The Element of Water

The Element of Water
Author Stevie Davies
Language English
Published 2001
Publisher The Women's Press
Media type Print
Pages 253
ISBN 070434730X

The Element of Water is a 2001 novel by Welsh author Stevie Davies. Published by The Women's Press, it was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2001, and for the Orange Women's Prize for Fiction in 2002;[1] it won the Wales Book of the Year in 2002.[2]

Synopsis

The twin narratives of The Element of Water take place in 1945 and 1958. Paul Dahl and Michael Quantz grew up together in pre-war Germany. During their youth they were inseparable, but as adulthood approaches and Nazism continues its inexorable march, they find they can no longer reconcile their childhood friendship. Dahl becomes an SS officer and Quantz a pawn in the Nazi intelligence unit. Thirteen years later their children, Wolfi and Isolde, meet at a British forces boarding school.

Reception

Following its release, The Element of Water was longlisted for both the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize. Writing in The Observer, A. L. Kennedy chose it as her 'favourite read' of the year, calling it "a wonderful book set around the end of the Second World War and it deals deftly with issues of memory, guilt, love and responsibility."[3] In 2002, The Element of Water won the Wales Book of the Year award.

References

  1. ↑ "THE ELEMENT OF WATER". Baileys Women's Prize. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Stevie Davies". Wales Literature Exchange. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Best Books of 2002". The Observer. 1 December 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
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