"The Glass Room" delves into the lives of Viktor and Liesel Landauer, a wealthy couple in 1930s Czechoslovakia who commission the building of a modernist house, the Landauer House, designed by architect Rainer von Abt. The house, made almost entirely of glass walls, becomes a symbol of optimism and modernity amidst the looming shadows of World War II and the Holocaust. Through the tumultuous events of the 20th century, the house bears witness to the Landauers' joys, sorrows, and the enduring power of human resilience. Reviews The Guardian: "Mawer's prose is elegant, his characters and settings are vividly realised, and the story he tells, of idealism betrayed by history, is as richly moving as it is intellectually challenging." New York Times: "A deeply involving tale, one that is as intimate as it is sweeping, a tribute to modernism, to the 20th century's indomitable will to create." "An ambitious and accomplished novel. Mawer has a wonderful eye for detail and an ability to weave a compelling narrative." - The Independent
Book Title: The Glass Room - Simon MawerBook Genre: Historical Fiction, World War II, Architecture, Literary Fiction, Holocaust, Czech LiteratureISBN: 9780349121321Number of Pages: 404Publishing Date: April 22, 2010Cover Type: Paperback