The Lacuna (Barbara Kingsolver)
R 55.25 (Effective price if returned)
Please see full description below:
Estimated delivery times: 2-3 working days (Gauteng), 4-5 working days (Rest Of SA).
Exact shipping estimates vary by courier option chosen on the checkout page
Read & Return. Qualifying books can be returned within 30 days of purchase for a guaranteed 35% of the paid price back in ReadMatter credit.
Pickup available at JHB North East Pickup Point Usually ready in 2-4 days
Pickup available
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JHB North East Pickup Point
Pickup available, usually ready in 2-4 days
63 Dunrobin Street
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Sydenham
Johannesburg
Gauteng
2192
South Africa
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The Lacuna (Barbara Kingsolver)
Large Paperback
Name on the front page
In her most accomplished novel, Barbara Kingsolver takes us on an epic journey from the Mexico City of artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo to the America of Pearl Harbor, FDR, and J. Edgar Hoover. The Lacuna is a poignant story of a man pulled between two nations as they invent their modern identities.
Born in the United States, reared in a series of provisional households in Mexico—from a coastal island jungle to 1930s Mexico City—Harrison Shepherd finds precarious shelter but no sense of home on his thrilling odyssey. Life is whatever he learns from housekeepers who put him to work in the kitchen, errands he runs in the streets, and one fateful day, by mixing plaster for famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. He discovers a passion for Aztec history and meets the exotic, imperious artist Frida Kahlo, who will become his lifelong friend. When he goes to work for Lev Trotsky, an exiled political leader fighting for his life, Shepherd inadvertently casts his lot with art and revolution, newspaper headlines and howling gossip, and a risk of terrible violence.
Meanwhile, to the north, the United States will soon be caught up in the internationalist goodwill of World War II. There in the land of his birth, Shepherd believes he might remake himself in America's hopeful image and claim a voice of his own. He finds support from an unlikely kindred soul, his stenographer, Mrs. Brown, who will be far more valuable to her employer than he could ever know. Through darkening years, political winds continue to toss him between north and south in a plot that turns many times on the unspeakable breach—the lacuna—between truth and public presumption.
With deeply compelling characters, a vivid sense of place, and a clear grasp of how history and public opinion can shape a life, Barbara Kingsolver has created an unforgettable portrait of the artist—and of art itself. The Lacuna is a rich and daring work of literature, establishing its author as one of the most provocative and important of her time.
We do not measure every book by hand but instead use the size table below and AI to list the size. Please note that US and UK sizes may differ slightly; where applicable, we provide dimensions for both. If you would like the exact size of a book, please WhatsApp us, and we will be happy to measure it for you.
| Format | Colloquially Called | Typical Dimensions (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format A | Small | 10.8 x 17.5 cm | Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format. |
| Format B | Medium | UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm US: 13.2 x 20.3 cm |
Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions. |
| Format C | Large | UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm US: 14.0 x 21.6 cm |
Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US. |
| Extra Large | Extra Large | Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm | Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers. |
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Format A
Colloquially Called: Small
Typical Dimensions: 10.8 x 17.5 cm
Description: Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format.
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Format B
Colloquially Called: Medium
Typical Dimensions: UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
US: 13.2 x 20.3 cmDescription: Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions.
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Format C
Colloquially Called: Large
Typical Dimensions: UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm
US: 14.0 x 21.6 cmDescription: Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US.
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Extra Large
Colloquially Called: Extra Large
Typical Dimensions: Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm
Description: Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers.
This is a high-level condition guideline. If you would like more information about a specific book's condition, please WhatsApp us. Please note that book clubs are one of our main avenues for sourcing books, and as such, names and book club notes are allowed on all conditions from "As New" downwards and may not always be explicitly mentioned. Please look carefully at the pictures of the book to assess its condition. Any other notable defects, aside from those in the "Key Features" column, will be listed above in the "At a Glance" column under "Observations."
| Condition | RM Rating | Description | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand New | 10/10 | Completely new and unread. | Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear. |
| As New | 9/10 | Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition. | No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name. |
| Excellent | 8/10 | Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage. | Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine. |
| Very Good | 7/10 | Good condition with some signs of wear. | Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners. |
| Good | 6/10 | More wear but still usable and readable. | Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners. |
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Condition: Brand New
RM Rating: 10/10
Description: Completely new and unread.
Key Features: Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear.
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Condition: As New
RM Rating: 9/10
Description: Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition.
Key Features: No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name.
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Condition: Excellent
RM Rating: 8/10
Description: Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage.
Key Features: Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine.
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Condition: Very Good
RM Rating: 7/10
Description: Good condition with some signs of wear.
Key Features: Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners.
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Condition: Good
RM Rating: 6/10
Description: More wear but still usable and readable.
Key Features: Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners.
About ReadMatter Online Used Bookshop
Born from a dream during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, ReadMatter has blossomed into one of South Africa's premier online used bookstores. Operating from three strategic depots in Gauteng, we diligently deliver hundreds of books weekly, illuminating minds, enriching souls, and bringing the joy of reading to every corner of the nation.
Our shelves boast roughly 10,000 books and 4,000 authors at any moment, with an additional 100,000 unlisted treasures available upon request. Can't find what you're looking for? Allow us the privilege to unearth it for you!
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