The Third Generation

This novel takes the reader from contemporary Vienna to Melbourne, from the survivors of the Holocaust to the generations that follow. It is the story of a womans self-discovery, her growing inner strength, and her understanding of her past. Ella is Jewish, born in the 1960s in Leopoldstadt, once a ghetto in Vienna, but has no sense of her background. Her undemonstrative mother is unwilling to talk about the past and her father, a survivor of the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, died shortly after her birth. Locked in an unsatisfying marriage to Richard, and with few ties to the wider society, she finds comfort in Viennas welcoming cafés and in a long-term love affair with her childhood non-Jewish sweetheart, geologist Luke. When Richard is offered a promotion in Australia, she reluctantly joins him with their youngest son. In the outer suburbs of Melbourne, she struggles to find her footing in the dissimilar culture. To cope with her turmoil, she drifts back to her scattered memories and attempts to weave them together. She decides to sell her mothers old home in Leopoldstadt to developers and when demolishers find a portfolio of her fathers paintings in the study, one painting is thought to be valuable. This discovery will shape her future. Meanwhile, on the death of his mother, a horrified Luke discovers documents revealing his grandparents roles as guards in a concentration camp. His guilt leads him to immerse himself in the study of Judaism and later, to even considers conversion. During a visit to an Australian university to present a paper on geoscience, Ella and Luke meet and he tells her of his guilt. The Third Generation is a gripping story of one womans heritage; a discovery to pass onto her children what she believes is rightfully theirs. About the Author: Joan Zawatzky was born in South Africa. After completing her studies, first in art and then in psychology, she moved to Australia, where she worked for many years as a counselling psychologist. Though painting remained a hobby, she decided to try her hand at writing. She wrote Theres a Light at the End of the Tunnel, to help her clients overcome depression. The Scent of Oranges, her first novel, is set in South Africa and was shortlisted for the Australian Books Alive Programme in 2007. Recently she began writing full-time. The Elephants Footprint and The Third Generation are her recent novels. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and their Siamese cat. Praise for Joans other books: The Scent of Oranges "The elegance of Joan Zawatzkys writing is a big part of what makes this story so memorable and delightful. Her words flowed right through me and led me into a story so full of life, nature and relationships. I never wanted it to end." - Ashley Merril, Front Street Review. "Zawatzkys style is wonderfully descriptive and I felt transported to South Africa through the pages of the book. I also loved learning more about South Africa and its people. The Scent of Oranges dynamically explores intense interpersonal relationships and I found it fascinating." - Taras View on Books. "I think this novel will really appeal to people who like to sit and savour the writing and ... a mystery unfolding." - Peeking Between the Pages "I was intrigued by the shoreline and the uniqueness of the characters. It was fascinating to be taken to a new place, into a culture so different from anything I have known. I was just as curious as Linda, as she continued to push through dead ends and as she discovered astonishing things about her family. The ending did not disappoint. - That Book Addiction "I really enjoyed this book. It was so sad, yet poignant. So many lives were ruined all because people judged others by the colour of their skin and not the type of person they were. It was an excellent read. It gave me plenty to think about. So buy it!" -The Bluestocking Guide The Elephant's Footprint "I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery. The romance is an added bonus for the romantics out there. A very enjoyable read."-Ashley Dennis, Front Street Review