Run Adolf run: the World War Two fun book - Softcover

GIFFORD, Denis

 
9780552999717: Run Adolf run: the World War Two fun book
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0552999717 ISBN 13: 9780552999717
Publisher: Corgi, 1975

Synopsis

In this atmospheric and powerful novel set on the east coast of England, dramatic personal conflicts reveal that peacetime is hardly any different from wartime.

Late summer 1946: the Wash on the fenland coast. Into a suspicious and isolated community comes James Mercer, until recently a captain in the Engineers, now employed in the demolition of redundant gun platforms. A relationship grows between Mercer and the wife of a soldier who is expected home very soon, and whose arrival is awaited with anxiety. Mercer also befriends Mathias, a German prisoner-of-war involved in similar work, who has no wish to be repatriated, and Jacob, a Jew and camp survivor. Mercer soon learns there is a bond between the German and the Jew, and is drawn further into their history as the ex-soldier finally returns and begins to re-establish his overbearing authority. In a place where nothing has changed for decades, the agents of destruction and renewal are at work. As the summer dies, animosities flare, prejudices and enmities are burnished and the six main characters circle each other like the combatants they believe themselves to be.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Robert Edric is an award-winning novelist whose recent books include The Book of the Heathen, shortlisted for the 2001 W.H. Smith Award.

From the Back Cover

“Edric is one of those immensely skilled novelists who seems fated to be discovered insultingly late in a productive career when caught in the arbitrary spotlight of Booker nomination or television adaptation. Booksellers take note: this is a writer to put into the hands of people looking for ‘someone new’.” -- Patrick Gale, Independent

“Peacetime has a seriousness and a psychological edge that nine out of ten novelists would give their eye teeth to possess.” -- Sunday Times

From the Inside Flap

In this atmospheric and powerful novel set on the east coast of England, dramatic personal conflicts reveal that peacetime is hardly any different from wartime.

Late summer 1946: the Wash on the fenland coast. Into a suspicious and isolated community comes James Mercer, until recently a captain in the Engineers, now employed in the demolition of redundant gun platforms. A relationship grows between Mercer and the wife of a soldier who is expected home very soon, and whose arrival is awaited with anxiety. Mercer also befriends Mathias, a German prisoner-of-war involved in similar work, who has no wish to be repatriated, and Jacob, a Jew and camp survivor. Mercer soon learns there is a bond between the German and the Jew, and is drawn further into their history as the ex-soldier finally returns and begins to re-establish his overbearing authority. In a place where nothing has changed for decades, the agents of destruction and renewal are at work. As the summer dies, animosities flare, prejudices and enmities are burnished and the six main characters circle each other like the combatants they believe themselves to be.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Corgi
Publication date
1975
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0552999717
ISBN 13 
9780552999717
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1