It’s 1975, and the North Vietnamese army is poised to roll into Saigon. As city begins to fall in earnest, two lovers make their way through the chaos to escape to a new life. Helen Adams, an American photojournalist, must take leave not only of a war she is addicted to, but of a devastated country she has come to love. Nguyen Pran Linh, the man who loves her, must deal with his own conflicted loyalties, both of heart and homeland. As they race through the streets, they play out a drama of love and betrayal that began twelve years before with their mentor, the larger-than-life war correspondent, Sam Darrow, who was once Helen’s infuriating love and fiercest competitor, as he was Linh’s secret protector and truest friend. As the sun sets on their life in Saigon, Helen and Linh struggle against both their inner demons and the ghosts of the past, in this sweeping epic that illuminates the wrenching horrors of war, the dangerous narcotic of obsession, and the redemptive power of love.
Tatjana Soli is the bestselling author of The Lotus Eaters, The Forgetting Tree, and The Last Good Paradise. Her work has been awarded the James Tait Black Prize and been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Her books have also been twice listed as a New York Times Notable Book, and her work has twice been listed in the 100 Distinguished Stories in Best American Short Stories. Born in Salzburg, Austria, she is a graduate of Stanford University.
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.