Book details

Book description

A gripping novel set in 1950s Hungary about a fight for freedom and a fight for love.'She screams one word: Szabad! Free. Again: Szabad!'It is the 1950s. The Soviets and the Secret Police have a choking grip on Hungary and the lives of its citizens. Attila Szabo is one of them, just a teenager, but he's been forced to grow up quickly, with his father in prison. In the top-floor flat, a new couple has just moved in, clearly different in class, so why have they been sent here and can they be trusted? But it's the beautiful wife who is of interest to Attila. His coming fight for his country's freedom is also to become one of passion. Alan Duff was born in Rotorua in 1950. He has written novels, including Once Were Warriors, One Night Out Stealing, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, Both Sides of the Moon, Szabad, Jake s Long Shadow, Dreamboat Dad and Who Sings for Lu?, a novella (State Ward), several children s books and a number of non-fiction works. Once Were Warriors won the Pen Best First Book for Fiction Award and, along with What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, was made into an internationally acclaimed film. He was a featured writer at the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair. Coming from a family known for its love of literature and social justice, but also having experienced a harsh youth, Duff is also a social commentator and columnist. He was the driving force behind the Books in Homes scheme, which, with commercial sponsorship and government support, aims to break the cycle of illiteracy, poverty, anger and violence among underprivileged children by providing books for them to own. The New Zealand Listener claimed that Duff s debut, Once Were Warriors,  bursts upon the literary landscape with all the noise and power of a new volcano , while acclaimed writer Witi Ihimaera wrote,  This is the Haka, the rage of a people who, yes, once were warriors . . . A kick to the guts of New Zealand s much-vaunted pride in its Maori/Pakeha race relations. A breathless fearless debut. The Sydney Morning Herald heralded the sequel, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, as  a masterpiece :  powerful, authentic, moving, brilliantly written . . . a profound and passionate novel . . . a memorable experience . The Australian praised its  universal truths to be savoured for their poetic insight , while the Canberra Times called it  a brilliant work . . . poetic and full of hope .The New Zealand Listener wrote that What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?  carries the story on with doubled brilliance. The new book is just as dynamic, just as in-your-face as the first one, but less violent, more layered, more fundamentally thoughtful and challenging.Â