The Tortoises

Author(s): Veza Canetti

General Fiction

Spare, dark, and cinematic, The Tortoises describes life in the Nazi reign of terror. A renowned writer and his wife live quietly in a beautiful villa outside Vienna, until the triumphant Nazis start subjecting their Jewish "hosts" to ever greater humiliations. Veza Canetti focuses on seemingly ordinary people to epitomize the horror: one flag-happy German kills a sparrow before a group of little children; another, more entrepreneurial Nazi brands tortoises with swastikas to sell as souvenirs commemorating the Anschluss.


Product Information

General Fields

  • : 9780811216968
  • : New Directions
  • : New Directions
  • : June 2017
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Veza Canetti
  • : Paperback