A Price to Pay
A Price to Pay by Alex Capus, published by Haus Publishing on December 15, 2014, is a novel that explores the interconnected lives of three individuals during interwar Switzerland. This edition, available in English and spanning 240 pages, presents a narrative that delves into the choices and sacrifices made by its characters. The story follows pacifist Felix Bloch, who becomes involved in the Manhattan Project; Laura d’Oriano, who transitions from aspiring singer to Allied spy in fascist Italy; and Emile Gillieron, who travels with Heinrich Schliemann to Troy and becomes a notable art forger.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of historical context as Capus weaves together these diverging paths, all originating from a single moment in time at Zürich Station in November 1924. The novel examines themes of ambition, identity, and the costs associated with pursuing one’s goals. Through the lives of these characters, the narrative invites reflection on the complexities of history and personal choices, making it a thought-provoking addition to the genre of fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
Alex Capus’s novels have been runaway best-sellers in Germany, and his novel Léon and Louise received widespread critical acclaim on its English publication in 2012.
A Price to Pay, the fourth of Capus’s novels to be published in English, tells the interwoven stories of three disparate figures from interwar Switzerland: pacifist Felix Bloch, who ends up working on the Manhattan Project; Laura d’Oriano, who wants to become a singer but instead becomes an Allied spy in fascist Italy; and Emile Gillieron, who accompanies Heinrich Schliemann to Troy and becomes one of art’s greatest forgers. Taking off from the only moment in history when all three were in the same place—a November day in 1924 at Zürich Station—Capus traces their diverging paths as they secure their places in the annals of history—but at what price?
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