Collected Works: A Novel

Martin Berg is struggling to cope after his girlfriend, Cecilia Wickner, and best friend, Gustav Becker, leave him. He sets out to find answers to the questions surrounding Cecilia's departure, but some remain unanswered.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 736 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Pushkin Press

Martin Berg finds himself in a state of crisis, having lost the love of his life, Cecilia Wickner, and his closest friend, Gustav Becker. Decades ago, Martin had dreams of becoming a successful writer, with Cecilia as his supportive partner and Gustav as his wild and creative friend. However, the manuscript that Martin had worked so hard on has now been left gathering dust in a drawer, and Gustav has stopped returning his calls. To make matters worse, Cecilia has mysteriously disappeared, leaving Martin to raise their children alone.

Cecilia was a complex and enigmatic woman, known for her eccentricities and her absence as a mother. She was perhaps only true to herself, living a life that defied conventional expectations. As Rakel, Martin's daughter, begins to delve into her family's history, she discovers that some questions have no clear answers. She sets out to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance, determined to fill the gaps in her family's story.

Through her research, Rakel uncovers a series of secrets and lies that have been hidden for years. She learns that Cecilia had a tumultuous relationship with her own mother, and that her decision to leave her family was driven by a desire for freedom and self-discovery. Rakel also discovers that Cecilia had been involved in a secret project that had the potential to change the course of history, but that it had come at a great cost to her own well-being.

As Rakel pieces together the fragments of her mother's life, she begins to understand the complexities of her character and the reasons behind her actions. She realizes that Cecilia was a woman who had been forced to navigate a world that often demanded conformity and sacrifice, and that she had made choices that were driven by her own desires and beliefs.

Despite the pain and loss that Martin has experienced, Rakel's discovery brings him a sense of closure. He realizes that Cecilia had lived a full and complex life, and that her absence is not a reflection of her worth or her love for him. Rakel's journey also helps him to appreciate the importance of his own relationships and the value of being true to oneself.

In the end, Rakel's discovery of her mother's story brings her closer to her family and helps her to understand the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of individuals to find meaning and purpose in the face of adversity.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 197 x 128 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781782278009