Elisabeth de Waal était une auteure dont l'œuvre explorait les complexités de l'identité et de l'exil. Son approche littéraire se caractérisait par une profonde perspicacité de la psyché humaine et une utilisation délicate du langage. Elle écrivit sur des thèmes qui résonnaient avec ses propres expériences, laissant un ensemble d'œuvres qui reflètent sa profondeur et sa sensibilité.
Anita, who has lived in Austria through the Second World War, comes to live in a large English country house in the early 1950s. She forms a close bond with its elderly owner, Mr Barlow, and another with his grandson Tony. But what does the future hold for any of them, for the house, and for England itself?
"The Exiles Return is set in Occupied Vienna in 1954-5. It describes five people who grew up there before the war and have come back to see if they can re-establish the life they have lost. The novel begins with Professor Kuno Adler, who is Jewish and fled Vienna after the Anschluss (the events of March 1938 when Hitler's troops marched into Austria). He is returning from New York to try and take up his old life as a research scientist. We realise through his confrontation with officialdom and with the changed fabric of the city (the lime trees are there no longer, it is hard to know who behaved well during the war and who was a Nazi sympathiser) that a refugee who goes back has a very difficult time. Next we are introduced to a wealthy Greek named Kanakis..."--Publisher description
The book features a foreword by Edmund de Waal, renowned for his work "The Hare with Amber Eyes," adding a layer of depth and insight to the narrative. It explores themes of identity, memory, and the intricate connections between people and their histories. The author delves into personal stories that reflect broader cultural and historical contexts, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences and the legacies that shape them. Rich in detail and emotion, it offers a compelling examination of the human condition.