Book description
In November 1918, in a railway carriage in a forest near Paris, six men
meet to negotiate an end to the terrible slaughter of the First World
War. Threatened by famine and anarchy at home, the Germans struggle to
mitigate the punishing terms offered by the Allies. But both sides are
torn by battle exhaustion and a confusion that far exceed their national
differences. In this riveting combination of history, speculation and
rumour, Thomas Keneally recreates the personalities, ideals, prejudices,
arguments and desperate measures that resulted in the armistice which
would shape the future of Europe. 'Extremely gripping, as well as
important historical fiction.' Thomas Keneally began his writing
career in 1964 and has published twenty-five novels since. They include
SCHINDLER'S ARK, which won the Booker Prize in 1982 and was subsequently
made into the film Schindler's List, and THE CHANT OF JIMMIE BLACKSMITH,
CONFEDERATES and GOSSIP FROM THE FOREST, each of which was shortlisted
for the Booker Prize. His most recent novels are THE WIDOW AND HER HERO,
THE PEOPLE'S TRAIN and THE DAUGHTERS OF MARS. He has also written
several works of non-fiction, including his boyhood memoir HOMEBUSH BOY,
THE COMMONWEALTH OF THIEVES and SEARCHING FOR SCHINDLER. He is married
with two daughters and lives in Sydney.
