Irène Némirovsky

This novel tells the story of two warring French families from 1911 to 1940. With its themes of war, love and money the novel brings home with great clarity how close the two conflicts were.

David Golder, born into poverty, clawed his way to fabulous wealth. Now an ageing businessman, his health is starting to fail him. When his wife and daughter betray him he contemplates revenge!

The author, a Russian Jew had lived in France since 1918. In 1941 she decided to write a series of stories about the reaction of French people to war and occupation. She completed the first two parts before being arrested by the Nazis. This volume contains those two parts, 'Storm in June' and 'Dolce', plus an appendix of her notes and letters.

The story of the troubled relationship between a young girl Helene, her self-absorbed mother, and the mother’s lover, Max. It follows the family through the period of the Great War and the Russian Revolution while Helene grows from an unhappy child into an angry young woman.