33 Place Brugmann

Playwright Austen debuts with a kaleidoscopic portrait of the early days of WWII from the perspectives of a Brussels apartment building’s 16 residents. At first, the residents seem more interested in each other than the threat of occupation that hangs over them. Foremost in this regard is Charlotte Sauvin, an art student who lives with her architect father, Francois, and is juggling two potential suitors. She has known Cambridge student Julian Raphaël since childhood but feels a growing attraction to fellow art student Philippe. As the war heats up, Julian becomes a pilot. His family, including his art dealer father and his wife and daughter, are passionately anti-Hitler and eventually flee to London, where they join the Allied war effort. A saltier perspective is provided by maid Masha Balyayeva, whose story line turns tragic after she takes up with the much older, rakish Harry. Other residents include the widowed Belgian colonel Herman Warlemont, the blunt and no-nonsense proto-feminist Agathe Hobert, and the insightful, sardonic Martin DeBaerre. Austen’s experience as a playwright serves her well in providing texture via multiple distinct narrative voices. Spanning nearly four years, the novel is both epic in scope and intimate. It’s a noteworthy portrait of life during wartime. Agent: Dorian Karchmar, WME. (Mar.)