There have been many novels written about the Holocaust recently and this one is certainly up there with the best of them. In some ways it is reminiscent of The Hare with the Amber Eyes in that the story revolves around art, in particular, the production of porcelain. But also, it highlights how the Nazi Party weaponised Art as a means of propaganda, both for the party, but also against perceived degenerate art, especially of Jewish artists.
At the heart of this novel is a love story between an Aryan girl and a Jewish boy, a romance which starts during the Weimar period (before 1933 when Hitler came to power), when life and expression of both love and art were freer. But as time moves on, life becomes more difficult for both Max and Bettina, as they must both make difficult decisions, not only just to survive, but also for their daughter, Clara, for whom they both make sacrifices.
The story is told through the eyes of Clara, who wants to uncover the truth of her identity, and through several pieces of fine porcelain which come from Dachau, where the SS ran a porcelain factory.
I give nothing away by saying this is a sad story, and as the author says, ‘is a work of fiction within familiar territory’. This is a well-written novel, in particular the author’s descriptive passages that takes one backwards and forwards in time. A novel well worth reading and reflecting upon.
Reviewed by Anthony Llewellyn-Evans
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Freethy is a writer and television producer, a screenwriter and a script consultant. Her first novel was The Porcelain Maker. She lives in Hampshire with her partner, daughter and a three-legged wonder-hound named Martha.
For over 25 years she has worked as a television producer, working with wonderful teams and any number of briliant people. From the iconic Clive James On TV and the excitement of the early years of ‘Big Brother’, right through to the rural idyll of ‘Country House Rescue’. She gives special mention to her friend and mentor, Walter Iuzzolino, a lovely man and a divine force of nature. In recent years she has made forays into script consultancy and screenwriting, on dramas such as Professor T (ITV) and Before We Die (C4) which is something she hopes to do more of down the line.
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