Suite Francaise
by Irene Nemirovsky
Apart from one dissenting voice we enjoyed this beautifully written book.
To many of us the subject matter was surprising and unlike that of most books dealing with the war years.
It was about French society and its class divisions.
Generally the characters were not sympathetic – with the possible exception of the Michauds – but the characterization was excellent as were Nemirovsky’s descriptions, creating an immediacy and closeness to the events.
The two parts were quite different with “Dolce” being much slower paced than the frantic events of the exodus of the first part.
We were delighted to have at last had the opportunity to read these fragments of a planned larger work which, because of ensuing tragic events, was never completed.
NS April 2009
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