Der Feldhüter

The first novel of a master. The story of Arthur Ownby, the keeper of a wild apple orchard, the young John Wesley Rattner, and the whiskey smuggler Marion Sylder takes place between the wars in the most godforsaken part of Tennessee. Years ago, Marion killed John's father in self-defense and buried him in a mixed pit in the garden, unaware that Arthur was his silent witness. When Marion has a car accident, John saves his life. The boy, who wants to avenge his father's death, knows as little about who he is dealing with as Marion does, and thus a father-son relationship develops between the two in this poisoned Garden of Eden. A richly atmospheric, violent, almost lyrical novel with unforgettable images full of dark beauty.