The World That We Knew

‘Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman’s exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us – it is a glorious experience. The book builds and builds, as she weaves together, seamlessly, the stories of people in the most desperate of circumstances – and then it delivers with a tremendous punch. It opens up the world … in a way that is absolutely unique. By the end you may be weeping’ – Elizabeth Strout, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Olive Kitteridge
‘A hymn to the power of resistance, perseverance, and enduring love in dark times…gravely beautiful…Hoffman the storyteller continues to dazzle’ * The New York Times *
‘With the dream-like feel of a fairy tale, this is the story of a young Jewish girl who is sent away from Berlin during the Second World War… this classic fairy tale of good versus evil is wonderful. The storytelling is lush and vivid, and it stayed with me for a long time’ * Good Housekeeping *
‘This fable of love and sacrifice blends magic realism with brutal history to devastating effect … a spellbinding testament to resilience in the face of evil’ * Mail on Sunday *
‘A whirlwind, multi-strand plot honours real-life atrocities and everyday heroism … the emotional power of Hoffman’s storytelling is rarely in doubt’ * Daily Mail *
‘Will break your heart, and then stitch it back together piece by piece. It’s about love and loss, about history and the world today, about what happens when man goes against the laws of nature for good and for evil’ – Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light
‘Hoffman’s fictional world is one of violence and terror, in which the angel of death is a menacing presence; it is also one that celebrates the redemptive power of love and sacrifice. Infusing the real events of the Holocaust with Jewish mysticism and folk tales, she has created an original, deeply moving novel’ * Sunday Times *
‘Three unforgettable women, Lea, Ettie and Ava, escape the Nazi regime in Berlin in 1941. During humanity’s darkest hour, where evil can be found at every turn, they must find hidden courage and love to survive against all odds. A magical read from a wonderful writer’ * My Weekly *
‘Breaching the space between reality and mysticism … the battle between evil and love, and myth and truth is so powerfully woven into the evocative narrative it will take your breath away’ * Woman *

Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, and, most recently, The Museum of Extraordinary Things. She lives in Boston.

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