Bitter Eden: A Novel

"Tatamkhulu Afrika’s autobiographical novel based on his experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Set primarily in in Italy and Germany amid the claustrophobic intimacy of all-male war camps, the novel follows three prisoners as they struggle — and often fail — to make sense of their desire for one another. The intricacies of their impossible relationships reflect the broader struggles of masculinity."