A Pinch of Time

Overview

Tragedy, comedy, and historical fiction come together to relate this bittersweet childhood tale. Set in Nazi-occupied southern France, the story follows young Dominique, who is a mere seven years old when his father is arrested by the Gestapo in May of 1943. The protagonist then flees Marseille with his mother and cousin Gérard, escaping starvation and seeking the safety of the countryside. Chronicling the liberation of the Jewish people, the narrator’s miraculous reunion with his father, and the father’s amazing story of survival, this moving novel illustrates the challenges of starting life all over again.

Reviews

“Against a background of drama, it is tenderness that triumphs in this novel.†—L’Est-Éclair

“A beautiful novel. Claude Tatilon enters the aristocracy of sensibility and expression through the front door: the door of authenticity.†—Liaison

“The novel incorporates words and phrases of the Provençal dialect—a powerful sociolinguistic treatment and a great added reason to read this superb novel.†—La France Latine

“Boasting a fine style, this novel is to be devoured with pleasure, like a farm-fresh loaf of brioche.†—B AWARE

“This moving story catches with an uncanny accuracy the atmosphere of WWII.†—Bulletin des Lettres

Author Biography

Claude Tatilon is a former professor and the former director of the Master’s in Translation Program in French Studies at York University. He is the author of Helena. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.