The Road Home by Rose Tremain

Beautifully written by Rose Tremain who lives in Norfolk and teaches writing at the University of East Anglia, this was my introduction to her comprehensive list of Novels and Short Stories. It certainly won’t be my last.

The story centres around Lev, an Eastern European man who  travels alone to Britain to find work and money to help his beloved daughter and mother to survive back home.

It explores the other side to our country as viewed through the eyes of immigrants, sometimes encountering kindness and at other times encountering pure hostility. It describes the struggle he has to become accepted and to make a living in our society. Winding their way through Lev’s life are a series of very believable characters, employers, enemies and friends  all of whom add to the rich tapestry of his experiences.

The book entranced me from the first few pages although it was only when I finished it I realised the grip it had on me. Its sheer subtleness was brilliant, funny, tragic, shocking, heart warming but above all up-lifting. It is a simple tale of success through adversity, showing the human characteristics of will power, honesty and hard work often prevail.

I for one really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. Sue Gilbert