Rates of Exchange

Brief Overview

In the satirical novel «Rates of Exchange», Malcolm Bradbury invites the reader into the fictional Eastern European country of Slavia, where English linguist Angus Peters is swept up in a whirlwind of absurd events, diplomatic intrigue, and cultural misunderstandings. The protagonist’s journey through bureaucratic labyrinths, encounters with eccentric characters, and clashes with peculiar customs becomes a mirror for reflecting on language, identity, and the nature of human communication. With irony and subtle humor, Bradbury exposes the paradoxes of life in a totalitarian society, where every word and gesture takes on a special value, and exchange is not limited to currency but penetrates the deepest layers of human relationships.