The silent hours is a fictional reimagining of a reallife tragedy that occurred in an unoccupied french village in world war ii. The silent hours by cesca major an epic, sweeping tale of love and loss inspired by heartrending true events in the unoccupied zone of wartime france. Set during wwii in a part of france largely untouched by the fighting, it is the story of a terrible event as seen through the eyes of three characters, adeline, sebastien and a young boy, tristan. Beautifully wrought, utterly compelling and with a shocking true story at its core, the silent hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss. The silent hours is something special though i was sent the book through britmums book club and to be honest, it took me a while to finally get into it. Cesca majors first novel the silent hours book club. Antonia senior the times a moving and evocative portrait of a littleknown wartime tragedy sunday express a moving debut woman and home a gripping mystery, with an epic sweep, the silent hours is a wonderfully assured debut. As soon as i saw this book mentioned on social media, it went straight onto my wishlist and i was so thrilled to find it unexpectedly through my letter box from the. Major represented by darley anderson literary agency. Sebastian, a young jewish banker whose love for the beautiful isabelle will change the course of his life dramatically. Read silent hours by cesca major available from rakuten kobo. The silent hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss. I have just finished reading the silent hours by cesca major. The story follows a mute woman in 1952, who is looked after by nuns in southwest france.
I have read both her novels this year and they are both 5 reads for me. The book also tells the story of tristan, a little boy whose family has moved from paris to live in the village. Major is the pen name of cesca major a writer and presenter. For the past couple of days i have been submerged in midwest france during the second word war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Cesca majors novel the silent hours was chosen as the latest read for the britmums bookclub. She is watched over by nuns at a convent in south west france. Adeline, a mute who takes refuge in a convent, haunted by memories of her past. An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows. Nov 03, 2016 a publication day interview with cesca major, author of the last night november 3, 2016 lindasbookbag im beside myself with excitement to be interviewing cesca major today, as her latest novel the last night is published, because cescas book the silent hours was one of the best narratives i read last year. When you buy this book, and i urge you to, make sure you buy a large box of tissues at the same time. The silent hours cesca major haftad 9781782395683 bokus. The story of a mute woman in 1952 looked after by nuns in southwest france has been described by author wendy wallace as.
This skilfully woven story had me transfixed from the very first page. An epic, sweeping tale of love and loss inspired by heartrending true events in the unoccupied zone of wartime france. Buy the silent hours unabridged audiobook 8 cds by cesca major isbn. My debut novel the silent hours is out in june 2015 with corvus books. A publication day interview with cesca major, author of. Cescas debut historical novel, the silent hours, was published last year by corvus, to great acclaim. As an ex history teacher cesca has always been fascinated by true stories from the recent past. It was a book that id never heard of but it is one that i will certainly not forget. The silent hours follows three people and how their lives are sadly entwined. C d major news darley anderson literary, tv and film. Im beside myself with excitement to be interviewing cesca major today, as her latest novel the last night is published, because cescas book the silent hours was one of the best narratives i read last year. Jilly bond, peter noble, multiple narrators as audiobook.
She has written three novels her debut the silent hours, set during wwii, was described as a moving debut by women and home magazine and the times called major a talent to watch. Cesca major an epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart. Jun, 2017 the silent hours will haunt me for a long time to come. It is a very personal story following the lives of the five main characters adeline, isabelle, paul, sebastian and a nineyearold boy tristan. The novel starts in 1952, adeline is a silent amnesiac, cared for by nuns in a convent in.
Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. Cesca has always been fascinated by extraordinary stories from the recent past. I was sent the book through britmums book club and to be honest, it took me a while to finally get into it. Told from the viewpoints of five characters, their stories eventually entwine and culminate in a tragic event. The silent hours is written by cesca major and published by corvus in 2015. Cesca is a fascinating interviewee as she writes in two genres under different names. Her first real writing success came in 2005 when she was runner up in the daily mail writing competition for the best opening paragraph to a novel.
C d major news darley anderson literary, tv and film agency. The silent hours cesca major cesca majors novel the silent hours was chosen as the latest read for the britmums bookclub. An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart. Cesca majors first novel the silent hours our latest book is the silent hours, by cesca major. An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them. Book club hostess jacqueline steward, who blogs at best and beyond, starts us off on the discussion below. Once i picked it up to start reading though, it was hard to put down. A work of historical fiction, the novel is set in wartime france but, located in the unoccupied zone, the peaceful village of oradoursurglane is largely undisturbed by the horrors going on slightly further afield. On 10 june 1944, the village of oradoursurglane was targeted by the ss. I love historical novels and i found myself easily transported back to france during the second world war. Jun 09, 2015 told partly through the first person voices of adeline, sebastien and tristan, cesca major weaves a spellbinding narrative by adding layer upon layer of information and detail through memories and letters alongside these three main voices so that the silent hours becomes an intimate, haunting and utterly compelling read. Buy the silent hours by cesca major, in very good condition. I absolutely loved the silent hours by cesca major, and was up reading it at 5.
Having followed cesca major on twitter the buzz she built around her novel the silent hours compelled me to read it. The silent hours by cesca major 2015, paperback for sale. You will receive an alert when the book is available for less than the new or used price you specify. The story starts when war in france is declared, and takes the reader up to near the end of the war.
The silent hours is a sweeping historical romance, based on true events, and it centres around an event that devastated a small, unoccupied french village in the second world war. A publication day interview with cesca major, author of the. Kindle or hardcover i still cant quite comprehend that this is the debut novel from cesca major. Adeline, a mute who takes refuge in a convent, haunted by. All of our paper waste is recycled within the uk and turned into corrugated cardboard. This book is the reason why my 100 page rule works though. Cesca major joins the darley anderson agency april 2014 we are thrilled to welcome cesca major to the darley anderson agency cescas debut novel, the silent hours, was bought by anna hogarty at corvus in a twobook deal and will be published on 6th august 2015. He makes new friends and likes his teacher, but he is unaware of the cruelty in the world around him. We include all meals on our retreats and select peaceful and gorgeous. May 28, 2015 its been a while since i was offered a book through the britmums book club but the latest book was cesca majors debut novel, the silent hours. I cant thank alison davies and corvus books enough for providing an advanced reader copy of cesca major s the silent hours which is published on 11th june 2015. Cesca majors debut historical novel the silent hours takes as its inspiration a truly shocking event which happened during world war ii, the anniversary of which fell on 10th june set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart. Utterly compelling and with a shocking true story at its core, the silent hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss.
A powerful and haunting exploration of love and loss in war. The silent hours by cesca major, published by corvus. This is assured writing and major is a talent to watch. The silent hours cesca major paperback published 20160301 by atlantic. An epic, sweeping tale of love and loss inspired by heartrending t. It is a book club read set in france during wwii and based on. The silent hours is a sweeping historical romance, based on true events, and it centres around an event that. The silent hours by cesca major book cover, description, publication history.
An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, befo. Book challenge 2016 14 books the list consisted of 12 books which i have chosen to fit each category and i have added two more to my list as well. Her past haunts and she cannot contemplate her future. An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime france, the silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears. Nov 01, 2015 i absolutely loved the silent hours by cesca major, and was up reading it at 5. The silent hours by cesca major is published by corvus, an imprint of atlantic books, and is available in paperback and ebook. Jun 16, 2015 the silent hours by cesca major release date. The last night is published today, 3rd november 2016, by corvus, an imprint of atlantic books and is available.
The silent hours by cesca major 20151105 cesca major on. Nov 05, 2015 buy the silent hours main by major, cesca isbn. The story starts when war in france is declared, and takes the reader up to near the end of the war when a true event takes place. Cescas debut novel, the silent hours, was bought by anna hogarty at corvus in a twobook deal and will be published on 6th august 2015. The silent hours is the story of ordinary people going about their daily lives as much as is possible in a small town in wartime france until one. Its been a while since i was offered a book through the britmums book club but the latest book was cesca majors debut novel, the silent hours.
The silent hours by cesca major is a novel based on a terrible true story during world war two in france. I cant thank alison davies and corvus books enough for providing an advanced reader copy of cesca majors the silent hours which is published on 11th june 2015. Its not often a book warrants a blog post all of its own. Sebastien, a young jewish banker whose love for the beautiful isabelle will change the course of his life dramatically. Shortages, antisemitism, families uprooted and torn apart. Leah fleming, author of the postcard the silent hours is an evocative and beautifully written debut. She went on to work in television as a researcher and presenter for four years before becoming a history teacher. The silent hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart. The sun stated it, will stay with you long after youve. You can order a copy of her newest book which was published by corvus books on 3rd november by clicking here thanks so much for joining me cesca. A gripping, fictional account of a real event in wartime france, told with a sensuous clarity. Im really delighted to welcome cesca major to my blog today.
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