Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Author: Daša Drndić
Translators: Elle Elias- Bursać
Year Published: 2007
TWs: violence, torture
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re looking for a light, feel-good historical fiction novel… look the other way. ‘Trieste’ by Daša Drdnić is not an easy read, but it’s one of those books that sticks with you long after you finish it. It has the perfect balance of personal stories and historical records that together have made it one of my favourite historical fiction books of the year. So, let’s dive in!
“She knows that the end is a dream from which there is no waking.”
Synopsis (spoiler-free, always)
Set in northern Italy, this book follows Haya Tedeschi, an old woman sitting alone in her home, surrounded by photographs and newspaper clippings as she waits to be reunited with her son after sixty-two years. Haya’s son was taken from her by Nazi authorities during World War II as part of the Lebensborn project, a secret program that aimed to create a ‘racially pure’ Germany.
Through Haya’s obsessive search for her son, the novel slowly reveals her family’s painful history, from their Catholicized Jewish background, to the horrific Nazi occupation in Italy.
“We should probably be able to learn something from the repetition of history, repetitio est mater studiorum, but despite the fact that history stubbornly repeats itself, we are bad learners.”
My Thoughts
Going into this book, I knew it was going to be heavy, and I was right. This isn’t one of those historical novels that sugarcoats the past or tries to find hope in the darkness. Drndić doesn’t hold back but instead forces you to confront the worst parts of history head-on.
Haya is such a complicated character. At times, I really felt for her, especially in her moments of loneliness and grief, but the book also shows how she, like so many others, turned a blind eye to what was happening around her during the war. Drndić doesn’t let anyone off the hook, especially her own characters.
One of the most powerful parts of the book is the 44-page-long list of around 9,000 Jews deported or killed in Italy during the war. It’s literally just name after name, but seeing all those names written out like that made me stop and really think about how each of those people had a story like Haya’s. It’s honestly one of the most moving things I’ve ever read in a novel.
I will admit though that, the constant switching between Haya’s story, historical facts, and trial transcripts made the book feel a bit fragmented at times. There were moments where I wanted to know more about Haya herself rather than the documents she was reading. But, at the same time, I think that’s the point. The novel shows how sometimes, personal stories can get buried under the weight of historical facts.
So, like I said, if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted read, then maybe this book isn’t for you. But, if you want to learn a bit more about the Holocaust from a lesser known perspective, and can deal with a challenging read, this one if for you!
Happy Reading!
About the Author
Born in Zagreb, Daśa Drndić was a writer, playwright and literary critic. She studied English literature in Belgrade and later worked as a professor and editor. Her writing often explored war, memory, and the darker sides of history. ‘Trieste’ is one of her most famous novels, and it was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and translated into several languages.
Some other works by her include
- Belladonna
- Doppelgänger
- Leica Format
Find more on her Goodreads page!
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