Peace Talks

Shortlisted for the 2020 Costa Book Awards

A small masterpiece of compression and containment, Peace Talks tells the story of one man’s grief, the tribulations of the human heart, and our longing for peace.

Edvard Behrends is a highly regarded senior diplomat who has made his reputation as a mediator in international peace negotiations. In his latest post, he has been sent to a resort hotel in the Tyrol. High up on this mountain, the air is bright and clear. When he isn’t working, Edvard reads, walks, listens to music. He confides in no one—no one but his wife Anna. Anna, whom he loves with all his heart; Anna, always present and yet forever absent.

Reminiscent of Robert Seethaler’s work in its formal elegance and emotional heft, of Rachel Cusk’s novels in the precision and tenacity of its prose, and of David Szalay’s writing in its abiding preoccupations, Finch’s new novel is a work of great depth, honesty, wit, beauty, and enduring importance.

Tim Finch is a leading campaigner and writer on refugee and migrant issues. He formerly worked as a director for the Refugee Council, and has founded two charities, among them Sponsor Refugees. As well as working as a senior political journalist at the BBC, he has broadcast frequently on Channel 4, Al Jazeera and CNN. He is the author of two novels, The House of Journalists (FSG, 2013), and Peace Talks (Europa, 2020).