In the year immediately prior to World War II, Shoshanna Liebler, an Austrian Jew and designer with her family’s fashion house, flees Vienna for Australia on false papers. Now known as Susan Lieber, she’s accompanied by a male family friend, Leo Hubler, who is entrusted with the family’s gold sewn into his clothing. The two are sent to different detention camps, with Susan placed in Long Bay prison and Leo sent to the internment camp at Hay.

Ashton Frost, of the large Sydney department store, the Frost Emporium, has financed Susan’s journey in the hope of incorporating her designs into his Australian business. His intervention releases her from detention and Susan (nicknamed ZaSu) is soon introduced to the upper-class circles of the Sydney establishment, befriending Ashton’s wife, Deborah. Leo, meanwhile, must fight his way out of trouble in Hay, before being assisted by shearer/unionist Noel O’Grady, and then serving in a commando unit in the war. The Australia ZaSu has emigrated to is already conservative but made more so by war. She sublimates her religion and identity but is unknowingly subjected to surveillance by the intelligence services, with the help of those close to her.

The story covers a large amount of historical detail, interweaving fiction with fact. The difficulty in a short book such as this is that this must come at a cost. By focusing on historical background, unfortunate gaps in character development emerge. And Leo’s story – with its implied political and military experiences – deserves its own narrative. This is an extremely readable and engaging novel, with short, sharp chapters, handy footnotes and insights into wartime Australia.

Reviewed by Bob Moore

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Henry Johnston is a full-time Australian author and essayist who has contributed to media outlets such as The Australian Independent Media Network (AIM).

He divides his time between West Moonah, Tasmania and Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

His two novellas are Best and Fairest and The Last Voyage of Aratus.