Traveler of the Century A Novel

"Theliteratureofthetwenty-firstcenturywillbelongtoNeuman."--RobertoBola?oSearchingforaninn,theenigmatictravelerHansstopsinasmallcityontheborderbetweenSaxonyandPrussia.Thenextmorning,Hansmeetsanoldorgan-grinderinthemarketsquareandimmediatelyfindshimselfenmeshedinanintensedebate--onidentityandwhatitisthatdefinesus--fromwhichhecannotbreakfree.IndefinitelystuckinWandernburguntilhisdebatewiththeorgan-grinderisconcluded,hebeginstomeetthevariouscharacterswhopopulatethetown,includingayoungfreethinkernamedSophie.Thoughsheisengagedtobemarried,SophieandHansbeginarelationshipthatdefiescontemporarymoresaboutfemalesexualityandwhatcanandcannotbesaidaboutit.TraveleroftheCenturyisadeeplyintellectualnovel,chock-fullofdiscussionsaboutphilosophy,history,literature,love,andtranslation.Itisabookthatlookstothepastinordertohaveusreconsidertheconflictsofourpresent.ThewinnerofSpain'sprestigiousAlfaguaraPrizeandtheNationalCriticsPrize,TraveleroftheCenturymarkstheEnglish-languagedebutofAndrésNeuman,awriterdescribedbyRobertoBola?oasbeing"touchedbygrace.",