The Silent Hours
Published on 4. June 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-78239-568-3 (ISBN)
Description
An epic, sweeping tale set in wartime France, The Silent Hours follows three people whose lives are bound together, before war tears them apart:
Adeline, a mute who takes refuge in a convent, haunted by memories of her past;
Sebastien, a young Jewish banker whose love for the beautiful Isabelle will change the course of his life dramatically;
Tristan, a nine-year-old boy, whose family moves from Paris to settle in a village that is seemingly untouched by war.
Beautifully wrought, utterly compelling and with a shocking true story at its core, The Silent Hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss.
Adeline, a mute who takes refuge in a convent, haunted by memories of her past;
Sebastien, a young Jewish banker whose love for the beautiful Isabelle will change the course of his life dramatically;
Tristan, a nine-year-old boy, whose family moves from Paris to settle in a village that is seemingly untouched by war.
Beautifully wrought, utterly compelling and with a shocking true story at its core, The Silent Hours is an unforgettable portrayal of love and loss.
Reviews / Votes
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 * Heat * A beautifully written novel that will stay with you long after you finish the last page * the Sun * [A] strong debut... This is assured writing and Major is a talent to watch. -- Antonia Senior * The Times * A moving and evocative portrait of a little-known 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- Amanda Jennings, author of THE JUDAS SCAR A powerful and haunting exploration of love and loss in war. -- Leah Fleming, author of THE POSTCARDMore details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Atlantic Books
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
418 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78239-568-3 (9781782395683)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
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.