It's actually two novellas (as in short novel, not one of the Spanish language soaps which, as required by various international treaties, always features a well-to-do young man named Juan Carlos who is in love with a beautiful but poor young woman employed as a domestic servant on his cruel parents' lavish estate.)
The first novella is "Storm in June," takes place in Paris just after the surrender to the Germans. (Surprisingly, despite what esteemed historians led me to believe, virtually no cheese eating takes place after the French army throws down its arms and rolls out the welcome mat for the Nazis.) The second, "Dolce" takes place mostly in a French village during the occupation.
I would like to quote one of my favorite parts, but like a fool I returned the book to the library. Anyway, the portraits of various people in extreme circumstances are powerful: I'd finish a chapter and just have to put it down awhile because it was so intense.
The book has a pretty incredible back story. It was written in 1942--which makes it almost shocking that her depiction of certain German characters is so humane. Nemirovsky didn't live to finish the 2 additional novellas she'd planned for her Suite. She was Jewish (and also not a French citizen) and was therefore taken off to a death camp. What a waste.
Now go get the book!
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