Description

Book Synopsis
Longlisted for the International Man Booker Prize

A New York Times Top 10 Best Book of the Year

An Economist Best Book of the Year

Longlisted for the Best Translated Book Award

The story of Urbain Martien lies con­tained in two notebooks he left behind when he died. In War and Turpentine, his grandson, a writer, retells his grandfather’s story, the notebooks providing a key to the locked chambers of Urbain’s memory.

But who is he, really? There is Urbain the child of a lowly church painter; Urbain the young man, who narrowly escapes death in an iron foundry; Urbain the soldier; and Urbain the man, married to his true love's sister, haunted by the war and his interrupted dreams of life as an artist. Wrestling with this tale, the grandson straddles past and present, searching for a way to understand his own part in both. As artfully rendered as a Rena

War and Turpentine

    Product form

    £14.45

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £17.00 – you save £2.55 (15%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 17 Aug 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Stefan Hertmans, David McKay

    Out of stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans

      Publisher: Random House USA Inc
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 25/07/2017
      ISBN13: 9781101872116, 978-1101872116
      ISBN10: 110187211X

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Longlisted for the International Man Booker Prize

      A New York Times Top 10 Best Book of the Year

      An Economist Best Book of the Year

      Longlisted for the Best Translated Book Award

      The story of Urbain Martien lies con­tained in two notebooks he left behind when he died. In War and Turpentine, his grandson, a writer, retells his grandfather’s story, the notebooks providing a key to the locked chambers of Urbain’s memory.

      But who is he, really? There is Urbain the child of a lowly church painter; Urbain the young man, who narrowly escapes death in an iron foundry; Urbain the soldier; and Urbain the man, married to his true love's sister, haunted by the war and his interrupted dreams of life as an artist. Wrestling with this tale, the grandson straddles past and present, searching for a way to understand his own part in both. As artfully rendered as a Rena

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account