Young Light

In 1960s Germany, "First Light" portrays a twelve-year-old boy named Julian's gradual social and sexual awakening amidst his parents' financial and marital problems. Rothmann's subtle prose captures the boy's feelings as he approaches adulthood, while the adult characters remind him of his powerlessness. Sophie proves to be his most devoted ally.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

First Light is a poignant portrayal of a twelve-year-old boy named Julian growing up in a mining community in 1960s Germany. The novel spans only a few summer weeks, during which Julian experiences a gradual social and sexual awakening amidst his parents' financial and marital struggles. Rather than resorting to overt drama, Rothmann creates a quiet sense of hope and new beginnings. Through his subtle and restrained prose, Rothmann captures the unarticulated yet increasingly conscious feelings of the boy as he approaches the end of childhood, while still remaining very distant from the adult world he observes around him.

The adult characters in the novel, such as Julian's stressed and exhausted mother and their suspicious neighbor Herr Gorny, serve as reminders of Julian's powerlessness. However, his little sister Sophie emerges as his most devoted ally, gently standing up to their mother's fits of rage. As the novel progresses, Julian becomes increasingly aware of the weaknesses and failures of the adults around him. Despite his difficulties in understanding what is happening, there is a wisdom and integrity that sets him apart from many of the other characters in his life.

Rothmann's refreshingly unpretentious style provides the perfect medium for this portrayal of ambivalent youthful consciousness. First Light is a touching and insightful exploration of the complexities of growing up and the search for identity in a challenging social and cultural environment.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 128 x 204 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803091860