One Last Summer - Hardcover

Collier, Catrin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0752885774 ISBN 13: 9780752885773

Publisher: Orion Publishing, 2007

Synopsis

Based on the life of Catrin Collier's mother and grandmother, this is a powerful novel which spans more than 60 years, from the life of grandmother Charlotte to her journalist granddaughter, Laura. We revisit Charlotte's incredible life which starts in East Prussia in 1939 and ends in modern day England. Allenstein, East Prussia, 1939—Charlotte von Datski's parents hold a glittering ball to celebrate her 18th birthday and to announce her engagement to a Prussian Count. But Hitler is about to plunge the world into war—and East Prussia will be wiped from the face of the map. Charlotte is forced to leave behind her beloved homeland and flee to England. By 1946, Charlotte finds herself in London with her young son, struggling to adapt to a new country and a new way of life. But she carries a secret that both strengthens and torments her—and when a book entitled One Last Summer is smuggled out of a Russian prison camp and becomes an instant international bestseller, that secret is revealed. The book tells of an affair between a Russian POW and a Prussian aristocrat. Years on, Charlotte's granddaughter, Laura, comes across material relating to these events and persuades her grandmother to embark on a journey into her past. As Charlotte recalls the one great love of her life, she finally faces the demons that have haunted her for over half a century.

About this title

About the Author

Catrin Collier was born into a close Welsh family in 1948 - very aware of her dual heritage. The war was recent, her mother German, her father Welsh. She loved her German grandmother, spent summers with her in Germany, and couldn't understand how ordinary Germans had allowed the monstrous Nazi regime to flourish. After working in various jobs, she became a full-time writer in 1994. In 1995 she accompanied her mother when she returned to East Prussia (now Poland) for the first time in fifty years. There she read the diaries that her mother and grandmother had kept and talked about life under the Nazis. One Last Summer is the result of those conversations. She lives with her husband in Wales.

Review

Catrin has written a wonderful stand alone novel inspired by her mother's experience fleeing Germany at the end of the Second World War. There has been a great deal of interest in the story with several national newspapers interested in covering it. Confirmed so far: TELEVISION Catrin is appearing in a documentary on local celebrities and the streets they lived called 'Stories From the Street' HTV HTV will also be covering the story behind the book for the regional news in Wales. RADIO BBC RADIO WALES will be interviewing Catrin on her new book (date tbc) PRESS There will be a major interview in the WESTERN MORNING NEWS There wil also be an interview in SWANSEA EVENING POST Review to come in YOURS magazine ONE LAST SUMMER has been chosen as the bookclub read for COUNTRY AND BORDER LIFE magazine. EVENTS Catrin will be doing formal signings in WH Smiths Pontypridd - Saturday 2 June Borders, Llantrisant - Tuesday June Waterstones, Swansea - Saturday 9 June WH Smiths, Cardiff - tbc And stocksignings in Waterstones (Cardiff) and Camelot Books (Cardiff) Catrin has also been asked to judge a writing competition at Borders, Swansea in July

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion Publishing
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0752885774
• ISBN 13: 9780752885773
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336