First published 1983
Stepan drives trucks through the streets of Marseilles, carrying the weight of loss. This Russian aristocrat turned working man has mourned his daughter for years, believing her dead. Then news arrives that shatters his grief: his fifteen-year-old child lives in a Swiss hospital. She suffers from serious mental and physical disabilities, but Stepan sees only a miracle. His daughter represents his final connection to Helene, the wife from whom life has separated him. He resolves to bring the girl home, no matter the obstacles. Their journey unfolds between the crowded energy of Marseilles and the quiet warmth of Provence. Stepan must navigate not only the practical challenges of caring for his disabled child, but also the complex emotions of reclaiming a relationship he thought lost forever. This story weaves together a father's fierce love, the pain of separation, and the unexpected grace found in human connection.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Marseilles, Provence, Switzerland
Period: 20th-century
304 pages · Paperback · HAMLYN
Content warnings: mental-illness