First published 2018
Karl Ove watches Russia play and wonders if Dostoyevsky comes to mind for other viewers. When England takes the field, does anyone think of Jane Austen? He has theories about what defines these countries during their matches, but their literature feels separate from the game. Literature gets created in opposition to its homeland, he thinks. This contradiction makes it impossible to see writers as representatives of their nations. Football works differently. No ambiguity exists there. Players embody their countries completely. He finds this clarity refreshing and necessary. Later, he composes a prayer to God. Let Brazil defeat Germany tonight, he asks. Make it a good match with balance. Allow Germany to take the lead first, but don't let them win. Brazil should overturn them and reach the final to face Argentina. But let Argentina claim the cup. He signs his irreverent prayer as Carlos Blasfemíos Días. The tournament becomes a stage where national identity plays out more clearly than in any novel.
Genres: 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: philosophical, reflective
Setting: Russia, England, Brazil, Germany, Argentina
Period: World Cup
378 pages · Paperback · MonoKL