A novel about a child's growing awareness of the secret at the heart of his family. A ten-year old boy lives alone with his grandmother in a Flemish village. Among the photographs his grandmother cherishes is a portrait of Marcel, who died young, far away. How did he die? The little boy is determined to find out. When he finds letters from Marcel in the attic, he decides to take them to school. He points excitedly to the letterhead - an eagle holding something in its claws. As his fellow pupils fall silent, the teacher explains that the symbol is a swastika. Undeterred, the boy decides that he must discover what became of Marcel. Marcel is a sympathetic, often hilarious exploration of hidden pasts, of pride and shame - of the burden of guilt borne by so many in post-war Europe.
- ISBN10 1860468748
- ISBN13 9781860468742
- Publish Date 18 October 2001
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 21 February 2007
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Vintage Publishing
- Imprint The Harvill Press
- Format Paperback (UK Trade)
- Pages 119
- Language English