Fathers and Fugitives, S. J. Naude, Translation Book Club

Fathers and Fugitives by S. J. Naude translated by Michiel Heyns, out with Europa Editions, discussed at the BookBlast® Translation Book Club, Hatchards, Piccadilly, London. 

Fathers and Fugitives follows Daniel, a gay journalist in London, who becomes involved with a Serbian couple after meeting them at the Tate Modern. What begins as a casual, sexually charged relationship evolves into a one-sided financial arrangement. The pair suddenly vanishes then reappears the trio embark on a strange trip across Europe, ending with a tragic event in Belgrade.

The second part of the novel shifts to South Africa, where Daniel cares for his dying father. He will inherit his father’s estate under the condition that he spends time with his cousin, Theon, on his isolated farm in the Free state. The narrative closes on an unexpected twist. A beautifully written, bleak exploration of loneliness and loss, Fathers and Fugitives is an odd and illuminating read.

21 minutes  #podcast #bookclub