The Scrapbook
This debut novel by renowned biographer Heather Clark has a contemporary feel, as much of the story takes place in 1996-1997. Anna, an English Literature student, meets handsome German architectural student Christoph at a Harvard party. She’s immediately infatuated with his striking blond looks and European intellect, leading to an intense love affair. They delve into all things German, from composers to authors. This part is written in short, staccato sentences minus quotation marks. When their grandfathers’ war experiences (set in spring 1945) are described, the prose is lengthy and detailed.
Their relationship is haunted by family secrets. When Anna arrives in Germany, Christoph gives her a different perspective on the war as they visit Nuremberg, scene of Nazi war trials, and the heavily bombed Hamburg (bombings which helped turn the tide of the war, psychologically) and the utter despair at Dachau. Although the love story is tender and poignant, it’s as though the author is using the dialogue between the lovers as a vehicle to inform the reader. It doesn’t distract from the modern-day romance.
Clark was inspired to write this upon discovering her own grandfather’s scrapbook complete with harrowing photos of Dachau. There is a long list of extensive resources. A fluid, fast-paced and compelling read, and a look at WWII from a different perspective.
