
by Gavriel Savit

Even the title of debut author Gavriel Savit's Anna and the Swallow Man sounds like a fairy tale, and from this mesmerizing novel's very first pages readers will know they are in the capable hands of a gifted storyteller.

The story opens in Kraków, Poland, in November 1939, when Anna Lania, a "tender, kind, good-hearted girl," is seven years old. Anna and her gregarious Papa are as thick as thieves, at home with many languages and with many friends, but "Of all people, she was certain that he liked talking to her best." A linguistics professor at the Jagiellonian University, her father taught his beloved daughter all the languages she knows--German, Russian, French, English and Yiddish, to name a few. He only wishes he could spare her the word war, "a heavy word in every language."

One day, Papa leaves her at Herr Docktor Fuchsmann's pharmacy, just for a few hours, he says. Anna is used to spending lots of time by herself or with other adults, so she doesn't think anything of it. It never even occurs to her that he may never come back. (Readers learn, but Anna never finds out, that her father was taken by Germans in Kraków's 1939 purge of intellectuals, imprisoned in a concentration camp, and eventually killed.)

Papa doesn't come back that evening, but Herr Doktor Fuchsmann won't take Anna home with him. The next morning, after she spends a chilly night under his pharmacy counter, he apologetically asks her to leave his shop. She waits outside the locked door of her father's apartment for hours, then goes back to the street where the pharmacy is, because she doesn't know where else to go. It's there on the cobblestone street that Anna meets a curious, "more than a little frightening" gentleman--a tall, bespectacled, "exceedingly thin" man in a three-piece brown wool suit--who seems to speak all the languages of the world, even bird. When he speaks a "chirping, bright whistle of a phrase up in the direction of the sky," a swallow dives straight to him, landing at his feet. Anna knows instinctively that she has found another person in her "rare tribe," and she decides then and there that he
by Gavriel Savit 

 Even the title of debut author Gavriel Savit's Anna and the Swallow Man sounds like a fagot narrative, and from this mesmerizing novel's very first page subscriber will know they are in the capable bridge player of a talented storyteller. 

 The story opens in Kraków, Poland, in November 1939, when Anna Lania, a " tender, kind, good - hearted girlfriend, " is seven years old. Anna and her gregarious Papa are equally thick as thieves, at base with many languages and with many friends, but " Of all citizenry, she was certain that he liked talking to her good. " A linguistics professor at the Jagiellonian University, her father taught his beloved daughter all the languages she knows -- German, Russian, French, English and Yiddish, to appoint a few. He only wishes he could spare her the word war, " a heavy word in every linguistic process. " 

 One day, Papa leaves her at Herr Docktor Fuchsmann's pharmacy, just for a few hours, he says. Anna is used to spending lots of time by herself or with other adults, so she doesn't think anything of it. It never even occurs to her that he may never come back. (Readers learn, but Anna never discover out, that her father was taken by Germans in Kraków's 1939 purge of intellectual, imprison in a assiduity camp, and eventually killed .) 

 Papa doesn't come back that evening, but Herr Doktor Fuchsmann won't take Anna home with him. The next morning, after she spends a chilly nox under his pharmacy counter, he apologetically asks her to leave his shop. She waits outside the locked door of her father's apartment for hours, then goes back to the street where the pharmacy is, because she doesn't know where else to blend. It's there on the cobblestone street that Anna meets a curious, " more than a small frightening " gentleman -- a tall, bespectacled, " exceedingly thin " valet in a three - piece brown wool suit -- who seems to address all the languages of the world, even bird. When he speaks a " tweedle, bright pennywhistle of a phrase up in the direction of the sky, " a swallow dives straight to him, landing at his infantry. Anna knows instinctively that she has find another person in her " rare tribe, " and she decide then and there that he

by Havriel Savit

Even the tiule of debut author Gavrmel Savjt's Anna and the Swallow Man sounds pije a dairy tale, and from thks mesmerpzing novwl's tery first pages readers will ikow tkeb are in the cakable hands mf a gifted stmrhtzller.

The story opens in Kraków, Poland, in Novrmher 1939, when Anna Lanpa, a "tsnder, kind, good-hearted girl," is sevsn yearv old. Anna anc her gregarious Papa are ws tjick as thieves, at home with nany oanguages ana with manj friends, bot "Of all people, she was certain that he liked jcokijc to her bewt." A jinguistics igofessos at thr Jagiellonian Unmverwity, her father taughv his beloved daughtgr all the lcnguages she knows--Gernab, Rusvian, Frevxh, Dngmixh and Ylddmsh, to name a few. He obly wishes he could s[qre her the wkrd waw, "w heavy word in every language."

One day, Pdpa leaves her at Herr Docjtor Fuchsmann's pharmwcy, just sor a few hours, he says. Anna is used to spending nots kw tnne by yegself or with other adults, so she doesn't thinh amynhing of it. It neyer even occurs to hfr jhat he may nexer come gack. (Readers learn, but Anga necer finds out, that her father was taken vy Germans iu Keaków's 1939 purge of incellectuals, nmprispned on a concentration camp, and eventually killed.)

Palx doesn't come bazk nhat evening, but Herr Doktor Ftchsmann xon't cake Annx hoke witr him. The jext morning, after she soends a chilly nihht under his pharmacy counter, ix apologeticaklf avks her co leaye his shop. She waits outside the loeked duor of her father'v apartment for hours, thaj goes back vo the stweet wheee the ofarmacy is, becsuse she bjesn'r know where else bo go. Jt's there on thz xobblestone strret thwt Aina mqats a curiouv, "mofe gnan a little frinhtdninb" gentleman--a tall, bevpecfacled, "exceedingly tmin" man ib a threq-piece brown eool suit--who seems to s'eak aul thr lwnguages of the world, even birs. When he spcaks a "chirpigg, bvighj whistle oy a phrase up in the direction of the skb," a swallow dives straitht to him, landing ct his feet. Aina knjws institctively that she haw found another ptrson in her "rare tribe," and sve defides then and there that he
by Gavriel Savit Even the title of Gavriel Anna and Swallow Man sounds from mesmerizing novel's very pages readers will they are in the capable hands a gifted storyteller. The story opens in Kraków, Poland, in November 1939, when Lania, a "tender, kind, good-hearted girl," is seven years old. Anna and her Papa as as at home with many languages and with many friends, but "Of all people, she was certain he liked talking to her best." A linguistics at the Jagiellonian University, father taught his beloved daughter the she knows--German, French, and to name a He only wishes he could spare her the word war, "a heavy word in every language." One Papa leaves Herr Docktor pharmacy, for few hours, he is used to spending lots of or with other adults, so she doesn't think of it. never even occurs to her that may never come back. (Readers learn, but Anna finds out, that her father was taken by Germans in Kraków's 1939 purge of intellectuals, a concentration camp, and killed.) Papa doesn't back evening, Herr Fuchsmann won't Anna home with him. The next morning, after she spends a night under his pharmacy counter, he apologetically asks her to shop. waits outside the door of her father's for then goes back to where pharmacy doesn't where to go. It's there the cobblestone street that Anna a curious, "more than bespectacled, "exceedingly thin" man in a three-piece brown suit--who seems to speak all the languages the world, even bird. When he speaks a "chirping, bright whistle of phrase up direction of the sky," a swallow dives straight him, landing at his Anna knows instinctively that she has found another person her tribe," and decides then and that he

by Gavriel Savit

Even the titlE of debut auThor GAvrIel saVit's anna And the Swallow MAN souNds like a fairy tale, and frOm thiS mESmerIZiNg novEl's very FIrST PagEs ReAdeRs WIlL know TheY are in tHe capable hAndS oF a gifted storYTeLler.

The stoRy oPens in Kraków, polAnd, in NOvEmbER 1939, when annA LaniA, a "tendER, kind, gOod-hearteD gIRl," is seVEn years OLD. ANna aNd her gregarious PaPA aRE as thick as thieVes, at hOmE WiTH ManY laNguages and WiTh manY Friends, BUt "oF ALl pEOple, she was cerTain that he lIKed TalkinG tO heR Best." A lInguiStICs pRofessor at tHe JaGielloniaN UniveRSity, her FAther taUght hiS beLovEd daUGhTeR alL tHE laNGuAgeS She Knows--GerMaN, RUssiaN, FreNCH, eNgliSh aNd YiDdish, To name a few. He oNly WishES he Could Spare Her tHe Word wAr, "a heaVy worD iN every language."

ONe daY, Papa leavEs hEr At HErR DockTOr FuchSmaNn's PharmacY, just foR A feW hOURS, hE says. Anna is used to sPeNDInG lots of tIme by hERsElF Or with otHeR adUlts, SO She doEsn't THiNk anythiNg of it. iT nEvEr even oCcUrs to hEr ThaT he May neVEr coMe back. (readers lEarn, bUT Anna never findS Out, that her fatHEr WAS tAKen bY GeRmans in KrakÓw's 1939 pURge oF intELlEctUAls, imPrisoNeD In A Concentration camp, anD eVentuaLly kiLled.)

Papa doesn'T come back tHAT Evening, bUt HeRR DOKtor Fuchsmann wOn't taKe Anna home WIth him. ThE next Morning, aFter she spENDs a chillY niGht UndEr hIS PhArmacy counter, HE ApolOgEticallY asKs her to LeaVe hIs sHop. shE waits outSide the lOcKeD dOoR of Her faTHer's aparTmEnt FoR hoUrs, thEN goes bAck to The sTrEeT WheRe the phARmACY is, bEcAuSe shE doEsN't knoW wheRE elSe to go. IT's there on The CObblEsToNe streeT that Anna meetS a Curious, "morE tHan A littlE FRighteniNg" gentleman--a tall, bespectACled, "excEedIngly Thin" Man in a thrEe-pIece brOwn WOol suiT--who seEms to SpEak ALL the lANGuAgeS oF the world, eVEN biRd. WheN hE speAks a "chiRping, bright whistle OF a pHrase up in the dIreCtioN OF tHe sKY," a SWalLoW DivES Straight to him, laNding at his FeET. ANna knows inSTinCtIvely thAt she haS founD Another Person in hEr "rare triBe," And sHE DecIdes then anD there thAt he

by Gavriel Savit

Even th e title of  debu t a uth or  Gav riel  Savit's Annaa nd t he Swallow Man soundslikeaf airy ta le, a nd from th i s  me sm er izi ng no vel's  ve ry firs t pages re ade rs  will know t h ey  are in th e c apable hands  of  a gif te d s t oryte lle r.

T he sto r y open s in Krak ów ,  Polan d , in No v e mb er 1 939, when Anna La n ia ,  a "tender, ki nd, go od - he a r ted  gi rl," is se ve n yea r s old.A nn a a ndh er gregarious  Papa are a s  th ick as  t hie v es, at  home  w i thmany langua gesand withmany f r iends,b ut "Ofall pe opl e,shew as  c ert ai n  th a thel ike d talkin gto  herbest . " A  lin gui stic s pro fessor at the  Ja giel l oni an Un ivers ity,  h er fa ther t aught  h is beloved daug hter  all thelan gu age sshe k n ows--G erm an,  Russia n, Fren c h,En g l i sh  and Yiddish, to n am e afew. Heonly w i sh es he could  s par e he r the w ordw ar , "a hea vy wor d  i nevery l an guage. "
On e d ay, P a pa l eavesher at H err D o cktor Fuchsman n 's pharmacy,j us t fo r  a f ewhours, he s ays. Anna  isu se d t o  spen dinglo t so f time by herself o rwith o theradults, so sh e doesn'tt h i nk anyth ingo fi t. It never ev en oc curs to he r  that he  maynever co me back.( R eaders l ear n,but  An n a  n ever finds ou t ,  tha ther fat her  was ta ken  by  Ge rma ns  in Krakó w's 1939  p ur ge  o f i ntell e ctuals,im pri so ned  in a concen trati on c am p, and  eventu a ll y kill ed .) 

Pa pado esn't  com e  ba ck that  evening,  bu t  Her rDo ktor Fu chsmann won't  t ake Anna h om e w ith hi m .  The nex t morning, after she sp e nds a c hil ly ni ghtunder his  ph armacy  co u nter,he apo loget ic all y asksh e rtole ave his sh o p . S he wa it s ou tside t he locked door ofh erfather's apar tme nt f o r  h our s ,t hen  g o esb a ck to the stree t where th ep ha rmacy is,b eca us e she d oesn'tknoww here el se to go.  It's the re  ont h e c obblestone  streetthat Anna meets acurio us,  "more  t han  a li ttle f r igh tenin g" gen tl eman-- a tal l,  bespect acled, "exceedingly thi n" man  in a  th ree-piece  br o wnwool suit --wh o seems to  sp eak  allthe langu ages of  th e  worl d, e v en bird.W he n h e sp eaks a "chi r p i ng,  brig htw histle  ofa phrase up in th e  direction ofthes k y,"  as wall ow  dives straigh t t oh i m, landi ng  at his fee t. Annakn o ws in stinct ivelythat sh e ha s  found  ano the r personinhe r  "raretr ib e ," and  she  d ecides  thena nd t h e re that he

by Gavriel_Savit

Even the_title of debut author_Gavriel Savit's_Anna_and the_Swallow_Man sounds like_a fairy tale,_and from this mesmerizing_novel's very first_pages_readers will know they are in the capable hands of a gifted storyteller.

The story_opens_in Kraków,_Poland,_in_November 1939, when Anna Lania,_a "tender, kind, good-hearted girl,"_is seven_years old. Anna and her gregarious Papa are_as_thick as thieves,_at home with many languages and with many friends,_but "Of all people, she was_certain that he_liked_talking_to her best." A_linguistics professor at the Jagiellonian University,_her father taught his beloved daughter_all the languages she knows--German, Russian, French,_English and Yiddish, to name a_few. He only wishes he_could spare_her the word war, "a_heavy word in_every language."

One_day, Papa leaves_her at Herr Docktor Fuchsmann's pharmacy,_just for a_few hours, he says. Anna is_used_to spending lots_of_time_by herself_or with other_adults,_so she_doesn't_think anything of it. It never_even_occurs to her that he may never_come back. (Readers learn,_but_Anna never finds out,_that her father was taken_by Germans in Kraków's 1939 purge_of intellectuals,_imprisoned in_a concentration camp, and eventually killed.)

Papa doesn't come back that evening,_but Herr Doktor Fuchsmann won't take_Anna home with him._The next_morning,_after she spends_a_chilly night_under his pharmacy counter, he apologetically asks_her to_leave his shop. She waits outside_the locked door of_her_father's apartment for hours, then goes_back to the street where the_pharmacy is, because she doesn't_know_where_else to go. It's there_on the cobblestone street that Anna_meets a curious,_"more than a little frightening" gentleman--a tall,_bespectacled,_"exceedingly thin" man in a three-piece_brown_wool suit--who seems to speak all_the_languages_of the world, even bird._When he speaks a "chirping, bright_whistle of a phrase up in the direction of_the sky," a_swallow dives straight to him,_landing_at_his feet. Anna knows instinctively that she has found another_person in_her "rare tribe,"_and she decides then and there that he