Book description
Anna
is the story of a woman and an era. Against the background of France
and Germany at the time of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, Norman
Collins tells with great brilliance the story of Anna, a beautiful
woman. Born in Rhineland, when she was nineteen she fell in love with a
French cousin whom she followed to Paris on the eve of the outbreak of
war. When he was killed by her compatriots she found herself in besieged
Paris, destitute, alone, and a German. Thrown into prison, she got out
only by marrying a middle-aged restaurateur for whom she had no feeling.
These are the opening incidents in a novel which is full of incident, of
tragedy and of adventure, and which carries Anna from France to Germany,
and finally to England, where at last she finds both peace and
happiness.
Few historical novels have a wider scope, a more enchanting heroine and
a stronger theme. Here is one of the best of Norman Collins' major
novels.
Norman Richard Collins (1907 - 1982) was born in Beaconsfield,
Buckinghamshire. In his early career he worked in publishing while also
writing and publishing several successful novels. In 1941 Collins began
working at the BBC. During this time he became known for his innovative
programming which included Woman s Hour
which still airs today on BBC Radio Four. He rose to Controller of the
BBC Television Service, later leaving to co-found what is now ITV after
deciding a competitior to the BBC s monopoly was needed .
Collins continued to write fiction throughout his busy working life.
Although never a full-time writer he was a fluent and prolific author
with sixteen titles and two plays to his credit between 1934 and 1981.
An autograph edition of twelve of his novels was published during the
1960s.
