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22 Britannia Road: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 4,985 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A tour de force that echoes modern classics like Suite Francaise and The Postmistress. "Housekeeper or housewife?" the soldier asks Silvana as she and eight- year-old Aurek board the ship that will take them from Poland to England at the end of World War II. There her husband, Janusz, is already waiting for them at the little house at 22 Britannia Road. But the war has changed them all so utterly that they'll barely recognize one another when they are reunited. "Survivor," she answers. Silvana and Aurek spent the war hiding in the forests of Poland. Wild, almost feral Aurek doesn't know how to tie his own shoes or sleep in a bed. Janusz is an Englishman now-determined to forget Poland, forget his own ghosts from the way, and begin a new life as a proper English family. But for Silvana, who cannot escape the painful memory of a shattering wartime act, forgetting is not a possibility. One of the most searing debuts to come along in years, 22 Britannia Road. is the wrenching chronicle of how these damaged people try to become, once again, a true family. An unforgettable novel that cries out for discussion, it is a powerful story of primal maternal love, overcoming hardship, and, ultimately, acceptance-one that will pierce your heart.
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"22 Britannia Road is a strong debut novel from Amanda Hodgkinson about picking up the pieces after World War II. Janusz and Silvana Nowack are newlyweds who barely out of adolesence and with a year old baby, Aurek. When Germany and Russia invade their homeland of Poland, Janusz goes to enlist and tells Silvana to leave Warsaw and go to his parents in the country. Unfortunately, things don't turn out quite as Janusz planned, and he ends up getting separated from his regiment and going on the run with a couple of other deserters until he can reach France and then England. Silvana has to take to the forest, where she and Aurek hide for six years and become as wild as their surroundings. When the Allies arrive in Poland, Silvana and Aurek are sent to a refugee camp, where, with the help of a social worker, Janusz finds them and brings them to Ipswich, on the coast of England, to start a new life at 22 Britannia Road. Janusz and Silvana quickly learn that it will be impossible to go back to how things were before the war, especially when both of them have secrets from their time apart that they would prefer the other never learn.This is a story that is at times very difficult to read because the characters can seem callous. I had to keep reminding myself that in wartime, particularly during World War II, the survival instinct governs most decisions, and this made a lot Janusz and Silvana's actions easier to stomach. The fact that it took so long for Silvana and Aurek to leave behind their habits from the forest also rang very true, especially as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who continue to be affected by the war. Aurek was most interesting to watch as he learned to trust the father he never knew and to feel safe in a home that wasn't in the wild. The ups and downs of Janusz and Silvana's story kept me thoroughly engaged, from their vastly different experiences during World War II to their attempts to build a new life in England. I spent the entire time wondering if they were going to make it and if their secrets, as they were revealed, would destroy them. This became even more important as Aurek grew comfortable with his new life. Ms. Hodgkinson also captured the various eras and settings of the novel beautifully. I especially loved her depiction of post-war, age-of-austerity England and the difficulties that Janusz encountered in trying to achieve a prosperous life as a foreigner in a country under hard times.This was one of those books that I sped through in a matter of hours. It's a truly incredible read with a very satisfying resolution, and I can't wait to see more from Ms. Hodgskinson."
— Farin (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“It is Hodgkinson’s portrait of the primal bond between mother and child, her visceral understanding of the gorgeous, terrible weight of love mothers must carry, war or no war, secret or no secret, that leaves an indelible impression.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Hodgkinson alternates viewpoints to relay the story of three desperate characters, skillfully toggling between the war and its aftermath with wonderfully descriptive prose that pulls the reader into a sweeping tale of survival and redemption.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Hodgkinson enters boldly into well-trodden, sensitive territory and distinguishes herself with freshness and empathy.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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Selected for the May 2011 Indie Next List
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An Oprah Irresistible Read
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A 2011 Library Journal Best Book
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A New York Times bestseller
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
22 Britannia Road Listener Reviews
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" Such a sad story. It was depressing for awhile but I really liked the ending. "
— Summer, 2/16/2014 -
" Saving review because it is a buddy read "
— Cecilia, 2/14/2014 -
" I've decided I'm going to start saying stuff about what I read. Here's my first review. I was expecting a love story and this book was full of disappointment after disappointment. It was good enough to read all the way through but that was only because I wanted to know the ending. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. "
— Jenna, 2/12/2014 -
" Wonderful read - recommend it to everyone! "
— Jane, 2/9/2014 -
" Good quick read. WWII in Poland and ultimately England. Mostly after the war - husband separated from wife and baby and reunited in England at the end of the war and how they cope as a 'family'. Well done. "
— Kristin, 1/20/2014 -
" Hard to put down (obviously, LOL!) A family separated during WWII is reunited at war's end. Its not a sweet reunion as each as been through their own hell and struggles to find their way to be a family again. "
— Brandy, 1/18/2014 -
" A good read. Kept me interested until the end. "
— Susie, 1/17/2014 -
" This was really good. It was about a young Polish family separated by WWII. After six years they come back together, but lies and secrets come between them. I really enjoyed the book. "
— Irene, 1/1/2014 -
" Wonderful book! I loved it. "
— Judy, 12/25/2013 -
" Good and touching, but I'm a little "WWII'd out". The narrator did a great job! "
— Kathy, 12/12/2013 -
" Great addition to WWII historical fiction. "
— Vicky, 10/11/2013 -
" A sad, sometimes disjointed story of survival through and after World War II. It makes you realize, once again, how lucky we are as Americans not to have had the war in our own cities. "
— Gail, 6/10/2013 -
" Keeping a small child alive in a northern forest on a diet of twigs and bark for four years, and emerging alive = totally implausible. "
— Nora, 12/2/2012 -
" This book was beautifully written; I would recommend it to my friends rather than my students because I don't think teens would connect with the marital struggles and secrets that drive the plot forward. I can't believe this is Hodgkinson's first novel; I look forward to reading her future work! "
— Mrs., 11/22/2012 -
" I guessed the twist that was about 70% into the book, but even with that, it's still a fantastic book thus far. "
— Amy, 11/19/2012 -
" Great book. Although the subject matter is difficult (surviving during WWII), the author handles things carefully. As the book jacket says, "22 Britannia Road is the wrenching, beautifully wrought chronicle of how these damaged people try to become, once again, a true family." "
— Nancy, 9/7/2012 -
" It took me a little while to get into it, but once I was in I was all in. A book that rings true, nothing overdone, nothing sugar-coated, with an ending that is neither happy nor sad but honest. Well done. "
— Isabelle, 7/17/2012 -
" Story of a Polish family separated in WW2 and after almost 5 years of being apart they become a family again. That's a long time to be apart and they really have a hard time getting to know each other again because of all their war-related experiences. "
— Dianne, 7/5/2012 -
" This story of a Polish couple parted for 6 years due to WW11 and reunited in Britain after the war shows how difficult it is to set aside the trauma of war and displacement.This book had well described characters and was a very interesting story. "
— Kathleen, 6/6/2012 -
" Another well written book about depressing people. Loved the historical backdrop and understand this to be a tragic reality, but it left me feeling .... Blah (a great literary term). "
— Marcia, 4/16/2012 -
" This was a very easy book to read - a little different from most second world war stories - not something that I would consider a great book - but ok "
— Frances, 1/2/2012 -
" I don't want this to end! There were times I actually put it down so I wouldn't read it! I loved it! "
— Jody, 11/27/2011 -
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bita fillipi, 10/10/2011
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" This is a quick read, and nicely written. A little predictable, and it didn't leave me thinking about it, feeling like I had inhabited or knew any of the characters intimately. But still enjoyable. I would be interested in reading what this first-time author writes next. "
— Jody, 6/27/2011 -
" Although I finished this book (partially due to a book club commitment), I never felt fully engaged with either of the main characters. The deprivations of war familiar and wrenching, but the characters seem merely placed in the scenes, fixtures rather than participants. "
— Kasa, 6/27/2011 -
" Excellent characters with provocative stories to tell about how World War II changed the course of their lives irrevocably. "
— Barbara, 6/26/2011 -
" Another World War2 book about Polish immigrents trying to make a life in post war Britain and leave their shattering wartime memories behind. A very accomplished debut novel. "
— Janet, 6/23/2011 -
" This book was really good. Sad, but good. "
— Maureen, 6/21/2011 -
" It was engaging but I didn't love it. "
— Debbie, 6/17/2011 -
" Jan and Silvana leave Warsaw with the German invasion about to begin. He, to join the army; she, to keep their son Aurek safe. They reunite in England six years later, both with years of war secrets between them. Can they make a life together in the home he rents on 22 Britannia Road? "
— Linnet, 6/17/2011 -
" There are twists and turns that I found very surprising. "
— Bethgentner, 6/15/2011 -
" We all have a story to tell, we just need to remember to listen! "
— Maria, 6/13/2011 -
" I was mesmerized by this story. I read it straight through. It was heart-wrenching but seemed very realistic in it's authenticity about the aftermath of the World War and the horrendous displacements that followed. Beside all the sadness, the book offers hope..... "
— Denise, 6/13/2011
About Amanda Hodgkinson
Amanda Hodgkinson attended University
of East Anglia and now works as a journalist and writer. Born in
Burnham-on-Sea, England, she currently lives with her husband and daughters in
a farmhouse in the southwest of France.
About Robin Sachs
Robin Sachs (1951–2013), actor and narrator, was raised in London and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His audiobook narrations earned ten Earphones Awards. His acting credits include Alias, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dynasty, Nowhere Man, Babylon 5, Diagnosis Murder, Galaxy Quest, Northfork, Ocean’s 11, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Megalodon.