Last House Before the Mountain by Monika Helfer and translated by Gillian Davidson is a multigenerational family saga set in a small Austrian village during World War I. Interestingly, this is only the first of the internationally-bestselling and award-winning Austrian novelist’s works to be translated into English.
Helfer’s writing reminded me of that of Elena Ferrante, whose Neapolitan Novels I devoured one after the other, but beyond the ostensibly similar style, this relatively short novel (125 pages) is completely divergent and intrigued me for entirely different reasons.
At the centre of the story is Maria, who lives with her husband Josef and their children in the last house before the mountain in a small village in western Austria. When WWI breaks out and Josef is drafted into the army, Maria is left destitute, having to provide for her family. As she struggles to protect her kin against starvation and the harsh alpine climate, she is targeted by hostile nearby villagers who see her extraordinary beauty as a threat, provoking both lust and resentment.
When a red-haired stranger arrives in the village, Maria finds the love she had been pining for and is faced with a choice that will have an effect on the lives of her family for generations to come.
Charmingly narrated by the granddaughter of protagonist Maria, Last House Before the Mountain permits the reader an intimate glimpse at the personal details, different perspectives, and various recollections of the family’s shared history. It is a poignant and captivating family saga based on the author’s own bloodline, and an honest portrait of the human inclination to reconstruct and delve into our family histories to understand who we are.
I found it astounding how much Helfer managed to pack into the 125 pages, from the horrific to the humorous, and everything in between, including mysterious pregnancies, overdoses, deaths, public shaming, and vicious rumours – and the life-long impact of all of this on one family’s history and consciousness. Some may find it a little chaotic but, for me, Helfer just about pulls off this short rollercoaster ride without anyone getting too queasy.
Read it and let me know what you thought.
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