From Library Journal
In this biting satire of modern health care, Jersild depicts life and death in a large-scale hospital. At the novel's center is an elderly man, admitted to the hospital for a heart attack, whose humanity is contrasted with a dehumanized hierarchical organization. As the title suggests, language is the primary means used by such institutions to destroy individuals; it serves to protect bureaucrats from the destructive consequences of their actions and to intimidate others. The novel became the most widely read and debated book in Sweden in 1978, appealing to readers on all levels. Dealing with matters of vital interest to everyone in an artistic and entertaining form, this novel is highly recommended. Ulla Sweedler, Univ. of California, San Diego, Lib.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
