Seeing People Off

Winner of the European Union Prize for Literature

"One of the most important works of new Slovak prose."—SME

"Benová's short, fast novels are a revolution against normality. Unlike so many others, her novels not only claim to be a revolution but actually achieve this feat through their minimalist narratives that go against all conventions; in fact, Benová manages to subtly and intelligently poke fun at conventional categorizations."—Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, ORF

There is a liveliness and effervescence to Jana Benová's prose that is magnetic. Whether addressing the loneliness of relationships or the effectiveness of rat poison, her voice and observations call to mind the verve and sophistication of Renata Adler or Rosalyn Drexler, while remaining utterly singular.

Seeing People Off follows Elza and Ian, a young couple living in a humongous apartment complex outside Bratislava where the walls play music and talk, and time is immaterial.

Drawing on her memories, everyday interactions, observations of post-socialist realities, and Elza's attraction to actor, Kalisto Tanzi, Seeing People Off is a kaleidoscopic, poetic, and deeply funny portrait of a relationship.

Jana Benová is one of the most acclaimed Slovakian writers, and winner of the European Union Prize for Literature. She writes poetry and fiction, and is the author of the novels Seeing People Off, Get Off! Get Off!, Parker, and Honeymoon (forthcoming from Two Dollar Radio), as well as three collections of poems. Though her work has been widely translated throughout Europe, Seeing People Off is her English-language debut.