City of Jasmine

Olga Grjasnowa author Katy Derbyshire translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oneworld Publications

Published:2nd Jan '20

£9.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

This paperback is available in another edition too:

City of Jasmine cover

 

A poignant story of three young adults trying to make a future for themselves in war-torn Damascus

Syria - a country at war. Amal, Hammoudi and Youssef are young and ambitious, the face of modern Syria. But when civil war tears through their homeland, they are left with a horrifying choice: risk death by staying in the country they love, or flee in search of a new life elsewhere?

From one of Germany's most talented literary voices comes this intricately woven story of brutality, loss, and how hope can shine through when darkness feels overwhelming.

‘Grjasnowa’s measured undemonstrative writing style (the book is beautifully translated from German by Katy Derbyshire) is central to the novel’s success... A significant literary and moral success.’

* Big Issue *

‘There are few authors writing in German as sensuously and vividly as Grjasnowa.’

* KulturSpiegel *

‘Grjasnowa provides a close-as-skin understanding of what it's like to suffer bombardment, torture, and dislocation while remaining human and hopeful... Highly recommended.’

* Library Journal, Reading Around the World: 12 Top Spring Titles for the Library Market *

‘An important and painful book.’

* Deutschlandradio Kultur *

‘Olga Grjasnowa's sentences crack like a whip.’

* Süddeutsche Zeitung *

‘It is wonderful that there are writers like Grjasnowa who can write brilliantly and decisively about the real world.’

* Brigitte *

‘A dark, tragic story with the resilient light of humanity shining through it... It truly spoke to my soul.’

* Marjorie's World of Books, blog review *

‘Olga Grjasnowa writes from the nerve center of her generation.’

* Die Zeit *

‘Grajsnowa’s extraordinary novel offers an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with one of the great tragedies of our time - to remember what that nation once was, why and how the conflict began and what it has led to…Grajsnowa’s measured undemonstrative writing style (the book is beautifully translated from German by Katy Derbyshire) is central to the novel’s success…The reader isn’t patronised or manipulated, and the emotional impact is all the greater. Characters come and go and live and die as the novel heads for its masterly, shattering denouement. A significant literary and  moral success.’

* Big Issue *

‘A truly gifted writer...[who] has a very bright future ahead of her.’

* Yahoo! Voices
  • Short-listed for Text & Sprache Prize 2018 (Germany)

ISBN: 9781786077035

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 19mm

Weight: unknown

256 pages