One Last Summer [Paperback]

Catrin Collier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2008

Based on the life of Catrin Collier's mother and grandmother, this powerful novel spans more than 60 years, from the life of grandmother Charlotte to her journalist granddaughter, Laura. We revisit Charlotte's incredible life which starts in East Prussia in 1939 and ends in modern day England. Allenstein, East Prussia, 1939—Charlotte von Datski's parents hold a glittering ball to celebrate her 18th birthday and to announce her engagement to a Prussian Count. But Hitler is about to plunge the world into war—and East Prussia will be wiped from the face of the map. Charlotte is forced to leave behind her beloved homeland and flee to England. By 1946, Charlotte finds herself in London with her young son, struggling to adapt to a new country and a new way of life. But she carries a secret that both strengthens and torments her—and when a book entitled One Last Summer is smuggled out of a Russian prison camp and becomes an instant international bestseller, that secret is revealed. The book tells of an affair between a Russian POW and a Prussian aristocrat. Years on, Charlotte's granddaughter, Laura, comes across material relating to these events and persuades her grandmother to embark on a journey into her past. As Charlotte recalls the one great love of her life, she finally faces the demons that have haunted her for more than half a century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Catrin has written a wonderful stand alone novel inspired by her mother's experience fleeing Germany at the end of the Second World War. There has been a great deal of interest in the story with several national newspapers interested in covering it. Confirmed so far: TELEVISION Catrin is appearing in a documentary on local celebrities and the streets they lived called 'Stories From the Street' HTV HTV will also be covering the story behind the book for the regional news in Wales. RADIO BBC RADIO WALES will be interviewing Catrin on her new book (date tbc) PRESS There will be a major interview in the WESTERN MORNING NEWS There wil also be an interview in SWANSEA EVENING POST Review to come in YOURS magazine ONE LAST SUMMER has been chosen as the bookclub read for COUNTRY AND BORDER LIFE magazine. EVENTS Catrin will be doing formal signings in WH Smiths Pontypridd - Saturday 2 June Borders, Llantrisant - Tuesday June Waterstones, Swansea - Saturday 9 June WH Smiths, Cardiff - tbc And stocksignings in Waterstones (Cardiff) and Camelot Books (Cardiff) Catrin has also been asked to judge a writing competition at Borders, Swansea in July --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

In 1995 Catrin Collier accompanied her mother when she returned to East Prussia (now Poland) for the first time in 50 years. There she read the diaries that her mother and grandmother had kept and talked about life under the Nazis. One Last Summer is the result of those conversations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (August 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752893289
• ISBN-13: 978-0752893280
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,710,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CATRIN COLLIER/KATHERINE JOHN/CARO FRENCH/KATHERINE HARDY -
My most bemused moment. When someone commented, "It will be wonderful for Pontypridd when you die." (Many of my novels are set in the town)
My best "putting in place moment". When someone joined a queue at a signing session in Waterstones and waited ten minutes to say, "I don't want a book, love, but as you're here for two hours, look after my shopping for me." - I did.
My proudest moment, when I discovered my Catrin Collier novel, One Last Summer, based on my Prussian born mother's wartime diaries was named recommended reading for adults by the Holocaust Day Memorial Trust.
My new novel, Bobby's Girl, set in America during in 1968 - the era of the anti-Vietnam War and, Civil Rights movements and student protests will be published in the autumn of 2011.