The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati is a novel that follows the story of Giovanni Drogo, a young soldier who is stationed at Fort Bastiani on the border of the Tartar Steppe. The book explores themes of solitude, the futility of military preparations in times of peace, and the struggle to find purpose in life while waiting for something significant to happen. Buzzati's writing is described as sparse yet beautifully told, capturing the eerie and suspenseful atmosphere of the isolated fortress and the desolate steppe.

The novel portrays the protagonist's journey of waiting for glory and purpose in a setting filled with absurd military bureaucracy, monotony, and the passage of time. The narrative delves into Drogo's internal conflicts, his gradual acceptance of his isolated existence, and the haunting realization of missed opportunities and wasted time as he becomes entrenched in the routine and hopelessness of his post at Bastiani fortress.

Characters:

The characters are richly drawn, particularly Drogo, whose everyman qualities resonate with readers facing their own life choices and regrets.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is notable for its blend of sparseness and beauty, effectively conveying emotional depth and the oppressive nature of the protagonist's circumstances.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative focuses on Lieutenant Drogo's experiences at a remote fort, exploring themes of time and the futility of waiting for something that might never happen.

Setting:

The setting of the story is a bleak and isolated military fort that symbolizes the characters' entrapment and the vastness of time.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, reflecting the themes of waiting and the passage of time, which can evoke feelings of both tension and monotony.

He had himself called while it was still dark and for the first time put on his lieutenant’s uniform. When he had done, he looked at himself in the mirror by the light of an oil lamp but failed to fin...

Notes:

The Tartar Steppe was published by Dino Buzzati in 1940.

The main character is Lieutenant Giovanni Drogo, who serves at Fort Bastiani.

The novel explores themes of the fleeting nature of time and the futility of waiting for a future that may never arrive.

Drogo's story reflects on the importance of living in the present rather than postponing happiness for an uncertain future.

The fort symbolizes a place of stagnation where soldiers wait for an enemy that may not exist.

Drogo feels replaced and forgotten when he returns to his hometown after years of absence.

The book paints a melancholic view of a man who dedicates his life to a cause without ever truly living it.

Many readers find it relatable during times of personal transition or existential reflection.

The narrative style is often described as poetic and elegiac, evoking deep emotions about life and purpose.

Buzzati's work has been compared to Kafka, but he preferred to be seen as a unique voice in literature.

From The Publisher:

Idealistic young officer Giovanni Drogo is full of determination to serve his country well. But when he arrives at a bleak border station in the Tartar desert, where he is to take a short assignment at Fort Bastiani, he finds the castle manned by veteran soldiers who have grown old without seeing a trace of the enemy.

As his length of service stretches from months into years, he continues to wait patiently for the enemy to advance across the desert, for one great and glorious battle . . . Written in 1938 as the world waited for war, and internationally acclaimed since its publication, The Tartar Steppe is a provocative and frightening tale of hope, longing and the terrible sorcery of dreams and desires.

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1 comment(s)

colrav772

Incredible

8 months

A solid classic unlike most other stuff out there that conveys a certain sense of a type of life.

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The Tartar Steppe

Dino Buzzati