Wednesday, March 7, 2018

The Girl You Left Behind

A novel by Jojo Moyes, the title refers to a painting. The painting is of Sophie Lefevre rendered by her husband Edouard in France in the early 1900's. In 1916, he goes to the front to fight. Sophie runs her family's small inn with her sister, even after their town falls to the Germans. The portrait of Sophie catches the eye of the Kommandant. He becomes obsessed with the painting, and Sophie decides to risk everything for a chance to see her husband again.

Nearly a century later, the portrait is given to Liv Halston by her husband as a wedding gift shortly before his untimely death. Then a chance encounter reveals it's true worth and a legal battle ensues. Was it looted during the war? Who should pay restitution? And who is the true owner?

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