In David Grossman’s heartbreaking, visceral novel, a stand-up comedian delivers a shockingly cruel routine about guilt and betrayal. Translated by Jessica Cohen.

In a comedy club in a small Israeli town, veteran stand-up Dovaleh G exposes a wound he has been living with for years: a fateful and gruesome choice he had to make between the two people dearest to him. Flaying alive both himself and the people watching, his act provokes a mixture of revulsion and empathy from an audience that doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. And all this in the presence of a former childhood friend who’s trying to understand why he’s been summoned to this hellish show…

Winner
The Man Booker International Prize 2017
Published by
Jonathan Cape, Vintage
Publication date
David Grossman

David Grossman

About the Author

David Grossman is an Israeli author whose books have been translated into more than 30 languages. In 2018, he was awarded the Israel Prize for literature.
More about David Grossman
Jessica Cohen

Jessica Cohen

About the Translator

Jessica Cohen is a British-Israeli-American literary translator who often works with Israeli author David Grossman.
More about Jessica Cohen

Other nominated books by David Grossman

More Than I Love My Life

Other nominated books by Jessica Cohen

More Than I Love My Life