The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize • A Parade Best Book of the Year • A Paste Most Anticipated Historical Fiction for Fall
“[Sarah Jessica Parker] is curating as a publisher some of the most beautiful novels that I read. And this one, in love with it. Don't miss it.” ―Adriana Trigiani, You Are What You Read
“Romance, tragedy, war, the horrors of the pogroms, business dynasties, and more make this closely observed novel inspired somewhat by Grant’s family story into a page turner.” ―Parade
- Sale Date
- ISBN
- 9781638933540
- Page Count
- 288
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 5½ x 8¼
- Imprint
- SJP Lit
Meet the Author
Linda Grant
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize • A Parade Best Book of the Year • A Paste Most Anticipated Historical Fiction for Fall
“[Sarah Jessica Parker] is curating as a publisher some of the most beautiful novels that I read. And this one, in love with it. Don't miss it.” ―Adriana Trigiani, You Are What You Read
“Romance, tragedy, war, the horrors of the pogroms, business dynasties, and more make this closely observed novel inspired somewhat by Grant’s family story into a page turner.” —Parade
It’s 1913 when Mina, the young and carefree daughter of a Jewish merchant, roams into a forest on the edge of the Baltic Sea looking for mushrooms. Instead, she encounters a gang of unruly, charismatic Bolsheviks—an adventure that will become the stuff of familial lore for generations to come. Intending to save her from further corruption, and in an act that forever changes the trajectory of their family’s life, Mina and her eldest brother, Jossel, board a ship to England.
There the threat of a different war looms large. When WWI hits, Jossel is sent to the front, where he keeps a severely wounded soldier in his unit alive ‘til morning by telling him tales—including that his sister Mina will marry him if he survives. The soldier lives and asks for Mina’s hand, their marriage uniting two growing trade dynasties. But over time Mina and Jossel will learn that not everyone in their family has survived the wars and pogroms, even as they and their offspring struggle to build new lives in Liverpool in the midst of ever-shifting discriminations.
Based on the author’s own family history and legends, The Story of the Forest is a remarkable record of family lore; a meditation on the power of stories to ground us, particularly in the face of life’s inevitable losses, told with a keen wit and a sharp eye to the charms and the foibles of family by masterful British novelist Linda Grant.
“[Sarah Jessica Parker] is curating as a publisher some of the most beautiful novels that I read. And this one, in love with it. Don't miss it.” ―Adriana Trigiani, You Are What You Read
“Romance, tragedy, war, the horrors of the pogroms, business dynasties, and more make this closely observed novel inspired somewhat by Grant’s family story into a page turner.” —Parade
It’s 1913 when Mina, the young and carefree daughter of a Jewish merchant, roams into a forest on the edge of the Baltic Sea looking for mushrooms. Instead, she encounters a gang of unruly, charismatic Bolsheviks—an adventure that will become the stuff of familial lore for generations to come. Intending to save her from further corruption, and in an act that forever changes the trajectory of their family’s life, Mina and her eldest brother, Jossel, board a ship to England.
There the threat of a different war looms large. When WWI hits, Jossel is sent to the front, where he keeps a severely wounded soldier in his unit alive ‘til morning by telling him tales—including that his sister Mina will marry him if he survives. The soldier lives and asks for Mina’s hand, their marriage uniting two growing trade dynasties. But over time Mina and Jossel will learn that not everyone in their family has survived the wars and pogroms, even as they and their offspring struggle to build new lives in Liverpool in the midst of ever-shifting discriminations.
Based on the author’s own family history and legends, The Story of the Forest is a remarkable record of family lore; a meditation on the power of stories to ground us, particularly in the face of life’s inevitable losses, told with a keen wit and a sharp eye to the charms and the foibles of family by masterful British novelist Linda Grant.
Praise for The Story of the Forest
-
“Mesmerizing . . . Folklore and romance mingle . . . a far-ranging exploration of family, war, politics, cultural assimilation and storytelling itself — its slipperiness as well as its power.”
Michael Magras, Washington Post -
“A gorgeous, heartfelt generational saga about stories told and retold, some true, some embellish, that create the personal mythologies that define who we are. I loved every moment of this epic story!”
Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP Lit -
“[Sarah Jessica Parker] is curating as a publisher some of the most beautiful novels that I read. And this one, in love with it. Don't miss it”
Adriana Trigiani, You Are What You Read
About the Imprint
Gorgeous, big-hearted, and thought-provoking stories—acquired and championed by Sarah Jessica Parker herself. All curated with the passion of a lifelong reader turned publisher.
