> Skip to content

Article  •  3 September 2018

 

5 things to know about Haruki Murakami's Killing Commendatore

All you need to know about Killing Commendatore, the hotly anticipated new novel by Haruki Murakami.

1. Haruki Murakami’s new novel, Killing Commendatore, will be published in NZ in October 2018.

2. The novel is a two-part story in one volume – Part 1: The Idea Made Visible and Part 2: The Shifting Metaphor.

3. The novel is centred on art and its creation. The story centres on a painter dealing with his separation from his wife. He goes to stay in a famous artist’s house and discovers a mysterious painting in the attic that shares the book’s title.

4. The subject of this painting is a scene from Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, showing the killing of Donna Anna’s father (Il Commendatore, the captain of a group of knights) by Don Giovanni, but set in 7th-century Japan and painted in a traditional style.

5. Murakami’s stories vary widely in tone and style. This haunting and multi-layered novel is reminiscent of his masterpiece, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, and takes his narrative art in new and exciting directions.

Feature Title

Killing Commendatore
The latest bewitching, kaleidoscopic novel from master storyteller Haruki Murakami, author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and 1Q84
Read more

More features

See all
Article
On design: Killing Commendatore

Suzanne Dean, creative director at Vintage, shares the creative process for designing the cover for Haruki Murakami’s latest novel.

Article
QUIZ: Which Murakami book should you start with?

Never read Murakami and wondering where to begin? Take this fun quiz to figure out which book you should read first.

Q&A
First Person Singular cover design Q&A

Vintage Creative Director Suzanne Dean and artist Lena Peters on circles, Murakami and monkeys.

Article
Are We There Yet?

Fun road trip games and books to keep little kids happy!

Article
How to go analog

Join the analogue movement! Check out four key tips for the best screen free hobbies, from colouring in to starting a book club.

Article
Elisabeth Easther presents her debut novel, Seed

Come and join as Elisabeth Easther launches Seed, her always hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking new novel

Article
QUIZ: Which character are you from Beth Is Dead?

Take this quiz to find out whether you're a Beth, Amy, Jo or Meg!

Article
Summer Reads for Curious Minds

The summer holidays are the perfect time to encourage kids to learn something new and explore their interests!

Article
Your questions answered – what to know about People We Meet on Vacation book and film

The film adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is fast approaching it’s January release. The film follows Poppy and Alex over 12 summers as their relationship transforms from enemies, to friends, to… you’ll have to wait and see.

Article
Register your interest in Penguin Previews

Love talking about books online? Sign up for our influencer programme, Penguin Previews!

Article
The classics that inspired SenLinYu to write Alchemised

SenLinYu shares the books that influenced the writing of Alchemised. From gothic horror to Jane Austen, learn about the classics that inspired the author.

Article
Christmas colouring books

Discover some of the best Christmas colouring books for kids and adults alike!

Looking for more articles?

See all articles