The publication of Death and the Penguin, Andrey Kurkov's debut novel, heralds a unique new voice in post-soviet satire. Set in the Ukraine in the years immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this dark, deadpan tale chronicles the journalistic career of Victor, who shares a flat with Misha, his depressed Penguin, rescued from the under-funded zoo in Kiev. Victor is asked to write obelisks, obituaries, for a prominent city paper about notable figures in the community, and quickly transforms himself from struggling writer to wealthy journalist. It soon becomes apparent that there is a more sinister motive at play, and Victor finds himself descending in a Kafkaesque realm of suspicion and unease. This strange, thoughtful and gentle novel will leave the reader satisfied and perplexed at its conclusion. Kurkov seems to question whether Victor or the Penguin is lonelier and more out of place in his environment. The Death in the title is ever present, though not in an oppressive way, but this also makes one want to question Victor's belief that a long hard life is better than a quick death. Many comparisons will undoubtedly be made between Kurkov's novel and the writing of other authors from the former Soviet republics to make it to print in the United Kingdom. Certainly it's fair to say that this belongs to the tradition of Russian satire made well known in this country by writers such as Mikhail Bulgakov and Venedikt Yarofeev. It is also interesting to read this alongside the works of contemporaries such as Evgenev Popov and Viktor Pelevin. However, where Pelevin drifts off into the fantastical and esoteric, Kurkov keeps it deadpan and very real. It is important to remember that many of the strange events that occur in this book are grounded in fact: amals really were given away by Kiev zoo--truth is often stranger than fiction. --Iain Robinson
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Synopsis
Viktor is desperate: how can he earn a living as a writer when he has a drawer full of unfinished manuscripts? Then he is asked to write the obituaries of Kiev's VIPs, to be kept on file should they die. His pride at being published soons turns to horror as he is drawn into a terrible conspiracy. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Review
"Kurkov demonstrates, that nowadays one is allowed to tell fresh new stories in Russia again: intelligent and funny." -Thomas Grob, "Neue Zurcher Zeitung --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Scotland on Sunday
"Wry, black humour infuses this unusual, moving satire from the Ukraine" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Punch
"Death and the Penguin is a brilliant satirical take on life in modern-day Kiev. Watch out, though, as Kurkov's writing style is highly addictive" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Book Description
In today's Ukraine, all that stands between one man and murder by the mafia is a penguin. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Omer Ali, Time Out
"It's engrossing stuff, from the snappy title through to a neat pay-off" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Anthea Lawson, The Times
"The deadpan tone works perfectly, and it will be a hard-hearted reader who is not touched by Viktor's relationship with his unusual pet" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Katrina Dixon, Scotsman
"Genuinely original" --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Amazon Review
The publication of Death and the Penguin, Andrey Kurkov's debut novel, heralds a unique new voice in post-soviet satire. Set in the Ukraine in the years immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this dark, deadpan tale chronicles the journalistic career of Victor, who shares a flat with Misha, his depressed Penguin, rescued from the under-funded zoo in Kiev. Victor is asked to write obelisks, obituaries, for a prominent city paper about notable figures in the community, and quickly transforms himself from struggling writer to wealthy journalist. It soon becomes apparent that there is a more sinister motive at play, and Victor finds himself descending in a Kafkaesque realm of suspicion and unease. This strange, thoughtful and gentle novel will leave the reader satisfied and perplexed at its conclusion. Kurkov seems to question whether Victor or the Penguin is lonelier and more out of place in his environment. The Death in the title is ever present, though not in an oppressive way, but this also makes one want to question Victor's belief that a long hard life is better than a quick death. Many comparisons will undoubtedly be made between Kurkov's novel and the writing of other authors from the former Soviet republics to make it to print in the United Kingdom. Certainly it's fair to say that this belongs to the tradition of Russian satire made well known in this country by writers such as Mikhail Bulgakov and Venedikt Yarofeev. It is also interesting to read this alongside the works of contemporaries such as Evgenev Popov and Viktor Pelevin. However, where Pelevin drifts off into the fantastical and esoteric, Kurkov keeps it deadpan and very real. It is important to remember that many of the strange events that occur in this book are grounded in fact: amals really were given away by Kiev zoo--truth is often stranger than fiction. --Iain Robinson
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. About the Author
Andrey Kurkov was born in St Petersburg in 1961. Having graduated from the Kiev Foreign Languages Institute, he worked for some time as a journalist, did his military service as a prison warder in Odessa, then became a writer of screenplays and author of critically acclaimed and popular novels, including the bestselling Death and the Penguin. Kurkov has long been a respected commentator on Ukraine for the world’s media, notably in the UK, France, Germany and the States. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
Andrei Kurkov's Death & the Penguin has become both a media critical success and a word-of-mouth favourite. If you like Haruki Murakami, readers say, you will love Andrei Kurkov. It is an immensely enjoyable black comedy as well as a very direct satire on Contemporary Ukraine. Here are some of the many favourable reviews:
“Death and the Penguin lives and breathes the puzzled dislodged dignity of its better-than-human-hero. It may turn out to be a minor classic and get Russian literature going again after the post-Soviet hiatus" Lesley Chamberlain, Independent “ A minor tragi-comic masterpiece. This appears at first to be a bizarre comedy but it darkens, gripping the reader and drawing him into the grey world of post-communist Russia, where serious crime flourishes, revenge and greed are paramount, violence gratuitous and terrifyingly sudden, and where anything can be bought with a crisp American dollar bill” Martin Booth, Daily Telegraph
“The deadpan tone works perfectly, and it will be a hard-hearted reader who is not touched by Viktor’s relationship with his unusual pet” Anthea Lawson, The Times
“It’s engrossing stuff, from the snappy title through to a neat pay-off” Omer Ali, Time Out
“ Amusing charm” Kathleen Wyatt, The Times
“Pathos and humour shine through to make this a black comedy of rare distinction, and the penguin is an invention of genius” John de Falbe, Spectator
“Death and the Penguin is a brilliant satirical take on life in modern-day Kiev. Watch out, though, as Kurkov’s writing style is highly addictive” Punch
“A successfully brooding novel, which creates an enduring sense of dismay and strangeness” Joanna Griffiths, TLS
“Genuinely original” Katrina Dixon, Scotsman
“Wry, black humour infuses this unusual, moving satire from the Ukraine” Scotland on Sunday
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. 
![Death and the Penguin (Panther) by [Andrey Kurkov]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41vueah4i5L._SY346_.jpg)
