The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler

The Tobacconist

Robert Seethaler

A coming-of-age story with a real difference as country-boy Franz is overwhelmed by both passion and reason after his move to the city. This is a tragic book because the city is Vienna and the year 1938, but it is also the story of Franz's personal triumph told with compassion and understated humour. Highly recommended.

Extract
Communists' and unconventional thinkers' subversive assets were being seized - but wasn't that only fair? Jewish people's property was being confiscated and their shops closed and managed by upright citizens - but weren't these just long overdue measures ... in our lovely city of Vienna? In our tolerant state of Austria so beloved of God?
Parallels
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • Life is Beautiful - the film
  • Where Three Roads Meet by Salley Vickers
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Violence
Explicit sexual content