Colonel Zoo

Is he a madman or the best butler you've ever had? Cadiot's zany first novel takes the British weekend house part paradigm and keeps shifting its terms. At this book's center is the enigmatic "I"—a butler headed for perfection or insanity—or perhaps both. With the impending Second World War as a background, the story, often funny and at times sinister, interweaves themes of servitude, espionage, escape, and, ultimately, victory in an unsuspected quarter.

Olivier Cadiot lives in Paris, where he has edited, with Pierre Alferi, Revue de literature générale. His other books include Futur, ancient, fugitif (1993) and L'art poétic', translated by Cole Swensen and published by Green Integer as Art Poetic in 1999. Noted poet and translator Cole Swensen won the PEN American Award for Translation of Island of the Dead by Jean Frémon.