Peter Pišt'anek’s reputation is assured by Rivers of Babylon and by its hero, the most mesmerizing character of Slovak literature, Rácz, an idiot of genius, a psychopathic gangster. Rácz and Rivers of Babylon tell the story of a Central Europe, where criminals, intellectuals and ex-secret policemen have infiltrated a new ‘democracy’. Slovaks see Peter Pišt'anek as their most flamboyant and fearless writer, stripping the nation of its myths and false self-esteem... morePeter Pišt'anek’s reputation is assured by Rivers of Babylon and by its hero, the most mesmerizing character of Slovak literature, Rácz, an idiot of genius, a psychopathic gangster. Rácz and Rivers of Babylon tell the story of a Central Europe, where criminals, intellectuals and ex-secret policemen have infiltrated a new ‘democracy’. Slovaks see Peter Pišt'anek as their most flamboyant and fearless writer, stripping the nation of its myths and false self-esteem. The novel has been translated by Peter Petro of British Columbia University, in collaboration with the author . William Boyd (The Guardian): an astonishing find… fuelled with formidable energy and ice-cool satire. It displays a fierce black humour that is both ruthless and exhilarating.Tibor Fischer (The Telegraph): the best fiction I've read on the ‘wild west’ periodJohnny le Falbe (Literary Review): fast and very funny… translation is excellent less
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