
Large Softcover: also called a “Trade Paperback”, roughly 235mm x 155mm
Medium Hardcover: Hardcover book, roughly 200mm x 130mm
Large Hardcover: Hardcover book, roughly 235mm x 155mm
The Catastrophist
R48.00
Author: Ronan Bennett
Format: Medium Softcover
Condition: Very Good
1 in stock
1 in stock
The Catastrophist is a novel of love, passion, violence, and desire, set in the Belgian Congo in 1959. While expatriates loll about their pools in a colonial paradise soon to erupt into chaos, huge crowds are drawn to the charismatic Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba – and his even more dangerous rivals.
One man sees the cracks appearing around him and struggles to hold on to his lover, his sanity, and ultimately his life. Gillespie, the outsider, a journalist, is in Leopoldville for the beautiful Italian, Ines. He is desperate for her love, while she is obsessed with the unfolding drama, caught up in history, ideology, hero worship.
In a world slipping out of control, gripped by disgust, fear, and incomprehension, Gillespie feels that events threaten to overwhelm him – as does his friendship with the amiable but sinister American, Stipe; his relationship with his canny native driver, Auguste; and, above all, his love for Ines.
It is Ines who defines Gillespie as a catastrofista, an Italian word for somebody for whom “no problem is small. Nothing can be fixed; it’s always the end,” for Gillespie is deeply pessimistic and skeptical about their relationship as well as politics, while Ines believes in engagement and commitment, whatever the risks – which, as it turns out, are greater than either of them can foresee.
As colonial corruption and injustice give way to turmoil, brutality, and murder, Gillespie is finally forced to confront what is happening before his eyes.
Delivery Options
Build a Bundle
To save on shipping you can buy books and when you are ready, you pay for the shipping and we send all your books at once.
Paxi (Pep to Pep)
Standard Bag R60: delivery within 7 – 9 days to a Pep near you.
Pudo (Locker to Locker)
We will send your package to the nearest locker of your choice.
Aramex (Store to Door Courier)
Convenient delivery to your door.
Collection
Collect your package from our address in Montana, Pretoria.
Description of book condition:
Description of book condition:
New – Brand new and unread book.
As New – A secondhand book that can easily pass for a new one.
Very Good – Book is in great condition with only a minor blemish here and there.
Good – Book shows visible reading wear but nothing serious.
Fair – Book shows clear and more significant wear, especially on the cover, but is still solid and intact.
Worn – Book shows severe wear and tear while still being intact (commonly known as a “reading copy”). Worn books are still good perfect for a good read, all pages will be intact with none threatening to fall out.
Beskrywing van boeke se toestand:
Nuut – ‘n Nuwe, ongeleesde boek.
Soos Nuut – ‘n Tweedehandse boek wat nog maklik vir ‘n nuwe een kan deurgaan,
Baie Goed – Die boek wys minimale verweer,
Goed – Die boek wys sigbare verweer, maar niks ernstigs nie.
Redelik – Die boek wys duidelike leesverweer, veral op die omslag, maar is steeds stewig en heel.
Verweerd – Die boek wys ernstige verweer, maar is steeds heel en heeltemal leesbaar (ons noem dit ‘n “leeskopie”). Geen bladsye is los nie.
Book Formats
Paperback: Mass market paperback, roughly 180mm x 110mm
Medium Softcover: Larger paperback, roughly 200mm x 130mm
Large Softcover: also called a “Trade Paperback”, roughly 235mm x 155mm
Medium Hardcover: Hardcover book, roughly 200mm x 130mm
Large Hardcover: Hardcover book, roughly 235mm x 155mm