“It was then that he understood that the best part of his life had been squandered in a long, senseless waiting.”
— Dino Buzzati
Why It's Lindy
One of the great existentialist novels of the 20th century, largely unknown outside Italy and France. Calvino ranked it among the essential books of the century. The Tartar Steppe is what Waiting for Godot would be if it were a novel — and if Beckett had Buzzati's warmth.
About This Volume
A young officer is posted to a remote desert fortress and waits his whole life for an enemy that may never come. A meditation on time, ambition, and the slow tragedy of deferred living.
Frequently Asked
Why should I read The Tartar Steppe?
One of the great existentialist novels of the 20th century, largely unknown outside Italy and France. Calvino ranked it among the essential books of the century. The Tartar Steppe is what Waiting for Godot would be if it were a novel — and if Beckett had Buzzati's warmth.
What is The Tartar Steppe about?
A young officer is posted to a remote desert fortress and waits his whole life for an enemy that may never come. A meditation on time, ambition, and the slow tragedy of deferred living.
