“A powerful saga which mirrors the Jewish tragic resilience during the Romanian fascist and communist dictatorships.”

—Radu Ioanid, historian, author of The Sword of the Archangel: Fascist Ideology in Romania

“Alexander’s novel is part romance, part family saga, and part political drama. There are frightening sections, touching sections, and ultimately a moving, semisweet ending. This latest novel will be revelatory for many American readers, at the same time that it is a cautionary tale about life under a regime that turns out to be concerned more with its own power than with the fate of its people.”

—J. Wynn Rousuck, author of Please Write: A Novel in Letters and award-winning theater critic at WYPR, Baltimore’s NPR Affiliate

“‘Communism was perfect in theory...’ Historical fiction should both entertain and make readers smarter. Alexander delivers both . . . Beyond the fact that the story is original, tender, and interesting, it is masterful literature about a young couple with passion and ideals. Alexander develops his characters impeccably.”

—Toby Berry for the US Review of Books

“In Darkness and Light is a historical novel companion to Tudor Alexander’s The Last Patient and follows a Jewish family’s trials in Romania during the deportations that preceded the country’s transition to authoritarian rule after the war. If this sounds familiar, it’s all the more pointed for its mirror of modern events. Perhaps it’s the changing times, but it feels as though In Darkness and Light could not have been published at a better moment in time to give modern Americans food for thought about all kinds of social and political influences. Librarians that choose In Darkness and Light for their collections will find it stands nicely alone as well as a companion to Alexander’s The Last Patient, profiling the strengths and vulnerabilities of women and individuals who became at risk in a changing world.”

— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“The novel is written in a straightforward, poetic and sensitive style, while the author’s first-hand knowledge of communism in Romania provides an unquestioned authenticity. The philosophical gems throughout the novel should not be missed.”

—Joram Piatigorsky, author of Jellyfish Have Eyes trilogy and The Speed of Dark

“Set against the tumultuous upheaval of twentieth-century Romania, In Darkness and Light follows two Jewish intellectuals, Tina and Iulian, whose faith in communism collides with the devastating realities of history. Rich with moral complexity and an unforgettable love story, the novel traces Tina’s painful awakening as the idealism of her youth collides with tragedy. A supremely human portrait that illustrates how the course of our lives and the times we live in have the potential to bolster or shatter even the most firmly held beliefs.”

—Judy McConnell, author of The Night Owl Sings

“A captivating and richly detailed novel . . . Inspired by the real experiences of the author’s mother-in-law, In Darkness and Light has the contours of a memoir while capturing the quiet, human dramas of people falling in love, enduring unimaginable loss, and making profound decisions for themselves and their families. It is a deeply moving story whose historical and emotional resonances still feel urgent today.”

—Kevin Lavey, author of Rat and The Return of Jason Foxx