The Old Man and the Wolves

by Julia Kristeva, Barbara Bray

Part detective story, part fable, this novel takes the reader to a mythical post-industrial city where the boundaries between East and West, civilization and barbarianism have been erased.

Genres: Bulgaria, France, Fiction

183 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 1991

About the author

Julia Kristeva is professor emerita of linguistics at the Université de Paris VII and author of many acclaimed works. Her Columbia University Press books include Hatred and Forgiveness (2012); The Severed Head: Capital Visions (2014); and, with Philippe Sollers, Marriage as a Fine Art (2016).

Reviews

[Cititoare Calatoare · Rating 2 out of 5]

O carte ce mi-a dat batai de cap. Desi subtirica, mi-a luat ceva timp sa o duc la bun sfarsit.
Un thriller psihologic alegoric, in parte politista, in parte fabula, povesteste despre un oras mitic post-industrial in care granitele civilizatiei si barbariei au fost sterse.
"Ce este mai banal decat ura?"

[Miriam Cihodariu · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Old Man and the Wolves' was so-and-so, the beginning and the end more worthwhile than the middle. Unfortunately, the fact that it was written by a theoretician / postmodernism adept / structuralism circle member can be felt too much. Thus, the read sadly becomes a demonstration of various points the author wants to make about narratives, meaning and so on.

After the first 50 pages, I resigned myself to disliking it, but continuing to read for the sheer value of adding another landmark to my personal reading map. It did manage to turn my perception enough afterwards somewhat, through the less predictable meanings assigned, and it was a pleasant surprise. The last part, about the dead father and the complexities of a loving daughter's relationship with him really touched me and sort of revived the read, also.

So, overall it was borderline enjoyable and interesting, after all, but not impressively so. I don't regret reading it, and some of its sentences-conclusions regarding family psychology made for interesting nuggets of 'quotable' would-be philosophy (even though they're more than a little misogynistic - not a surprise, coming from the intellectual circles Kristeva was part of).

[lisa_emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some intellectuals should stay away from writing "detective novels". Granted, some do well, see Eco, but this book was woefully dull. I forced myself to finish it, so I could say I read it all. If it were not as short as it was, I don't think I could have. I wanted to like the book, some of the language is poetic and beautiful, but it falls short of what I think it wanted to do- make the reader fall deep into the mystery of the unknowable event. A mystery framed by memory and the horror of entangled despair; love and its failure. But I could not buy it- none of it. Perhaps I am too filled my own distrust of the theoretical and I am too spoiled by the immersiveness of the typical detective novel.

[Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book of a bulgarian writer and I cannot deny I enjoyed it. Maybe I understand it more than a average reader due to the fact that I am romanian and destinies of both peoples have been similar in the past years. Mainly this book is about changes that transformed bulgarian society and threw away old values. In this book the values of the new society of the Santa Barbara town (an imaginary place) are money and fame. All people are caring only about this and they do not feel ashame eating each other like wolves.
My copy of this book is in romanian.

[Jesica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um … what? What did I just read? I don’t really know how to rate this book - maybe it shouldn’t be rated at all. I kept reading it thinking I would give me some damn clue as to what the wolves are - that’s the only link between these stories - because each part of this book just acted like interconnected stories. The only real conclusion I came up with as to what the wolves represent is change - and not good change - becoming older and bitter. But that’s a maybe.

I felt the book should have been reordered. And I am quite surprised this book even found a publisher.

[Roland Hassel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Santa Barbara som stand in för ett Bulgarien i förändring: kapitalism, girighet, amerikanisering. Kanske något konservativ: det som riskerar att förloras är tradition och religion? Oavsett knappt läsbar, hopplöst överarbetad, språket snärjer in sig själv i sin egna ogenomträngliga och onödiga krånglighet.

[Loraale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very difficult book, but also very interesting and full of truths about our society.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: part detective story, part fable. We visit a post-industrial city where boundaries between civilization and barbarism have been erased.

[Chongmin Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War (although not directly referenced), The Old Man and the Wolves explores the crisis of subjectivity that arises due to the inadequacies of both Western and Eastern European systems of governance and the failure of Logic and the Law. Kristeva also portrays the ways in which psychical development and creativity have been stymied due to the endless reproduction of simulacratic images rather than the production of new, original entities.

Definitely not an easy read, especially for a reader who is unacquainted with Kristeva's theories or the general ideas underlying French feminism/postmodernism/poststructuralism. The novel is essentially a working example of what écriture would look like if put into practice. However, for all its obscurity, The Old Man and the Wolves promises to be an interesting and engaging read if you have a working knowledge of these theoretical frameworks and the cultural context of its production.

[Lisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

post-modern literature really is strange and wonderful

[Ana-Maria Bujor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this book was not for the average reader and I fully understand why someone would not like it at all. There are a lot of obscure references, the language is quite complicated at times and the story is strange. Even though Ițm pretty sure I missed a lot of the references, especially those related to Latin culture, I did appreciate the metaphor of the wolves, more exactly the manner in which a society is affected by a totalitarian regime. Also, it was interesting that I did not like any of the characters, but that did not bother me at all, as they were interesting hin their own way. Not a light read.

[Ioan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe i'm just dumb ... or just not on target ... I had to force myself to finish this book. Maybe if i paid more attention to those latin classes in highschool I would have understood more of this book, because characters start thinking in latin sometimes, you know :) ...

[Sandra Dias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma história que aparentemente versa sobre o mundo, mas com toques de sobrenatural.

Achei-o muito interessante e inteligente.

[Екатерина · Rating 2 out of 5]

Българското издание на "Старецът и вълците" не е добавено тук, но аз го имам и съм го чела отдавна и трябва да кажа, че просто не се е получил.

[ioana]

I need to read this again at some point because I feel I've missed a lot of what the author was trying to tell us ??

[Stefanos Chatzianagnostou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Νομίζω το χειρότερο βιβλίο που έχω πιάσει στα χέρια μου. Έχει ωραίο εξώφυλλο όμως... Έτσι την πάτησα