Lead Review
- Book: The Day My Grandfather Was a Hero
- Location: Lower Austria
- Author: Paulus Hochgatterer
This is one of the shortest books I have read in a long while. It is the story of a community and the varied cast of characters involved. There is a pervasive weariness amongst the disparate group of villagers after several years of war. It is 1945 and of course it is nearing its conclusion (not, of course, that the people know this). They have not really been directly involved in conflict but the ramifications of bloodshed and loss are everywhere.
They have to regroup when, in the previous Autumn, a 13 year old girl arrived, with no memory of how she came to be there. Now, in Spring, a young Russian man arrives holding tight a canvas roll, which seems to be a painting. Both outsiders, they form a natural friendship but a group of Wehrmacht soldiers descend and upset the balance across the community.
This is a story of shifting sands, subtle changes that – like a painting – are captured in broad and resonant brushstrokes of nuance. The author teases out the strands of a confused and emotionally emaciated populace and presents a semblance of order to the reader. He fleshes it out with details of the rural environs, the swallows and house martins dipping and swooping, the puffs of flour from bread making caught in sunlight….
The fatigue of combat and apprehension, always ready for a new onslaught, resonates in the world today in many ways. The daily grind of staying positive throughout the Covid 19 pandemic and wondering when and where it will all end….
It is a beautifully produced book, with a simple block print cover and flaps. I enjoyed this quick read, although I felt I was very much on the outside looking in and struggled to feel engaged. At a listed price of £10.00 it might feel a little pricey for some (but you do get a quality product!).
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