“Outstanding. One of the finest novels I have read in the last 5 years. Set in Wales during World War II, an interesting setting historically and geographically. The Welsh people in a small village, their attitudes towards the war, the English and the Germans are very interesting. The heart of the book is the two main characters, Esther, the Welsh girl, and Karsten, a German prisoner-of-war. Both are drawn in great detail and depth, Esther more than Karsten. The book reflects on the meaning of war, of a person's place in the world (cynefin), the importance of country and, to a lesser degree, the importance of family.
The other people in the book are interesting and also given quite a bit of character development. Rotherham, the third "key" character, comes to the conclusion that having no country, no ties to a fatherland, makes him free. Esther and Karsten, on the other hand, find that their place in the world helps define them, and perhaps also limits them.
Beautiful. Short listed for the Booker prize. Read it!”
Parnell wrote this review Friday, April 10 2009.
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