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All the broken places

£9.99

91-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same mansion block in London for decades. She leads a comfortable, quiet life, despite her dark and disturbing past. She doesn’t talk about her escape from Germany over 70 years before. She doesn’t talk about the post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn’t talk about her father, the commandant of one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. Then, a young family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can’t help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a violent argument between Henry’s mother and his domineering father, one that threatens Gretel’s hard-won, self-contained existence. Gretel is faced with a chance to expiate her guilt, grief and remorse and act to save a young boy.

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Description

‘Beautifully told and gripping from first page to last’ Sunday Express
‘An incredible feat of storytelling… and an old-fashioned page-turner’ Donal Ryan
‘Gripping and well-honed…consummately constructed, humming with tension’ Guardian
‘You can’t prepare yourself for the magnitude and emotional impact of this powerful novel’ John Irving
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From the author of the globally bestselling, multi-million-copy classic, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, comes its astonishing and powerful sequel.

Gretel Fernsby is a quiet woman leading a quiet life. She doesn’t talk about her escape from Germany seventy years ago or the dark post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn’t talk about her father, the commandant of one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps.

But when a young family moves into the apartment below her, Gretel can’t help but befriend their little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back painful memories. One night, she witnesses a violent argument between his parents, which threatens to disturb her hard-won peace.

For the second time in her life, Gretel is given the chance to save a young boy. To do so would allay her guilt, grief and remorse, but it will also force her to reveal her true identity.

Will she make a different choice this time, whatever the cost to herself?

The new novel from John Boyne, FIRE, is available now.
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Praise for John Boyne

‘A master storyteller’ Daily Express
One of the best novelists of Ireland’ Sunday Express
Boyne offers writing of insight and beauty’ Observer
‘John Boyne is a maestro of hisoritical fiction’ John Irving

Read a sample here

Additional information

Weight 0.264 kg
Dimensions 19.7 × 12.7 × 2.5 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

370

Language

English

Edition

1st paperback ed

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K