22 Britannia Road

A Novel

By: Amanda Hodgkinson

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

A tour de force that echoes modern classics like Suite Francaise and The Postmistress.

"Housekeeper or housewife?" the soldier asks Silvana as she and eight- year-old Aurek board the ship that will take them from Poland to England at the end of World War II. There her husband, Janusz, is already waiting for them at the little house at 22 Britannia Road. But the war has changed them all so utterly that they'll barely recognize one another when they are reunited. "Survivor," she answers.

Silvana and Aurek spent the war hiding in the forests of Poland. Wild, almost feral Aurek doesn't know how to tie his own shoes or sleep in a bed. Janusz is an Englishman now-determined to forget Poland, forget his own ghosts from the way, and begin a new life as a proper English family. But for Silvana, who cannot escape the painful memory of a shattering wartime act, forgetting is not a possibility.

One of the most searing debuts to come along in years, 22 Britannia Road. is the wrenching chronicle of how these damaged people try to become, once again, a true family. An unforgettable novel that cries out for discussion, it is a powerful story of primal maternal love, overcoming hardship, and, ultimately, acceptance-one that will pierce your heart.

Critic reviews

The characters are so convincing and the writing's so unshowily accomplished that it soon becomes something gripping. An admirable debut—Daily Mail

[A] powerful debut—Sunday Times Culture Magazine

A most accomplished first novel. Powerful story-telling and entirely convincing in its evocation of post-war England. Very good—Penelope Lively

Keep your Kleenex handy reading 22 Britannia Road—Grazia

Convincing and touchingly portrayed—Independent on Sunday

Lose yourself in this beautiful tragic tale—Stylist

A riveting historical novel, set in post-WWII England, about a Polish couple reunited after enduring - and committing - crimes of love and war.—O, the Oprah Magazine

An affecting story, extremely well told—The Times

A stark and beautiful book, alive to the compromises, deceptions and passions that traumatic situations can demand from the most circumspect of people—Marie Claire

A haunting debut that eschews sensationalism and unfurls with quiet delicacy—Easy Living

[An] ambitious debut—Financial Times

Riveting, luminous—The New York Times Book Review

Not Just Another War Story

I was not sure I was going to listen to this audiobook, but I am glad I did. The narrator was excellent with his ability in the various languages and the author wove a compelling thread throughout the story bringing the past and its secrets into the future. I highly recommend it!

Nice Little Story

Nice story – I don’t, really have much to say about it.

It was boring at first because it took me a while to start caring about the characters, but once I did it moved along nicely.

meh

I didn't feel a difference between this book and those trashy paperback novels they sell at the gas stations.

A must read

One of the most beautiful love stories I have read and it gave me a different perspective of the world after the war. I didn't want it to end. I highly recommend it.

Haunting

This lovely book unfolds deliberately, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the characters of Janusz, Sylvana and Aureck. The book goes back and forth between the present day, as they are trying to get to know each other again after being separated during the war, and the past, as we gradually learn what they have faced. Janusz's desire to be a proper Englishman and have a perfect small town life seems impossible considering what they have faced and the secrets they keep from each other. But as we get to know them, they get to know each other, and the horrors of war become part of what they share instead of what divides them. The narrator of this book is excellent, easily able to switch between Polish, French, and British dialects. I especially appreciated that the stories of their separate lives during the war were presented honestly but not dramatized or over-emotionalized. Just like the present day, the past is what it is -- nothing more.