On a hot summer afternoon in 1944,SS troops wiped out an entire French village. 644 men,women and children died that day. Just one child survived. This book tells the story of what happened in Oradour,and imagines what drove both the SS officer who ordered the massacre,and the seven-year-old boy who escaped it. Powerful,moving and almost unbearably tense,this bookweaves the truth about what happened to the people in Oradour into a powerful fictional story centred on two characters: the plucky,inspirational seven-year-old Alfred Fournier,refugee and resident of Oradour,and the hot-headed,power-hungry SS commander who shattered his world and changed his life for ever,Major Gustav Dietrich. As their two worlds collide,we gain a fascinating insight into the extremes and contradictions of human behaviour and emotion. With a twist in the tale,this is a story which leaves the reader surprised,inspired and profoundly moved.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCISBN: 9781408182017Number of pages: 256Weight: 210 gDimensions: 198 x 129 x 17 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
A compelling narrative which looks deep inside human behaviour and the terrifying consequences of man's actions. www.parentsintouch.co.uk Very evocative - Ellen Krajewski,Librarian The Hemel Hempstead School Watts...handles the brutal truth with sensitivity,without shying away from the facts. The Historical Novel Society A profound,moving summary...commentary so evocative of the specific village landscape,as well as the many personal tragedies of that event. Extremely adept in treading a fine line,describing the events of the day,accurately. The commentary is universal. - Jim BergerThis is a compelling and sadly true account of one of the worst atrocities of the Second World War. The novel is a strong addition to that most poignant of genres,the literature of war The School Librarian
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