Description
Selling over 100,000 copies in France, Serge Joncour’s vibrant, ambitious novel calls us to open our eyes to the damage done by modern hyperconsumerism, both to our planet and to our collective humanity.
When his three sisters escape to the city Alexander is left to run the family farm. Though reluctant, he commits himself to honouring the traditional methods that prioritise the welfare of his cattle, and produce the highest quality meat.
But the world around him is changing. The insatiable appetites of supermarkets and fast food chains demand that standards must be sacrificed for speed. As Alexandre struggles to balance his principles and his livelihood, he is drawn to the beautiful Constanze, part of a group of environmental activists keen to draw him into their cause. Farmers uses ammonium nitrate and so do eco-terrorists…
Reviews
‘Serge Joncour has the knack of writing at the crossroads between humans and nature. This French Author studied Philosophy at University before deciding to become a writer. One feels he knew he had much to say and the novel would be his messenger’ Books on the Hill
‘Another excellent analysis by Joncour of the human relationship with the environment. What choice do we need to make, for rural life and agriculture to go on? How is it going to impact us?’ Words and Peace
‘An outstanding, big, compassionate novel on the rural world from the 1960s to the dawn of the year 2000 … By telling the story of days gone by, Joncour makes us reflect on those yet to come’ Le Figaro
‘Sweeping and seamlessly paced’ Le Monde
‘A gripping rural epic combined with a searing political and social critique’ Le Parisien
Louise Rogers Lalaurie is a translator from the French and the author of Matisse: The Books. Her translations have been shortlisted for the CWA Daggers and Best Translated Book Awards.
