The Office of Innocence

Description

Sydney, 1942, and in a nation threatened by a Japanese invasion, with husbands absent and sleek GIs present, a spirit of recklessness takes hold. Frank Darragh, an innocent young curate, finds the line between saving others' souls and losing his own begins to blur as he beomes entangled with a menage a trois and dangerously attracted to a married woman whose husband is a POW, who confesses that she has been tempted by a charismatic American sergeant. Before Father Darragh can dissuade her, she is murdered. Suspecting the sergeant, yet believing he might save his soul, Darragh gets drawn ever further into a morass his complacent superiors deplore and towards a showdown that could cost him his life.

Thomas Keneally has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize four times and won it with SCHINDLER'S ARK in 1982. His novels have been filmed (SCHINDLER'S LIST and THE CHANT OF JIMMIE BLACKSMITH) and dramatised (THE PLAYMAKER). He has also written several works of non-fiction, including THE PLACE WHERE SOULS ARE BORN, about the American Southwest, and HOMEBUSH BOY, a memoir. His most recent work, the novel BETTANY'S BOOK, was published in 2000 to tremendous acclaim.

"- 'Magnificent... A literary tour de force' - James Urquhart, Independent on Sunday - 'A tremendous work, full of scholarship, adventure, drama and compassion' - Rachel Cusk, Daily Telegraph - 'A work of towering authority: large in scope; rich in detail; overflowing with ripe humanity...more than an engrossing novel: it is a stirring one.' - David Robson, Sunday Telegraph - 'Hugely compelling... vivid, immediate, heartfelt' - Julie Wheelwright, Scotland on Sunday - 'A rich feast served up with great skill and passion by a master storyteller.' - Peter Cunningham, Irish Times - 'Should be read for decades to come' - Ruth Scurr, The Times