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The Occupation

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The Occupation

By: Chloe Adams
Narrated by: Leeanna Walsman
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About this listen

 In the autumn of 1949, two women convene in the parlour of a Melbourne hotel. Tess is married and childless. Mary, unwed and pregnant. Surrendering to the unimaginable, Mary agrees to a life-altering pact: she will give her child to Tess.
One year earlier, Mary stands on the deck of an Australian naval ship, awaiting arrival in the ruined Japanese city of Kure. There, thousands of Australians have established an occupation of the Hiroshima prefecture.
As she settles into her new life, Mary finds carefree expats touring the countryside, hosting picnics and even throwing parties, all while the war-ravaged locals try to rebuild their lives.
When she meets Sully, an Australian journalist, Mary's idealised notion of the occupation crumbles. Confronted by moral ambiguity on such a grand scale, she becomes reckless.
Returning home may seem the answer, but even there, echoes of the occupation linger. 20th Century Historical Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
I loved the depth of character and passion of Mary and those she encountered in Japan. Her experience was most engaging.
A lovely story.

A story of love and pain

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The story flows from beginning to end. A sincerity of emotion, and the ability of the author to evoke the era gives new insight into the time, after the bombing of Hiroshima, and, the differing roles of men and women. The unique, descriptive, prose is superb.

A Wonderful Wordsmith

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Thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written book. Incredible writing and captivating story with a unique, fascinating setting.

Fabulous!

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This book was beautifully written and narrated. It was both sad and insightful and highlighted the lives of those involved in war. There are no winners, only losers and some lose more than others.

The aftermath of war

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.