The Tenant
The Tenant
Book Brief
Beta224
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Tenant by Roland Topor follows Trelkovsky, an individual who rents an apartment in Paris. As Trelkovsky adapts to his new environment, he experiences tensions with his neighbors. The narrative explores themes of identity, isolation, and the impact of societal pressures on a person's mental state.
Mysterious
Unnerving
Dark
Suspenseful
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
5,887 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Roland Topor's The Tenant is praised for its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth, capturing paranoia and identity crisis effectively. Critics commend its unique narrative style and eerie tone, though some find the plot slow or opaque. Its haunting exploration of isolation offers a compelling yet chilling read, leaving a lasting impression despite its ambiguities.
Who Should Read The Tenant?
Readers who relish psychological thrillers with a Kafkaesque twist would enjoy Roland Topor's The Tenant. Fans of existential dread and dark humor, akin to American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis or Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin, will find its eerie exploration of identity and paranoia captivating.
5,887 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Tenant by Roland Topor is one of the few novels that was adapted into a film directed by Roman Polanski in 1976, in which Polanski also played the lead role.
Roland Topor was not only a novelist but also a multifaceted artist, known for his surreal and often darkly comic illustrations, plays, and scripts.
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The novel explores themes of identity and alienation, which were recurring motifs in Topor's works, reflecting his unique perspective as a French artist of Polish-Jewish descent.
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224
Novel • Fiction
Paris, France • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
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