‘A beautifully crafted book from a wonderful storyteller. It sings with humanity.’ Sarah Winman

AUSTRALIAN INDIE BOOK AWARD WINNER 2020 BOOK OF THE YEAR & FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2020

PRAGUE, 1938: Eva flies down the street. A man steps out suddenly. Eva runs into him, hits the pavement hard. His hat is in the gutter. His anger slaps Eva, but his hate will change everything, as war forces so many lives into small brown suitcases.

PRAGUE, 1980: No one sees Ludek. A young boy can slip right under the heavy blanket that covers this city – the fear cannot touch him. Ludek is free. And he sees everything. The world can do what it likes. The world can go to hell for all he cares because Babi is waiting for him in the warm flat. She is his whole world.

MELBOURNE, 1980: Mala Liska‘s grandma holds her hand as they climb the stairs to their third floor flat. Inside, the smell of warm pipe tobacco and homemade cakes. Here, Mana and Bill have made a life for themselves and their granddaughter. A life imbued with the spirit of Prague and the loved ones left behind.

Because there is still love. No matter what.