Martin Vopěnka's novel, The Back of Beyond--Travels with Benjamin, is
the story of a middle-aged man, who--despite his professional success
and affluence--lacks fulfillment. After the tragic death of his wife, he
is left alone with his eight-year-old son and quickly realizes that if
he wants to succeed in the role of single parent that has suddenly been
thrust upon him, he has to change fundamentally. So, he takes his son
and sets out on a journey to what he dubs the Back of Beyond. With its
unique blend of sensitive and suggestive language this book is a
stylistic gem, rendered in seamless translation and appearing here for
the first time in English.