Hunger
A tale of survival and moral dilemmas during wartime
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Unbridled Books
Published:15th May '08
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Set during World War II, Hunger tells the story of a Soviet scientist grappling with morality amidst the siege of Leningrad and the struggle for survival.
In a harrowing tale set against the backdrop of World War II, Hunger follows the life of a dedicated Soviet scientist who has devoted his existence to collecting rare plants for Leningrad's esteemed botanical institute. His relentless pursuit takes him across the globe, from the arid landscapes of Northern Africa to the rugged terrains of Afghanistan, and even to the vibrant ecosystems of South America. Each seed he salvages carries the weight of ancient civilizations, intertwining his identity with the rich history of the earth's flora. Yet, as he returns home to the warmth of his beloved wife, the memories of his adventures linger, filled with exotic foods and captivating encounters that shape his longing for a world beyond his own.
The tranquility of his life is shattered when German troops encircle Leningrad in the fall of 1941. The siege brings unimaginable hardship, forcing the city's inhabitants to resort to desperate measures for survival. As food supplies dwindle, the once-thriving community faces the grim reality of starvation, leading to heart-wrenching choices. In the midst of this chaos, the scientists at the botanical institute make a solemn vow to protect their invaluable seed store, believing it to be the key to their nation's future. However, as hunger gnaws at their resolve, the moral implications of their promise become increasingly complex.
Hunger is a poignant exploration of integrity and the human spirit in the face of adversity. Based on true events, this debut novel delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals when survival clashes with their values. It invites readers to reflect on the essence of morality and the sacrifices one must make in desperate times.
"As a first novel, Hunger stands on its own: ...spare, searing... a finely angled vision into hell, a spare portrait of the banality of survival." --Philadelphia Inquirer "A striking debut...a wrenching existential drama that Blackwell handles with spare prose and abundant compassion."--Elle "A riveting fictional account, based on real events... a poignant look at a wrenching period of history."--Chicago Tribune "An exquisite little book ... Blackwell craftily weaves history and botany through this utterly devourable narrative ... a multicolored treat."--Los Angeles Times "A remarkable, fact-based story of heroism and self-sacrifice under the harshest of war's privations [and] of the desperate will to survive... The prose of Hunger is terse, stripped to essentials, but it produces a lilting, nearly poetic quality. The detail is exacting and freshly presented... A compelling exploration of the moral chasm that war can create."-- Bookpage "In Elise Blackwell's original and engrossing short novel, Leningrad during the German siege forms the background for an exploration of love and betrayal, as well as for some richly sensual evocations of the pleasures of eating."--J.M. Coetzee, Booker Prize winning author of Disgrace and Life and Times of Michael K "All the more chilling for its poetic economy, HUNGER captures a sweeping catastrophe through one man's tale of belated conscience. It is a haunting reminder that history has no mercy, that no matter how lofty our circumstances or our ideals, we may be tested terribly at any moment by the times in which we live."--Julie Glass, author of Three Junes "An eccentric, courageous and poetic study of human beings in extremis." --Julia Blackburn, author of The Leper's Companions and Old Man Goya "...a lucid, serene style, which contrasts with her grim subject matter and increases its nightmarish quality...a profoundly disturbing reality."--Wall Street Journal "Insightful and gripping... Hunger examines both the limitations and the possibilities of the human character... Fascinating."--San Francisco Chronicle
ISBN: 9781932961508
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 212g
146 pages