Continuing Tavares's award-winning "Kingdom" series (begun in Jerusalem, winner of the Saramago Prize), Joseph Walser's Machine recounts a life of bizarre routines and patterns. Routine humiliation at a factory; routine maintenance of the world's most esoteric collection; and the most important routine of all: the operation of a mysterious machine on a factory floor. Yet all of Joseph Walser's routines are violently disrupted when his city is occupied by an invading army, leaving him faced with political intrigues, marital discord, and finally, one last, catastrophic confrontation with his beloved machine.

Continuing Tavare's award-winning Kingdom series, Joseph Walser's machine recounts a life of bizarre habits and patterns. Routine humiliation at a factory; routine maintenance of the world's most esoteric collection; and the most important routine of all: the operation of a mysterious machine on the factory floor. Yet Joseph's life is violently disrupted when his city is occupied by an invading army, leaving him faced with poitical intrigues, marital discord, and finally, one last, catastrophic confrontation with his beloved machine. -- Cover.

pt. 1. List of patentees.--pt. 2. Index to subjects of inventions.

The Assistant by Robert Walser--who was admired greatly by Kafka, Musil, Walter Benjamin, and W. G. Sebald--is now presented in English for the very first time.