Colum McCann: Zoli

A love story, a tale of loss, and a parable about Europe, the life of Zoli Novotna begins on the leafy backroads of Slovakia, when she and her grandfather come upon a quiet lake where their family has been drowned by Fascist guards. Zoli and her grandfather flee to join up with another clan of travelling harpists. So begins an epic tale of song, intimacy and betrayal. Against the backdrop of the Second World War, Zoli becomes a well-known singer among her people. Sharpened by the world of books - which are frowned upon in the ancient Romani tradition - she is embraced by a group of Communist intellectuals. A young Englishman, Stephen Swann, falls in love with her, and Zoli's fame grows. But politics intrudes on love when the Communists decide to use Zoli as their poster girl for resettlement and political gain. Horrified, Zoli tries to stem the tide but not even her poems can prevent a judgement that will change her life for ever.

Paperback in very good condition, printed in 2006, 278 pages

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