The Successor by Ismail Kadare - just finished this book. Man Booker International Winner 2005. Memories of Kafka - a 'psycological thriller' set in Albania. The forward states that 'any resemblance between the characters and circumstances in this tale and real people and events is inevitable' -says it all. No wasted words and lots of atmosphere. Having spent quite a bit of time in Romania and with Romanians - the eastern european state dominance comes alive. Recommended.