Posts Tagged ‘Samuel Beckett’

Media Center: ‘Country Road, a Tree’ by Jo Baker

May 11th, 2016

WHO: Jo Baker

WHAT: A COUNTRY ROAD, A TREE, a novel

WHEN: Published by Knopf May 17, 2016

WHERE: The story is set in Paris.

WHY: “Baker’s historical drama deftly explores the psyche of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.
“In her latest novel, Baker reimagines Irish writer Samuel Beckett’s involvement with the French Resistance during WWII. Over his mother’s objections, Beckett left the relative safety of his family home in Ireland in 1939 to return to Paris in the days just before France declared war on Germany.
“When the Nazis reach Paris, Beckett and his love, Suzanne, flee alongside Beckett’s mentor, James Joyce, and his wife, Nora. While the Joyces seek a safe haven in Switzerland, Beckett and Suzanne ultimately return to Paris, where a friend of Beckett’s draws them into the resistance effort. Though the tasks are small—keeping track of German troops in Paris and relaying that information to contacts—the danger is great, and the couple are soon forced out of the city once again, setting out on a harrowing journey to the countryside, where Beckett agrees to even more perilous missions.”
—Kristine Huntley, BOOKLIST

“A worthy successor to Longbourn.
Baker skillfully captures Beckett’s world, the rhythms of his bare-bones prose, and the edginess of his point of view.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Jacket photo

Media Resources:
About the book and author | Read an excerpt | Download the jacket | Download the author photo

Knopf. 289 pages. $26.95 ISBN 978-1-101-94718-0


Publicist for this title:
Katie Schoder | 212-572-2103 | kschoder@penguinrandomhouse.com