Bernhard for the hard to buy for

Thomas Bernhard is not the easiest writer to read, but he has written some of the more interesting works of the 20th century (e.g. Correction, Woodcutters).  A good way to get to know his work is through his shorter prose, so Prose should go on any challenging reader's list. http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/index.php?id=2799, then let them find their own way to the novels!