Loading AI tools
2012 novel by Dave Eggers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Hologram for the King is a 2012 American novel written by Dave Eggers. In October 2012, the novel was announced as a finalist for the National Book Award.[2]
Author | Dave Eggers |
---|---|
Cover artist | Jessica Hische[1] |
Language | English |
Publisher | McSweeney's |
Publication date | June 2012 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
Pages | 312 pp (first edition, hardcover) |
ISBN | 193636574X (first edition, hardcover) |
It was adapted as a film of the same name, released in 2016 and starring Tom Hanks and Sarita Choudhury.
The novel tells the story of a washed-up, desperate American salesman, Alan Clay, who travels to Saudi Arabia to secure the IT contract from the royal government for the King Abdullah Economic City, a massive new complex being built in the middle of the desert.
Michiko Kakutani describes the novel as having a "Hemingwayesque voice" with some of the main characters' adventures taking on a "Kafkaesque flavor".[3] The novel also makes intentional analogies to Waiting for Godot.[3]
The New York Times review of the novel by Michiko Kakutani, was generally positive, noting "he has achieved something that is more modest and equally satisfying: the writing of a comic but deeply affecting tale about one man’s travails that also provides a bright, digital snapshot of our times."[3] San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Carmela Ciuraru described the novel as "an extraordinary work of timely and provocative themes, including the decline of American manufacturing, the sufferings of the middle class and the collapse of the global economy."[4]
A film adaptation by the same name was released in 2016. German filmmaker Tom Tykwer wrote and directed the film, starring Tom Hanks, Tom Skerritt and Sarita Choudhury. Playtone and X-Filme Creative Pool produced it.[11]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.