The Light at the End of the Day

Eleanor Wasserberg

Fourth Estate

Set in Poland at the beginning of World War II, artist Jozef Pienta is hired to paint a portrait of Alicia, the spoilt child of the wealthy Oderfeldt family, who are in denial over the Nazi takeover.

As the Germans raid their hometown the Oderfeldts are torn apart, and the portrait is left behind. What follows is a tale of family secrets, first love and survival amidst the atrocities of war in Poland and Russia.

The portrait is at the heart of the story, with the author cleverly weaving the plot and characters around it as they attempt to find the painting and reunite with each other after the tragedies of the Holocaust. While a little slow to start, the pace picked up in the second half, and I found myself connecting with the characters as they developed.

A compelling read, capturing the heartbreaking realities of war.