Skeletons at the Feast

By: Chris Bohjalian

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

In January 1945, in the waning months of World War II, a small group of people begin the longest journey of their lives: an attempt to cross the remnants of the Third Reich, from Warsaw to the Rhine if necessary, to reach the British and American lines.

Among the group is eighteen-year-old Anna Emmerich, the daughter of Prussian aristocrats. There is her lover, Callum Finella, a twenty-year-old Scottish prisoner of war who was brought from the stalag to her family’s farm as forced labor. And there is a twenty-six-year-old Wehrmacht corporal, who the pair know as Manfred—who is, in reality, Uri Singer, a Jew from Germany who managed to escape a train bound for Auschwitz.

As they work their way west, they encounter a countryside ravaged by war. Their flight will test both Anna’s and Callum’s love, as well as their friendship with Manfred–assuming any of them even survive.

Perhaps not since The English Patient has a novel so deftly captured both the power and poignancy of romance and the terror and tragedy of war. Skillfully portraying the flesh and blood of history, Chris Bohjalian has crafted a rich tapestry that puts a face on one of the twentieth century’s greatest tragedies–while creating, perhaps, a masterpiece that will haunt readers for generations.

Critic reviews

“A tightly woven, moving story for anyone who thinks there's nothing left to learn, or feel, about the Second World War.”—The Los Angeles Times

“Harrowing.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World War II, and, not at all incidentally, may expand the vision of those who may have avoided 'Holocaust literature' in the past.”—The Boston Globe

“The perfect novel for a book club . . . this book sucked me right in. It’s vivid and heart-wrenching.”—The Today Show

“Right and wrong shift depending on the situation. Ignorance is tolerated and murder is justified. ”—USA Today

“Rich in character and gorgeous writing.”—Jodi Picoult, Real Simple

“This story mixes the nail-biting brutality of The Kite Runner with the emotional intimacy of Anne Frank's diary.”—Austin American-Statesman

“Immensely readable . . . Bohjalian takes a fresh perspective and details the brutal realities of World War II in a novel that for once does not focus entirely on the Allies. Recommended for fiction collections.”—Library Journal

“Careful research and an unflinching eye . . . Bohjalian's well-chosen descriptions capture the anguish of a tragic era and the dehumanizing desolation wrought by war.”—Publishers Weekly

“Bohjalian is especially good at conveying the surreal 'beauty,' the misshapen lyricism, of the war-torn landscape: 'Even the stone church had collapsed upon itself . . . the once imposing pipes of the organ reshaped by heat and flame into giant copper-colored mushrooms.' From harrowing to inspiring.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A compelling read with its mix of history, romance and portrayals of strength in the midst of severe adversity: War really is hell, the book says, but the human spirit is ultimately salvageable.”—Bookpage

incredible

Loved this novel, despite the sorrow and awful topics it portrayed. The characters linger ... leaving you thinking about them as you would it they had been real acquaintances.

Hard but worth it.

Hard to accept dark truths at moments and all the time well spent. skilled writer. Well worth the time to hear.

An Amazing Story

The is a wonderful, heart wrenching story about the victims of Hitler’s war. Mark Bramhall provided exceptional narration for an extremely well crafted book.

Ron Licata

Halecaust

Eye opening, difficult, tragic, sad, loving, all of this needs to be part of the plot and must be read.

Another Hit

I love this author. His characters really come to life, and his subject matter is diverse. This one was a little harder to follow in the beginning, but well worth struggling to remember who is who. I will be reading all this author's novels!