About the book
‘Read this book . . . what a gift of lyric language and style, of emotion purified by pain this is’ Los Angeles Times
Fleeing an abusive home, Katerina, a teenager in 1880s Ukraine, is taken in by a Jewish family, finding safety in their warmth and rituals. When a pogrom is wrought upon the family, she is alone again. Decades later, having suffered and retaliated for that suffering, an elderly Katerina is released from prison at the end of World War Two, and is devastated to find a world emptied of its Jews. Ever the outsider, she realizes that she has survived only to bear witness to the fact they ever existed at all. Described by Aharon Appelfeld as being ‘about what is inseparable from me’, this extraordinary novel tells, with moving simplicity, the story of a people; of life’s horror and beauty.
‘Appelfeld reimagines the place of his own origins through a perspective that in its generosity of feeling recalls Tolstoy and Chekhov’ The New York Times Book Review
Translated by Jeffrey M. Green
Editions of Katerina
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241681190
- EBook
- ISBN 9781802064971
Read an Excerpt
‘Read this book . . . what a gift of lyric language and style, of emotion purified by pain this is’ Los Angeles Times
Fleeing an abusive home, Katerina, a teenager in 1880s Ukraine, is taken in by a Jewish family, finding safety in their warmth and rituals. When a pogrom is wrought upon the family, she is alone again. Decades later, having suffered and retaliated for that suffering, an elderly Katerina is released from prison at the end of World War Two, and is devastated to find a world emptied of its Jews. Ever the outsider, she realizes that she has survived only to bear witness to the fact they ever existed at all. Described by Aharon Appelfeld as being ‘about what is inseparable from me’, this extraordinary novel tells, with moving simplicity, the story of a people; of life’s horror and beauty.
‘Appelfeld reimagines the place of his own origins through a perspective that in its generosity of feeling recalls Tolstoy and Chekhov’ The New York Times Book Review
Translated by Jeffrey M. Green
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Katerina about?
‘Read this book . . . what a gift of lyric language and style, of emotion purified by pain this is’ Los Angeles Times
Fleeing an abusive home, Katerina, a teenager in 1880s Ukraine, is taken in by a Jewish family, finding safety in their warmth and rituals. When a pogrom is wrought upon the family, she is alone again. Decades later, having suffered and retaliated for that suffering, an elderly Katerina is released from prison at the end of World War Two, and is devastated to find a world emptied of its Jews. Ever the outsider, she realizes that she has survived only to bear witness to the fact they ever existed at all. Described by Aharon Appelfeld as being ‘about what is inseparable from me’, this extraordinary novel tells, with moving simplicity, the story of a people; of life’s horror and beauty.
‘Appelfeld reimagines the place of his own origins through a perspective that in its generosity of feeling recalls Tolstoy and Chekhov’ The New York Times Book Review
Translated by Jeffrey M. Green
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Katerina?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of Katerina?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241681190
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Katerina?
Aharon Appelfeld
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Katerina is available as paperback(ISBN 9780241681190) and ebook(ISBN 9781802064971)
Where can I buy Katerina online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Katerina from below
Where can I buy Katerina?