Pierre, DBC: *1961

Ludmila's Broken English, 2006 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Articles | Interviews

General Information
- Determined to save her family from starvation in the face of marauding troops, Ludmila's journey into the world and into womanhood is an odyssey of sour wit, even sourer vodka.
- Information from Wikipedia.
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Facts
- Awards:
  The novel did not win any major literary awards. It received mixed reviews from critics upon its release in 2006. The New York Times review stated "It is a very sad thing to report, but this novel, unlike its predecessor, does not work."
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- Author
  In the southern Caucasus Pierre met refugees who fled to Azerbaijan from Armenia. He said that doing this - "as close as I could get to a fractured border without getting shot or kidnapped" - made him realise his initial draft was "too rosy."
  "They've been in a technical ceasefire for 15 years, but nothing has happened since the day of that ceasefire - all the things that keep a society going have completely broken down...
  "They are living without windows, without heating, without food...
  "In the towns I visited, no less that half the population is mentally retarded - due to incest, due to cultural beliefs that the best thing to do with a retarded child is marry him to another retarded child and cast them loose. It was just devastating."
  From BBC World; March 21, 2006
- Characters
  
  Ludmila
  The protagonist, a young woman from the fictional former Soviet nation of Ublilsk-Kuzhniskia. She has green eyes, pretty hair, and unusual breasts described as having "nipples like tiny dog-snouts quivering up". Determined to escape poverty and her lecherous grandfather's attempts to sexually abuse her, Ludmila seeks her fortune in the West as a mail-order bride.
  Blair Albert and Gordon-Marie Heath
  Formerly conjoined twins from northern England who were surgically separated at age 33. After being separated, Blair becomes a polenta-loving free market capitalist, while Gordon retains his working-class ways and is nicknamed "Bunny" due to his "generous ears and snaggle teeth". Their contrasting personalities serve as a clunky satire.
  
  Ludmila's Relatives
  Her peasant family in Ublilsk-Kuzhniskia, including her lecherous grandfather who tries to sodomize her, her mother, brother, and grandmother. They speak in broken, mangled English full of insults like "Smack your cuckoo!" and "Cut your spastic hatch!" despite being portrayed as speaking their native "Ubli" language.
  Developed by Perplexity AI
- Topics
  
  Parallel Narratives
  The novel follows two initially separate narratives - one set in the UK involving conjoined twins Blair and Gordon "Bunny" Heath who were surgically separated at age 33, and the other set in the war-torn Southern Caucasus region following Ludmila Derev, a young impoverished woman.
  Satire and Dark Comedy
  Like Pierre's debut, "Ludmila's Broken English" employs satire and dark comedy. The novel satirizes globalization, privatization, the free market economy, and Western attitudes towards Eastern Europe. The characters use crass, absurd language and find themselves in bizarre, over-the-top situations.
  
  Themes of Identity and Independence
  After being conjoined for 33 years, Blair and Bunny struggle to establish their own identities and independence after being surgically separated. Ludmila also seeks independence by trying to escape her impoverished village life.
  
  Cultural Clashes
  The novel explores clashes between Western and Eastern European cultures through the interactions of characters like Blair, Bunny, Ludmila and her family. Their language barriers and cultural misunderstandings are a source of humor but also insight.
  
  Mixed Critical Reception
  While praised for its linguistic flair and audacious satire by some, the novel received mixed reviews from critics who found the plot lacking in momentum and the humor excessive at times.
  
  In summary, "Ludmila's Broken English" combines biting satire, dark comedy, and an examination of clashing cultures and identities through its dual narratives and eccentric cast of characters.
  
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Articles
- The agony and the ecstasy. Los Angles Times; May 7, 2006
- Author DBC Pierre takes second chance: "Mainly about the 'second novel syndrome'." BBC; March 21, 2006
Interviews
- Author From an evening with DBC Pierre. Host: Albert M. Debrunner. SwissEduc. Literaturhaus, Basel; November 13, 2007:
  - Author Language showing the cultural differences
  - Author English for foreign characters
  - Author Using profane langague
  - Author The profane langague of the Ublis
  - Author The romantic aspect of the novel