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The Exiles Return
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
13 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 13 to read
WITH A FOREWORD BY EDMUND DE WAAL, AUTHOR OF THE HARE WITH AMBER EYES SET IN THE ASHES OF POSTSECOND WORLD WAR VIENNA, A POWERFUL, SUBTLE NOVEL OF EXILES RETURNING HOME FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER FLEEING HITLER'S DEADLY REIGN Vienna is demolished by war, the city an alien landscape of ruined castles, a fractured ruling class, and people picking up the pieces. Elisabeth de Waals mesmerizing The Exiles Return is a stunningly vivid postwar story of Austrias fallen aristocrats, unrepentant Nazis, and a culture degraded by violence. The novel follows a number of exiles, each returning under very different circumstances, who must come to terms with a city in painful recovery. There is Kuno Adler, a Jewish research scientist, who is tired of his unfulfilling existence in America; Theophil Kanakis, a wealthy Greek businessman, seeking to plunder some of the spoils of war; Marie-Theres, a brooding teenager, sent by her parents in hopes that the change of scene will shake her out of her funk; and Prince Bimbo Grein, a handsome young man with a title divested of all its social currency. With immaculate precision and sensitivity, de Waal, an exile herself, captures a city rebuilding and relearning its identity, and the people who have to do the same. Mesmerizing and tragic, de Waal has written a masterpiece of European literature, an artifact revealing a moment in our history, clear as a snapshot, but timeless as well.
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andrew61
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

This excellent story centres on 3 people returning to Vienna Post ww2 for a new life. Pr Adler confronts nazi suspicion in his old lab in a brilliant scene. Kanakis is a rich exile who wants to buy property + surround himself in admirers. Resi is a beautiful teenager sent to family. Compelling read.
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub

Tamra Adler‘s story was compelling and I felt drawn into his quest to create a new life post exile. (edited) 1d
Itchyfeetreader Oh - this sounds like something I would like but am trying so hard to clear the years of stress book buying trolley this year ! 1d
LeahBergen Great review, Andrew! And I like to see your shelf of Persephones peeping out from the background. 😄 24h
Cathythoughts Great review… I‘m finding it compelling too. 15h
39 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Finally started on train trip to Dublin. Also Kuno Adler is on his train to Vienna. Loving it so far , beautiful writing and story. #Persephoneclub

kspenmoll This sounds like a wonderful compliment to a book I just finished 1d
Cathythoughts @kspenmoll It surely does 😁❤️ 1d
andrew61 Enjoy your trip Cathy, and the book. I enjoyed it immensely. 1d
See All 18 Comments
CarolynM Enjoy the book, and Dublin😘 1d
sarahbarnes Enjoy! 💕 1d
Lesliereadsalot Have the best time. My two best friends and I went to Dublin a few years ago to go on the Game of Thrones tour. So much fun! 1d
Tamra Have a wonderful trip - sounds perfect, book on a train! 😘 1d
marleed Barry‘s tea always makes me smile. My sister (RIP) sold Barry‘s tea in her Irish store in Butte, Montana and sung its praises. Same sister reused a single tea bag (of any variety) all day long and I teased her she did not drink tea so much as tea infused water. I brought a large box of Barry‘s home with me. I drink my tea very strong so I loved Barry‘s but I‘m pretty sure she must have reused the same tea bag for a week🤣 1d
Cathythoughts @Lesliereadsalot sounds great ! Thankyou x 1d
Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes Thanks Sarah x 1d
Cathythoughts @Tamra Book on train is my very favorite 🥰📚 1d
Cathythoughts @marleed I love Barry‘s tea. It has to be Barry‘s , nothing else will do. Reusing the tea bag is a very good idea, I‘m just too lazy 😁 1d
Cathythoughts @andrew61 Thanks Andrew. I‘m really enjoying the book. 1d
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks Carolyn , I am x 1d
LeahBergen Have fun in Dublin, Cathy, and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. 😘 1d
AnnCrystal Dublin 💖💖💖. 1d
Cathythoughts @AnnCrystal ❤️❤️❤️ 1d
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks Leah, I have a feeling I will enjoy it immensely ❤️ 1d
49 likes18 comments
review
CarolynM
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

From the very start, this book told me where it was going. Even so, I was surprised when it got there. I knew nothing about life in post WWII Vienna and found this aspect of it fascinating. I enjoyed Resi‘s story, but she was such an ephemeral character I didn‘t feel a lot for her. I felt much more connected to Professor Adler & his efforts to make a new life in his old home. #PersephoneClub

LeahBergen That was exactly how I felt about the characters, too, and found I was much more interested in Resi‘s family and friends. On a side note, I really love this bookmark and endpapers. 😆 3d
Cathythoughts Great review Carolyn, I‘m hoping to start tomorrow 👍🏻♥️ 3d
Tamra I too really enjoyed Adler‘s character. 😊 2d
56 likes3 comments
review
LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at post-WWII Austria, a time of which I knew very little about before reading this novel. We follow three exiles on their return to Vienna from America and try to figure out how their lives will intersect to explain the “accidental” death described in the prologue. So good!

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 I finished it last night and would love to be having a discussion about it. Pr Alder and Nina was an outcome which was very moving but as for poor Resi , what can I say. Another great persephone read. 5d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I was very happy with the Alder and Nina outcome (and that little peek into their future together!) but poor Resi is right! What do you think of Kanakis‘ grief at the end? I was moved enough to think he really felt for her and she wasn‘t a complete “marriage of convenience”. I hope? 5d
andrew61 Yes, it was curious. Kanakis seemed to want Resi as a trophy, a beautiful curio like the shepherdess, and that would allow him to then hide his attraction to young men like Bimbo. I think he may have been upset in the way he would have been if the shepherdess had been dropped at the loss of a beautiful object. The book continually emphasises Resi's beauty. 5d
See All 13 Comments
andrew61 I thought the confrontation between Adler and Krieger was particularly dramatic. Krieger's admission of his activities in the war was shocking and Adler was remarkable in his response. I also liked the three sisters who were princesses. I will add Vienna to my list of places to visit. 5d
Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I must start soon , then I can read the spoiler too 👍🏻😁 5d
CarolynM Great review. It‘s not something I know anything about either. I‘m just about to start Part 2. I‘ll come back to your spoiler comment when I finish🙂 5d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I definitely think you‘re right about the trophy aspect of his affection for her (look at how excited he was to think of dressing her). And that whole Adler/Krieger confrontation was so powerful! 4d
LeahBergen @andrew61 I kind of wish I had three Austrian princess aunts 😆😆 4d
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM I tried to not give too much of the plot away in my review 😆 4d
Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all great reviews and loving 🥰 following along however I‘m giving this particular one a miss but will join back in with the next 😀happy reading 📖 folks ❤️ 3d
LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict No worries! We‘ll see you for the next one! 😘 3d
CarolynM @LeahBergen @andrew61 I agree with you about why Kanakis wanted Resi but I think he would have been kind to her & they would have had a life that suited them both. I think he was grieving what might have been as well as the loss of beauty. I would have liked more about Professor Adler & how he felt about the changes in the people & the city. The circumstances of the fading aristocracy as represented by the 3 princesses interested me too. 3d
LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought the same thing about Kanakis and was (weirdly!) rooting for them. 3d
63 likes3 stack adds13 comments
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andrew61
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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I am enjoying our latest foray into the persephone catalogue + so far this is an interesting tale of several individuals returning to Vienna post ww2. This was a very powerful scene in which Pr Adler is confronted by Dr Krieger + ends up justifying himself. Very powerful+ required a reflective pause
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @LeahBergen #persephoneclub

LeahBergen That passage stopped me in my tracks, too! 5d
10 likes1 comment
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Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
This post contains spoilers
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My favorite paragraph & single line in the whole novel! Pg. 168
#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen This whole interaction was so powerful! 5d
7 likes1 comment
review
Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad the de Waals family allowed her novels to be published posthumously. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and circumstance of this one, which were unique enough to keep me engaged. It also went off in surprising directions! Makes me wonder whether this could have been published in the 1950‘s. 🤔 #PersephoneClub

Tamra There were a couple of too abrupt transitions and sadly the Adler - Grein thread was too hastily tied. I wanted more on that storyline, it just ended rather early on! 2w
LeahBergen I‘m just about to start it so I‘ll come back to comment! 😄 2w
andrew61 Great review. I'll probably start next week. Will be interesting, it's a while since I read hare with the Amber eyes which focused a lot on lost lives from war. 2w
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Tamra @LeahBergen 👏🏾 2w
Tamra @andrew61 I will have to add that to the TBR! 2w
CarolynM I‘m hoping to get started on this one in the next day or two. I‘ll come back for your spoiler comment when I‘ve finished. 2w
Tamra @CarolynM 😁 It‘s my favorite paragraph of the novel. 2w
Cathythoughts I need to start this. Finishing off my IRL bookclub book first …. 1w
Tamra @Cathythoughts I hope you like it! It‘s not flawless, but I was invested in the characters and didn‘t want it to end actually. 1w
LeahBergen I was surprised at some of the content, too! And I agree, more on Adler would have been great. I knew so little about this time period and found myself fascinated by Vienna (I must visit one day!) 5d
47 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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Tamra
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Perfect outdoor reading time. ☺️ Definitely enjoying the #PersephoneClub pick. Elizabeth has made all of the characters interesting. I want to know more!

LeahBergen You have me intrigued! I must start soon. 3w
Cathythoughts Oh great ! I must start soon too ❤️ 3w
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LitsyEvents
The Exiles Return: A Novel | de Waal, Elisabeth
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Repost for @LeahBergen

It‘s now June so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

LeahBergen Thanks for the repost! ❤️ 3w
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LeahBergen
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘ll get started on it soon. 3w
Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, I‘ll take it down from my shelf today. Looking forward to it x 3w
See All 7 Comments
Cathythoughts I have this as a gift from you , two years ago ❤️🙏 3w
LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 😘 3w
LeahBergen @CarolynM It should be a good one! 🤞 3w
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s right! I forgot about that. It was after we so enjoyed her other one. 😘 3w
46 likes7 comments
blurb
elkeOriginal
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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Here are our choices for our June #PersephoneClub group read.

The Exiles Return: 5 people return to Vienna 10 years post-WWII to see if/how they can pick up their lives interrupted by war. Written by the author of Milton Place which we read together.

Doreen: story about and in the voice of a young British girl evacuated to the countryside after the Blitz. Book listing tagged in comments.

elkeOriginal Book description for: (edited) 7mo
Tamra Wow, that was quite an intriguing blurb for 7mo
Cathythoughts Both look great 👍🏻 I‘ll pick 7mo
See All 17 Comments
Cathythoughts And I have a copy 😁🥰 7mo
LeahBergen Ooo, good ones! I want to read both (and own both 😆) but because I enjoyed Milton Place so much, I‘ll opt for 7mo
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I loved Milton Place too, and I have you to thank , Leah , for my lovely Exiles Return Persephone book X 7mo
julieclair Wow, these both sound so good! But my vote goes to 7mo
CarolynM I just saw the film Blitz about an evacuated child who ran away. I vote for 7mo
rubyslippersreads Since I own it, I vote for 7mo
quietjenn Both sound great but i'll vote for 7mo
Bookbuyingaddict Again both sound great 👍 and both on my TBR but I will also vote 🗳️ for Doreen 👍😃thanks x x 7mo
elkeOriginal This is a tight race! 7mo
LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It looks like we need you to tiebreak this one! What is your pick? 😁 6mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen Did I count wrong - it looks like Exiles won by 1? If not, methinks that is my vote anyway… 6mo
LeahBergen Who knows? I got 4-4. 😆 Don‘t make me math. 6mo
elkeOriginal @LeahBergen My fault - I doubled counted one person🤦🏼‍♀️ I vote Exiles. 6mo
LeahBergen And the winner is The Exiles Return! 6mo
30 likes17 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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A lovely present for me from BD from some lovely Litten ? I love it 👍🏻♥️

CarolynM Not me for this one, but keep an eye out😘 2y
rockpools Lovely ☺️ 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks, I‘ll keep an eye out 😘 2y
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Cathythoughts @rockpools Yes , I‘m thrilled ♥️ 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Oh, another Persephone to add to your growing collection 😍 2y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm Indeed! So lovely ♥️ 2y
batsy A Persephone gift! Fabulous 😍 2y
Megabooks Lucky you!! 💜 2y
LeahBergen That‘s from me! Merry Christmas, Cathy! 😘😘😘 2y
Cathythoughts @batsy I know 🥰 2y
Cathythoughts @Megabooks Yes ! I‘m looking forward to it. 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Thanks so much Leah. I remember stacking this after loving Milton Place. You‘re so good , Thankyou ♥️X 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I hope my BD won‘t be too long getting to you. 🤞🏻 2y
Tamra Oooooooo I‘m envious! 😍 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra I know 😍 I‘m looking forward to it. 2y
65 likes1 stack add16 comments
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Oftencantdecide
The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal
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#FeistyFeb- I was surprised how few books I have with #FlowersOnCovers. Here's one floral book.

RealLifeReading Pretty! 8y
Libby1 Have you read this? I have it on my Amazon TBR because she's the mother of Edmund de Waal and I loved Hare With Amber Eyes. 8y
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