Overview

Part thriller, part satire, the critically acclaimed latest novel by the winner of the Prix Goncourt is quintessential Houellebecq and perhaps his best yet. Artist Jed Martin emerges from a ten-year hiatus with good news. It has nothing to do with his broken boiler, the approach of another lamentably awkward Christmas dinner with his father or the memory of his doomed love affair with the beautiful Olga. It is that, for his new exhibition, he has secured the involvement of none other than celebrated novelist Michel Houellebecq. The exhibition brings Jed new levels of global fame. But, his boiler is still broken, his ailing father flirts with oblivion and, worst of all, he is contacted by an inspector requiring his help in solving an unspeakable, atrocious and gruesome crime, involving none other than celebrated novelist Michel Houellebecq... Shortlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2013.

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9780099554578

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Reviews

Impressive... Beguiling... He is a true original * Observer * This book, so beautifully written, so inspiriting for all its pessimism, is the new novel I have loved best this year. We have not his equal -- David Sexton * Spectator * A dark master of invention... From the very first paragraph of this brilliant novel, the reader can be in no doubt that they're in the blisteringly bleak, darkly inventive grand massif that is Houellebeqc land * Evening Standard * The outlaw of French letters returns with an acerbic riff on art and celebrity... witty, wildly erudite * The Times * A delicious exercise in satire and self-parody... His best ever * Daily Telegraph *

A delicious exercise in satire and self-parody... His best ever * Daily Telegraph * The outlaw of French letters returns with an acerbic riff on art and celebrity... witty, wildly erudite * The Times * A dark master of invention... From the very first paragraph of this brilliant novel, the reader can be in no doubt that they're in the blisteringly bleak, darkly inventive grand massif that is Houellebeqc land * Evening Standard * This book, so beautifully written, so inspiriting for all its pessimism, is the new novel I have loved best this year. We have not his equal -- David Sexton * Spectator * Impressive... Beguiling... He is a true original * Observer *

Virginia writes: Contrary to one reviewer's opinion Houellebecq's novel "The Map and the Territory"; is not a foray into pop crime fiction. This novel presents a wonderful parody of the art world beginning with a delightful image of Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst together in a portrait. It follows the portrait painter Jed to his meeting with the author 'Houellebecq' who represents the myth of the drunk, isolated, depressed auteur. The character of the author 'Houellebecq' is murdered. There is blood splatter likened to a Pollock, and while there is a lovely Christmassy contrast with the green sofa and the blood splatter, it is not a just murder, but theft of Jed's priceless painting of Houellebecq. Oh and Houellebecq's dog is beheaded. It's a blast. I hesitate to use absolutes at any time, superlatives must be redundant or at least have been robbed entirely of meaning by advertising and mass consumer culture, but this review is not about me - is it? I suspect that without Houellebecq there would be only dull dialogues, frown and lament around living authors. The Map and the Territory may be the only novel to successfully enter into literal and metaphorical and metaphysical dialogues with Roland Barthes essay from 1967 "Death of the Author", philosophy, art theory, myths of the author and genre. He also nods in passing to Heidegger and Adorno. The Map and the Territory engages in questions regarding representation in art and literature. A colleague amused me last week telling me that while reading her own review of a novel she wanted to reread it, now I find the same thing happening.

A delicious exercise in satire and self-parody... His best ever Daily Telegraph The outlaw of French letters returns with an acerbic riff on art and celebrity... witty, wildly erudite The Times A dark master of invention... From the very first paragraph of this brilliant novel, the reader can be in no doubt that they're in the blisteringly bleak, darkly inventive grand massif that is Houellebeqc land Evening Standard This book, so beautifully written, so inspiriting for all its pessimism, is the new novel I have loved best this year. We have not his equal -- David Sexton Spectator Impressive... Beguiling... He is a true original Observer

Author Information

Michel Houellebecq is a poet, essayist and novelist. He is the author of several novels including The Map and the Territory (winner of the Prix Goncourt), Atomised, Platform, Whatever and Submission. He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur in 2019.

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