‘A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity.’ Sarah Winman
AUSTRALIAN INDIE BOOK AWARD WINNER 2020 BOOK OF THE YEAR & FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2020
PRAGUE, 1938: Eva flies down the street. A man steps out suddenly.
Eva runs into him, hits the pavement hard. His hat is in the gutter.
His anger slaps Eva, but his hate will change everything,
as war forces so many lives into small brown suitcases.
PRAGUE, 1980: No one sees Ludek. A young boy can slip right under
the heavy blanket that covers this city – the fear cannot touch him.
Ludek is free. And he sees everything. The world can do what it likes.
The world can go to hell for all he cares because Babi is waiting
for him in the warm flat. She is his whole world.
MELBOURNE, 1980: Mala Liska‘s grandma holds her hand as they climb
the stairs to their third floor flat. Inside, the smell of warm pipe
tobacco and homemade cakes. Here, Mana and Bill have made a
life for themselves and their granddaughter. A life imbued with
the spirit of Prague and the loved ones left behind.
Because there is still love. No matter what.
