A Partisan’s Daughter – Louis De Bernières

Medical sales rep Chris meets Yugoslavian (Serbian) Roza in a bungled prostitue pick up in Archway. Over the winter of discontent, their relationship develops as Chris starts to make regular visits to Roza’s basement flat in a dilapidated-soon-to-be-demolished North London terrace, to hear her life story, episode by episode. Whilst I was never entirely sure that Roza was telling truths or fantasies, or, even, if she was Roza from Belgrade at all, the emotions seemed real enough.

Author’s page: A Partisan’s Daughter – Louis De Bernières
Guardian review: Coffee with Roza by Joanna Briscoe