At the Wolf's Table
A Novel
Published on 11. February 2019
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-250-17914-2 (ISBN)
Description
Germany, 1943. Twenty-six-year-old Rosa Sauer's parents are gone, and her husband, Gregor, is far away, fighting on the front lines of World War II. Alone, she has little choice but to leave war-torn Berlin behind and live with her in-laws in the countryside, hoping she'll find refuge there. But one morning, the SS come to tell her she has been conscripted to be one of Hitler's tasters: three times a day, she and nine other women go to his secret headquarters, known as the Wolf's Lair, to eat his meals before he does. Forced to eat what might kill them, the tasters begin to divide into The Fanatics, those loyal to Hitler, and the women like Rosa who insist they aren't Nazis, even as they risk their lives every day for Hitler's. As secrets and resentments grow, this unlikely sisterhood reaches its own dramatic climax. What's more, one of Rosa's SS guards has become dangerously familiar, and the war is worsening outside. As the months pass, it becomes increasingly clear that Rosa and everyone she knows are on the wrong side of history.
Reviews / Votes
Winner of the Premio Campiello Literary PrizePraise for At the Wolf's Table
"Engrossing...At the Wolf's Table is Postorino's first novel to be translated into English from her native Italian. Her ability to beautifully convey feelings of guilt, shame, love and remorse in a single gesture is a sign that we will be hearing more from her."
--The New York Times Book Review
"This book--which speaks of love, hunger, survival and remorse--will end up engraved on your heart."
--Marie Claire (Italy)
"Unsettling and compelling... At the Wolf's Table stays with you, and for a long time."
--La Repubblica
"Masterful...A unique story in which every reader will see themselves reflected."
--L'Unione Sarda
"You'll fly into this novel with your heart in your throat and a constant feeling of identification all the way through to the final, magnificent chapter."
--Io Donna
"Compelling and truly well written."
--Huffington Post (Italy)
"A necessary book of great power that brings to mind Primo Levi's The Drowned and the Saved and the finest Italian fiction."
--La Riviera
"As engaging as a great film."
--Vanity Fair (Italy)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-250-17914-2 (9781250179142)
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
E-Book
09/2025
Flatiron Books
€18.18
Available for download
Person
Rosella Postorino is an internationally bestselling author and an editor. She speaks fluent English, Italian, French, and German. At the Wolf's Table is her first novel to be translated into English.