Rivers Of Babylon

Peter PiÅ¡t'anekâ 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 â democracyâ . Slovaks see Peter PiÅ¡t'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 findâ ¦ 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 â wild westâ period

Johnny le Falbe (Literary Review): fast and very funnyâ ¦ translation is excellent