Items related to The 13th House
Synopsis
Zahid's life appears to be a struggle with chaos. His wife confuses him, his invalid son terrifies him and his poverty threatens to overwhelm him. His luck seems to change for the better when he discovers a new house for his family, but fate sends him stumbling towards yet another tragedy.
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From Publishers Weekly
If Jonathan Swift were alive today and had the bad luck to live in one of the most poverty-plagued and politically turbulent countries--Pakistan--he might have written this mordantly surrealistic novel. Sahid, a trod-upon victim of his wife, his employers, the government and society in general, believes he has found the fulfillment of his life's dream when he rents a house at what he thinks is a bargain price. But there's an evil power about the place, or so everybody says; and everybody seems to be right. Zahid's close friend is assassinated by the police; his emotionally disturbed son becomes more deranged; and his wife is seduced by a religious guru. Finally another of Zahid's friends is killed and Zahid is jailed for the murder. The joke in the novel's title, if joke is the right word, is its insinuation that supernatural bad luck caused all these disasters. In fact, the author makes clear, man's inhumanity to man was responsible.Zameenzad, a Pakistani by birth, writes beautiful English prose. This book won Britain's 1987 David Highham Award for Best First Novel.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Having lost two sons, the timid Zahid and his lovely wife Jamilla struggle to preserve their surviving children from harm amidst the political and religious turmoil of contemporary Pakistan. The house they inhabit--said to be haunted--comes alive in their hallucinations, reflecting the tensions in their relationship with Shah Baba, a holy man Zahid contacts to relieve the terrors of his tiny, retarded son. At first the narrator seems an omniscient and anonymous observer, weaving trenchant social criticism into his account of the house and the travail of its inhabitants. It soon turns out, however, that he is an intimate of the family, that his own story is as intriguing as theirs, and that the house will be the crucible of the surprising destiny of them all. A compelling first novel.
- L.M. Lewis, Eastern Kentucky Univ., Richmond
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherRandom House
- Publication date1989
- ISBN 10 039457561X
- ISBN 13 9780394575612
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages201
- Rating
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The 13th House
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New York: Random House, 1989, New York, 1989
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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The 13th House
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The 13th House
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Random House, New York, 1987
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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The 13th House
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 000-589: Hardcover with dustjacket. A clean, tight copy. Dj has small tear on back. No other defects. Red mark on bottom. All pages clean. No creases. Published 1989 by Random House. Seller Inventory # 39232
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The 13th House
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Random House, New York, 1987
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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The 13th House.
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Random House, New York, 1989., 1989
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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Advance (uncorrected) proof of the first American edition of the author's first novel. Printed yellow wraps, 8 1/2 x 5 3/8 inches, 201 pp. Mild browning/sunning of spine and front cover. Typical publisher's information sheet, taped to front cover by the publisher, has fallen off, leaving small scar near top of front cover. This sheet is now laid into book. Tiny brown spot, 1/16 inch, fore-edge. Else fine. From back cover: 'Lauded by Doris Lessing as 'an unusually talented and vigorous first novel,' and winner of the 1987 David Highham Award for Best First Novel of Great Britain, The 13th House captures the culture of contemporary Pakistan in an intriguing, captivating manner.' ISBN 039457561X (3214006). Seller Inventory # 254
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The 13th House: A Novel
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Random House, New York, 1987
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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The 13th House
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Random, New York, 1987
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First am. Fine in fine dustwrapper. Light shelf rubbing to dustwrapper Otherwise nice condition. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information. Seller Inventory # 228761
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The 13th House (SIGNED Plus SIGNED LETTER)
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ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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Hard Cover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine+. 1st American Edition/1st Printing. SIGNED by author on a bookplate decal on font end page (signature only). Author's first book. $15.95 price onDJ flap. Also includes laid-in is a handwritten SIGNED letter (ALS) from author mentioning 'The 13th House'. Fine signed copy with associated letter. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 008762
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The 13th House: a Novel
Published by
Random House,, 1987
ISBN 10: 039457561X
ISBN 13: 9780394575612
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First Edition
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Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. 1st US. Larger, sturdy book, black cloth spine, dark rose boards, very bright gilt tltle at top front, very bright gilt lettering on spine, 201 pages. DJ beneath mylar, glossy and colorfully designed with black, orange, yellow and blue background, a colorful illustration on front of human body with house for head center front, praise at top back from Doris Lessing, The Independent, Times Literary Supplement, and The Guardian, a photo of author at center back. DJ and book, both As New. Seller Inventory # 627
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