<<The>> aftermath

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook is a superbly controlled emotional thriller of passion, betrayal and conscience, set in post-War Germany. 'Masterly ... the story develops with many a deft twist ... Brook wrings every drop of feeling out of a gripping human situation, and his vignettes of war-ravaged Hamburg are superb' Mail on Sunday, Novel of the Week 'Rhidian Brook takes a piece of history I thought I knew well and breaks it open. The Aftermath is a compelling, surprising and moving novel' Sadie Jones, author of The Outcast * 'A moving, always enthralling journey ... Rhidian Brook has written a brilliant novel' Joseph O'Neill, author of Netherland Hamburg, 1946. Thousands remain displaced in what is now the British Occupied Zone. Charged with overseeing the rebuilding of this devastated city and the de-Nazification of its defeated people, Colonel Lewis Morgan has requisitioned a fine house on the banks of the Elbe, where he will be joined by his grieving wife Rachael and only remaining son Edmund. But rather than force its owners, a German widower and his traumatised daughter, to leave their home, Lewis insists that the two families live together. In this charged and claustrophobic atmosphere all must confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal. The Aftermath is a stunning novel about our fiercest loyalties, our deepest desires and the transforming power of forgiveness. 'Arresting, unsettling and compelling; suffused with suffering and hope' Claire Messud, author of The Emperor's Children The Aftermath is being developed as a feature film by Ridley Scott's production company Scott Free and BBC Films. Rhidian Brook is an award-winning writer of fiction, television drama and film. His first novel The Testimony of Taliesin Jones won several prizes including the Somerset Maugham Award. His short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including the Paris Review , New Statesman and Time Out , and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. He is also a regular contributor to 'Thought For The Day' on the Today programme. Review Rhidian Brook's arresting novel brings vividly to life a little-told aspect of World War II: its aftermath. His storyenergetically and authoritatively toldis unsettling and compelling, suffused with suffering and, mercifully, some hope. Claire Messud, author of *The Woman Upstairs A moving, always enthralling journey into the dark and light of history. Rhidian Brook has written a brilliant novel. Joseph O'Neill, author of *Netherland Rhidian Brook takes a piece of history I thought I knew well and breaks it open; The Aftermath* is a compelling, surprising, and moving novel. Sadie Jones, author of The Uninvited Guests About the Author RHIDIAN BROOK is an award-winning writer of fiction, television, and film. His debut novel The Testimony of Taliesin Jones won the Somerset Maugham Award, a Betty Trask Award, and the Author's Club Best First Novel Award. His stories have appeared in The Paris Review and New Statesman. He lives in London with his wife and two children. THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, NOW A MAJOR FILM STARRING KEIRA KNIGHTLEY In the bitter winter of 1946, Rachael Morgan arrives in the ruins of Hamburg. Here she is reunited with her husband Lewis, a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. As they set off for their new home Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an extraordinary decision: they will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal. 'This masterly novel wrings every drop of feeling out of a gripping human situation.' Mail on Sunday 'Superb. Conjures surprise after surprise' Guardian 'Excellent, original, masterly. A captivating tale not only of love among the ruins but also of treachery and vengeance' Literary Review 'Profoundly moving, beautifully written. Ponders issues of decency, guilt and forgiveness' Independent 'Terrific. Suspicion, resentment and misunderstanding haunt this city. Richly atmospheric' Sunday Telegraph Hamburg, 1946. In the British Occupied Zone, thousands of Germans are wandering the rubble, lost and homeless and Colonel Lewis Morgan is charge with overseeing the rebuilding of their devastated city. He is stationed in a grand house on the River Elbe; his wife and their only surviving son will soon be joining him there. But when Lewis meets the German owners of the house, he cannot bring himself to throw them out into the streets. Instead, he insists that the two families live together. In this charged atmosphere, parents and children alike will be forced to confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal, their deepest desires, their fiercest loyalties, and the transforming power of forgiveness.--From publisher's description. Een Engelse kolonel houdt zich in 1946 bezig met de wederopbouw van het gebombardeerde Hamburg. Van zijn grote woning staat hij enkele kamers af aan een Duitse architect, maar dit is tegen de zin van zijn commandant en van zijn vrouw