War story by Gwen Edelman

'In the pared-down manner of a modern-day Colette, Gwen Edelman tells the story of a young woman's love for an unlikely older man. . . War and love, age and beauty, cynicism and passion-it's all here, rendered with a level head and a stinging heart.' -Dani Shapiro, author of Slow Motion 'A gifted writer with a finely developed sense of the intellectual and ethical implications of her subject matter.' -Andrew Reimer This haunting first novel is a brief, intense and morally complex love story about an affair between a young woman and a much older man. Reminiscent of Bernhard Schlink's The Reader, War Story recounts the love affair between Joseph Kruger, a one-time famous playwright and Holocaust survivor, and Kitty, a young aspiring writer, who meet in a secondhand bookstore in New York City. Joseph's past pervades his whole being and spurs him to embrace life recklessly, and to avoid permanent connection to anyone or anything. Joseph and Kitty share a desperate desire, and this is reflected in Joseph's insatiable appetite for food-more than they could ever eat. This is a story of how love and sexual relationships can form our identities, nurture us, as well as harm us. In stark, spare language Gwen Edelman has created an unforgettable and passionate love affair that raises questions about morality and identity, memory and character. As indelible as it is controversial, War Story is the stunning debut of a remarkable talent. Gwen Edelman is an American who lives in Paris. A Poet, War Story is her first novel. This 2001 Allen & Unwin Paperback is in good condition.

ISBN: 9781865086149 SKU: 1007410 Note: Any image shown is from a stock photo and is not the actual book.