The Last Kestrel
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
The Last Kestrel
By (Author) Jill McGivering
HarperCollins Publishers
The Borough Press
15th November 2011
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Fiction
Narrative theme: Sense of place
Narrative theme: Social issues
Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss
Modern and contemporary fiction: general and literary
823.92
Physical Properties
Paperback
304
Width 129mm, Height 198mm, Spine 18mm
230g
Description
Disturbing and heartfelt' THE TIMES
A moving, compassionate and impressive first-novel which fans of The Kite Runner will love DAILY MAIL
Two strong women. Two cultures. One unifying cause: survival.
Ellen Thomas, experienced war correspondent, returns to Afghanistan's dangerous Helmand Province on assignment, keen to find the murderer of her friend and translator, Jalil. In her search for justice in a land ravaged by death and destruction, she uncovers disturbing truths.
Hasina, forced by tradition into the role of wife and mother, lives in a village which is taken by British Forces. Her only son, Aref, is part of a network of underground fighters and she is determined to protect him, whatever the cost.
Ellen and Hasina are thrown together one fighting for survival, the other searching for truth with devastating consequences for them both.
The Last Kestrel is a deeply moving and lyrical story of disparate lives innocent and not-so-innocent caught up in the horrors of war. It is a book which will resonate with fans of The Kite Runner and The Bookseller of Kabul.
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This book is moving and disturbing. Both sides are given honest portrayals, and the characters are very real. It will change the way you read headlines BOOKLIST
McGiverings prose is infused with the gritty realism of combat horrors and buoyed by the suspended moments of humanity one finds in war PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jill McGivering has produced a deeply compassionate and thoughtful novel, written with the humanity that is a trademark of her reporting FERGAL KEANE
A novel to move you and bring a better understanding about what is happening in AfghanistanBeautifully written WOMANS DAY
With an impeccable BBC pedigree, Jill McGivering is better placed than most other writers to give difficult stories about the realities of war-torn Afghanistan authenticity and immediacy YORKSHIRE POST
Reviews
A moving, compassionate and impressive first-novel which fans of The Kite Runner will love DAILY MAIL
Disturbing and heartfelt' THE TIMES
This book is moving and disturbing. Both sides are given honest portrayals, and the characters are very real. It will change the way you read headlines BOOKLIST
McGiverings prose is infused with the gritty realism of combat horrors and buoyed by the suspended moments of humanity one finds in war PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jill McGivering has produced a deeply compassionate and thoughtful novel, written with the humanity that is a trademark of her reporting FERGAL KEANE
A novel to move you and bring a better understanding about what is happening in AfghanistanBeautifully written WOMANS DAY
With an impeccable BBC pedigree, Jill McGivering is better placed than most other writers to give difficult stories about the realities of war-torn Afghanistan authenticity and immediacy YORKSHIRE POST
Author Bio
Jill McGivering has worked in journalism for 25 years. She is currently a senior foreign news correspondent with the BBC having previously held the position of South Asia Correspondent (based in Dehli). Now based in London, she travels extensively for the BBC including assignments to Afghanistan and China. She has already written non-fiction, short fiction and plays. The Last Kestrel is her first novel.
