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The Other Hoffmann Sister (2017)In 1902, Ingrid Hoffmann's family move her and her sister Margarete to a farm in German Southwest Africa that their father has bought from the aristocrat Baron von Ketz. In the face of casual racism, tensions with local tribes and the family's strange relationship with the von Ketzes, Ingrid worries increasingly for her sister's declining mental health, until a shocking murder forces the family back to Germany.
In Germany, Margarete's health improves and she becomes engaged to Emil von Ketz, the older Baron's son. But on her wedding day on the eve of the First World War, Margarete disappears. After the war, in the midst of the revolution that brings down the Kaiser and wipes out the aristocracy that her family has married into, Ingrid returns to the von Ketzes' crumbling estate determined to find out what really happened to her sister. You can order The Other Hoffmann Sister now from your local bookstore, or online from Foyle's, Waterstones, Amazon, WHSmith and many other retailers. Praise for The Other Hoffmann Sister: "The Other Hoffmann Sister confirms the talent for atmospheric, morally complex historical fiction that Fergusson showed in his first novel [...] It develops into an engrossing exploration of the ways that secrecy, racism and snobbery take their toll on its finely realised characters." (The Sunday Times) "The Other Hoffman Sister is a gripping story about two sisters, Margarete and Ingrid, in pre-war Germany. [...] The evocative setting and the quick-paced plot takes the reader on a whirlwind tour through South Africa, to Berlin and back again." ('10 Best Book Club Reads' in The Independent) "A richly accomplished work with a fascinating central character. And like the best historical novelists, Fergusson combines the ability both to bring the past to life with grippingly immediate vignettes, and use it to illustrate themes such as betrayal, prejudice and the deceptive nature of memory, which remain universal." (the i newspaper from The Independent) "A fascinating look at racism and snobbery. Broken postwar Germany is superbly drawn and events in Africa are eye-openingly horrific." (The Times) "In this intricately plotted novel, Ben Fergusson takes a little-known slice of history and fashions it into a gripping love story." (The Mail on Sunday) "A wonderfully atmospheric read that keeps you guessing. Highly recommended." ('Book of the Week', The Lady) "Elegantly crafted and engrossing – Fergusson's The Other Hoffmann Sister is excellent." (William Ryan) "Taut, subtle, ambitious and engrossing. A gripping story of conflicting loyalties spanning a turbulent and changing world." (Imogen Robertson, author of The Paris Winter) "A beautiful, compelling read with exquisitely drawn characters. Wonderful." (Jason Hewitt, author of Devastation Road) |