After the war, by Hervé Le Corre
1950's Bordeaux. The memories of World War II remain vivid but the Algerian war is already looming ahead. And Daniel has heard about what is awaiting him: blood, ambushes, patrols, mutilations, and maybe death. At least, death would allow him to be with his family, killed during World War II: he has never forgotten, and it leads him to question his own coming to Algeria, for a conflict without a name.
Meanwhile, past crimes still haunt Albert Darlac, the godfather of Bordeaux: former collaborator, fascist sympathiser and corrupt police chief. A new spiral of violence is set off by a series of violent events and the horrific legacy of the war comes back, more lively than ever. The two destinies collide and the torment of Shoah survivors are brought back.
Hervé Le Corre, Europe's leading crime writer, brilliantly mixes two wars with a beautiful prose. He links personal stories with History and twenty years of French History are brought up in this masterpiece.
This is a war story, and you won't finish your reading unharmed!
After the war is part of the Burgess Programme.
Trans. by Sam Taylor