The Recent East

SKU: PR272308

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Experience a gripping narrative in 'The Recent East,' a brilliantly crafted novel set against the backdrop of post-Berlin Wall Germany. This powerful multigenerational epic, written by the talented Thomas Grattan, delves into themes of identity, displacement, and the haunting memories of a fractured family. Following Beate Haas, who escaped East Germany as a child, this story explores her return to reclaim her parents' abandoned mansion after years of living in upstate New York. Discover how the haunting past intertwines with the present as Beate navigates a ghost town transformed into a melting pot of emotions, from her teenagers' rebellion to the city’s dramatic evolution from devastation to resurgence. With rich prose and a heartfelt exploration of history, 'The Recent East' confronts the complexities of family ties and personal growth amid chaos. Perfect for readers who cherish deep character development and socio-political narratives, this 368-page novel is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction. Condition: BRAND NEW. ISBN: 9781250829580. Year: 2022. Publisher: St Martins Press.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781250829580
Year: 2022
Publisher: St Martins Press
Pages: 368


Description:
Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Beate Haas, who defected from East Germany as a child, is notified that her parents’ abandoned mansion is available for her to reclaim. Newly divorced and eager to escape her bleak life in upstate New York, where she has lived as an adult, she arrives with her two teenagers to discover a city that has become an unrecognizable ghost town. The move fractures the siblings’ close relationship, as Michael, free to be gay, takes to looting empty houses and partying with wannabe anarchists, while Adela, fascinated with the horrors of the Holocaust, buries herself in books and finds companionship in a previously unknown cousin. Over time, the town itself changes, too—from dismantled city to refugee haven and neo-Nazi hotbed, and eventually to a desirable seaside resort town. In the midst of that change, two episodes of devastating, fateful violence come to define the family forever.

Moving seamlessly through decades and between the thoughts and lives of several unforgettable characters, Thomas Grattan’s spellbinding novel The Recent East is a multigenerational epic that illuminates what it means to leave home, and what it means to return. Masterfully crafted with humor, gorgeous prose, and a powerful understanding of history and heritage, The Recent East is the profoundly affecting story of a family upended by displacement and loss, and the extraordinary debut of an empathetic and ambitious storyteller.

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