by Colum McCann
First published 2006
Zoli Novotna is a Romani poet whose gift draws her into the political upheaval of 1930s Czechoslovakia. Fleeing fascism with her grandfather, Zoli joins a clan of Romani harpists, where her talent is embraced by her people but also exploited by the ruling Communists. Cast out, Zoli must abandon her past and journey to the West, navigating the hazards of exile and belonging as she forges her own path through the turbulent 20th century.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Europe, Czechoslovakia
Period: 20th Century
333 pages · Hardcover · Random House