The Silent Hours - Softcover

Cesca Major

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782395687 ISBN 13: 9781782395683

Publisher: Corvus, 2015

Synopsis

"1952 A woman waits. She does not speak. Her past haunts and she cannot contemplate her future. She is watched over by nuns at a convent in south west France. Mute ever since she turned up at their door in the weeks following the defeat of Germany, her name is Adeline and she has a secret. 1940 Sebastian, a young Jewish businessman living in Limoges, has fallen in love with a local girl. But as the mood in the country darkens it seems their future is threatened. Ten-year-old Tristin and his family leave Paris for the safety of the French countryside. They settle in a quiet village in the unoccupied zone where life appears unaffected by war. Adeline and her family run the small shop on the high street. As the war progresses their stories become entwined. And when a horrifying event rocks their peaceful village nothing will ever be the same..."

About this title

Review

Cesca Major clearly knows her subject, and her descriptions of the time and setting are as brilliantly accomplished as the mystery she weaves through the book... Beautifully written and peppered with real emotion, this is a story that will linger long after reading Source: Heat

A beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you finish the last page Source: the Sun

[A] strong debut... This is assured writing and Major is a talent to watch. Author: Antonia Senior Source: The Times

A moving and evocative portrait of a little-known wartime tragedy Source: Sunday Express

[A] moving debut Source: Woman and Home

A gripping mystery, with an epic sweep, The Silent Hours is a wonderfully assured debut. Author: Rowan Coleman, author of THE MEMORY BOOK

A gripping, fictional account of a real event in wartime France, told with a sensuous clarity. A haunting and illuminating debut novel. Author: Wendy Wallace, author of THE PAINTED BRIDGE

The Silent Hours is an evocative and beautifully written debut. This skilfully woven story had me transfixed from the very first page. Cesca Major is an exciting new talent to watch. Author: Amanda Jennings, author of THE JUDAS SCAR

A powerful and haunting exploration of love and loss in war. Author: Leah Fleming, author of THE POSTCARD

From the Author

Cesca Major read history at Bristol University. She went on to work in television before becoming a history teacher. In 2005 she was runner-up in the Daily Mail Writing Competition for the best opening paragraph to a novel and had a short story published in the Sentinel Literary Magazine. She has written regularly for the website www.novelicious.com and films writing videos for www.writersandartists.com. She currently works as a housemistress at a boarding school in Berkshire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Corvus
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1782395687
• ISBN 13: 9781782395683
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320