Friday Recommends ~ The Ambassador's Daughter by Pam Jenoff

Mira Books (1 Feb 2013)

The Ambassador's Daughter

 by 

Pam Jenoff

Out of the wreckage of war comes the beauty of love

In the aftermath of the First World War, Margot Rosenthal, is taken to Paris in 1919, whilst her father is part of a delegation attending a peace conference. Initially, Margot resents being thought of as the enemy and is reluctant to stay in a place where she is looked upon with mistrust. And yet, however difficult life in Paris appears, Margot is reluctant to return to Berlin, and her seriously injured fiancé, Stefan.

What then follows is a realistic depiction of the profound effect that life in post war Europe had on personal relationships, and illustrates how the luxury of trust was something that had to be earned in the most difficult of circumstances. It is in these portrayals of ordinary life where Jenoff excels, and in this story she has attempted to bring together pieces of her previous book The Kommandant’s Girl, and whilst readers of this novel will notice some continuity, it is not essential to have read The Kommandant’s Girl, as The Ambassador’s Daughter can more than stand alone.

As usual the attention to historical detail is meticulously researched; the narrative is sharp and crisp, with clever characterisation which reflects the time and place. Overall, the atmosphere of post war Europe is beautifully presented, and there is just the right balance between historical intrigue and romance.

 My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin UK Ltd for a digital review copy of this book