Forgetfulness
Forgetfulness by Ward S. Just, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2006, is a literary work that delves into themes of terrorism and revenge. The story follows Thomas Railles, an American expatriate and former CIA operative, who is now a respected painter living in the south of France. His life takes a tragic turn when his wife, Florette, is murdered by unknown assailants during a routine walk. This event leaves Thomas grappling with the violence and pain that permeate his world, as he seeks to understand the implications of her death.
In this edition, readers will find a narrative that explores the emotional turmoil faced by Thomas as he tracks the war in Iraq and confronts the reality of his wife’s murder. The story intensifies when French authorities detain suspects linked to Florette’s death, leading Thomas to witness their interrogation. This experience profoundly alters his perspective, drawing him back to America and forcing him to confront his past. Forgetfulness presents a poignant examination of the personal impact of global conflict, making it a significant addition to contemporary fiction. With 258 pages, this English-language edition invites readers to reflect on the complexities of individual conscience amid the backdrop of terrorism.
Official synopsis Publisher
From one of our most critically acclaimed authors comes a masterly story of terrorism and revenge and one man’s attempts to extricate himself from his past.
Thomas Railles, an American expatriate and former “odd-jobber” for the CIA, is a respected painter living with his beloved wife, Florette, in the south of France. On an ordinary autumn day, Florette goes for a walk in the hills and is killed by unknown assailants. Her death devastates Thomas, and in the weeks and months that follow he struggles to make sense of a world that seems defined by violence and pain.
Each night Thomas tracks the war in Iraq on the evening news while Florette’s killers remain at large. When French officials detain four Moroccan terrorists and charge them with Florette’s murder, Thomas is invited to witness the interrogation. The experience completely undoes him, changing his world utterly, and he finds himself unable to remain at a distance from America, the country he left so long ago.
Ward Just’s most gripping and insightful novel yet, Forgetfulness is a haunting depiction of the corrosive effects of today’s war on terror and its unexpected consequences for the individual conscience.
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