The Other Hoffmann Sister
by Ben Fergusson
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Pub Date 4 May 2017 | Archive Date 4 May 2017
Little, Brown Book Group UK | Little, Brown
Description
Shortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year 2015, Ben Fergusson's critically acclaimed debut, The Spring of Kasper Meier, was the winner of the Betty Trask Prize 2015 and the HWA 2015 Debut Crown Award. The Other Hoffmann Sister is a gripping, evocative read about two sisters set in pre-WW1 Germany which will appeal to fans of The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry.
For Ingrid Hoffmann the story of her sister's disappearance began in their first weeks in Southwest Africa...
Ingrid Hoffmann has always felt responsible for her sister Margarete and when their family moves to German Southwest Africa in 1902, her anxieties only increase. The casual racism that pervades the German community, the strange relationship between her parents and Baron von Ketz, from whom they bought their land, and the tension with the local tribes all culminate in tragedy when Baron von Ketz is savagely murdered. Baroness von Ketz and their son, Emil, flee with the Hoffmanns as the Baron's attackers burn down the family's farm.
Both families return to Berlin and Ingrid's concerns about Margarete are assuaged when she and Emil von Ketz become engaged on the eve of the First World War. But Margarete disappears on her wedding night at the von Ketz's country house. The mystery of what happened to her sister haunts Ingrid, but as Europe descends into chaos, her hope of discovering the truth becomes ever more distant.
After the war, in the midst of the revolution that brings down the Kaiser and wipes out the aristocracy that her family married into, Ingrid returns to the von Ketzes' crumbling estate determined to find out what really happened to her sister.
A Note From the Publisher
Requests from UK readers only please.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781408708897 |
| PRICE | £14.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 448 |
Featured Reviews
Philipa C, Reviewer
The Hoffman family leave Germany at the turn of the 19th century to live in German Southwest Africa (an area which shares its borders with present day Namibia) 'Settled' by White Nationals the sisters Ingrid and Margarete arrive with their parents in 1902 moving to a large house and farm which their father has acquired from Baron von Ketz- who has to move with his wife and son Emil to a more lowly neighbouring farm.
Servants Nora and her son Hans help the Hofffmans. Hans is half caste and intrigues Ingrid with his knowledge of French and English amongst many other languages and helping her to learn poetry which becomes a great love of hers. Slowly as Ingrid becomes obsessed with Hans her sister is making weekly visits with Hans(but without Ingrid) to the von Ketz property seemingly to plan for a prospective marriage between Margarete and Emil.
Later tragedy and growing local violence and unrest amongst the native population mean the Hoffman family must leave immediately and return to Berlin. But back in Germany there is instability and growing political threats. Also Margarete has returned in a highly distressed state, almost hysterical and insular leaving Ingrid often to focus her attentions elsewhere, particularly as she misses young Hans so much and dreams he will return to her in some romantic form in the future.
The author has been able to get into the mind of young Ingrid and we see the African veld from her viewpoint and share her disgust and shock as events are revealed. There will be more dramatic twists in the plot and Ingrid will discover adults and secrets go hand in hand.
The author was new to me but this is an extremely good read uncovering a part of the build up to WWI that has been so far overlooked it would seem.
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