Two witty, Kafkaesque novellas by the author of the best-selling Soldiers of Salamis, winner of the 2003 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.
'The Tenant and The Motive' are two darkly humorous novellas from the award-winning author of Soldiers of Salamis. 'The Tenant' is the mischievous story of Mario Rota, a linguistics professor whose life starts to unravel after he twists his ankle while out jogging one day. A rival professor appears, takes over his classes and bewitches his girlfriend. Where will Rota's nightmare end - and where did it begin?
'The Motive' is a satire about a writer, lvaro, who becomes obsessed with finding the ideal inspiration for his novel. First he begins spying on his neighbours, then he starts leading them on, creating a reversal of the maxim that art follows life - with some dire consequences. Written with a supremely light touch, these witty novellas are enjoyable masterpieces that linger long in the memory.
