Silvio has returned to his homeland after many years’ absence. He is generally a recluse, but he does spend time with a few friends and relatives from his past, including his cousin Helene and her daughter Colette and his neighbor Declos. Silvio is now an old man and he observes his younger friends with sharp eyes: Silvio sees how the young are driven by fire in the blood, an illness to which he deems himself to now be immune.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off in a small box to my brother tomorrow.

Received this book in the mail from my sister. This is the 2nd work I've read by Irene Nemirovsky, after 'Suite Francaise'. Such talent. It's a tragedy of tragedies for so gifted a writer to have met such a cruel and hateful fate. I found this book to be in every sense as fine as the first of hers that I read. It's very short, only 129 pages. The story is engrossing though with very real characters in a way that few books are, at least to me. I am more eager than ever to read her other works. I'd highly recommend this book to just about anyone.