Library for the War-Wounded
(Author) Monika Helfer'We called him Vati, Dad. Not Father, not Papa. That's what he wanted. He thought it sounded modern. He wanted to present himself to us, and through us, as a man in tune with the modern age. Though he seemed to come from nowhere.' Josef was an illegitimate child, a charity case from Salzburg, schooled by a benefactor. He was drafted to fight in the First World War while still at school and sent to Russia, returning with only one leg. He married his nurse, and brought his family to the high, idyllic slopes of the Austrian Alps, where he took a position as manager of a home for injured soldiers, a strangely suspended, deeply isolated place with a remarkable library. He was a man of many mysteries. To his daughter, Monika, none was greater than his obsession with these cloistered, crumbling books, his great treasure and secret amidst a country barrelling away from the memory of war.
Monika Helfer
Monika Helfer is an Austrian author known for her poignant and introspective novels that explore themes of family, relationships, and identity. Her literary style is characterized by lyrical prose and a keen focus on the emotional complexities of her characters. Helfer's most notable works include "The Bag" and "The Mother of the Mother." She has made significant contributions to contemporary literature through her nuanced storytelling and her ability to capture the nuances of human experience. Helfer's impact on the literary genre lies in her ability to create deeply moving and thought-provoking narratives that resonate with readers. Her most famous work, "The Bag," has been praised for its rich character development and exploration of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships.
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