People of the Books: Diane Armstrong at Emanuel Synagogue

Join us for the next exciting instalment of our popular series People of the Books with award-winning novelist Diane Armstrong.

Diane Armstrong, a child Holocaust survivor who arrived in Australia in 1948, has since captivated readers with her deeply personal and powerful storytelling. With seven books to her name, Diane’s work spans memoirs and novels that reflect her profound insight into history, resilience, and the human spirit. Her acclaimed family memoir Mosaic (1998) was shortlisted for both the Victorian Premier's Literary Award and the National Biography Award, while The Voyage of Their Life (2000) gained recognition as a NSW Premier's Literary Awards Nonfiction finalist. Diane’s debut novel, Winter Journey (2004), was celebrated with a Commonwealth Writers' Prize nomination, and her second novel, Nocturne (2008), won the Women Writers' Society Fiction Award. In 2019, she returned to the literary scene with The Collaborator, an instant bestseller, marking her powerful resurgence after eight years.

We invite you to join us for a thoughtful, insightful deep dive into Diane's book, hosted by Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio.

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From a bestselling Australian author comes a gripping novel of espionage, passion and sacrifice set in the Middle East during World War I. Based on an astonishing true story, The Wild Date Palm asks what are you willing to die for? For readers of Geraldine Brooks, Heather Morris and Alli Parker

During a train journey across Turkey's Anatolian Plain in 1915 during World War I, Shoshana Adelstein witnesses the slaughter of the Armenians and knows she has just come face to face with her destiny. Convinced that her Jewish community in a small outpost of the Ottoman Empire will soon meet a similar fate, she is desperate to save her people. With Turkey and Britain locked in a global conflict, she orchestrates an audacious plan. Enlisting a group of co-conspirators who include her charismatic lover Eli and her impetuous brother Nathan, this young woman forms a clandestine spy ring. Conquering almost insurmountable obstacles, they risk betrayal, torture and death to spy on the Turks and pass on intelligence to the British to help them win the war.

This epic novel explores the fate of ordinary people whose mission collides with the secret agenda of powerful countries, people ready to risk everything to rescue their communities. But can individuals affect the fate of nations? And when life is at stake, how far will we go to reach the limits of our dreams?

Bring along your copy of The Wild Date Palm, or buy one on the night, as Diane will be signing copies over light refreshments lovingly prepared by Nora's Kitchen.

Spots are limited.

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‘The best and worst of the human spirit are dredged up in this profoundly moving, compelling, and superbly written story.’ — Australian Women’s Weekly on Winter Journey

‘Her rich account of lives good and bad, love, joy, bravery, greed, and bitterness is a testament to the human spirit. Armstrong’s stories will bring smiles and tears.’ — Marie Claire on Mosaic

‘Meticulously researched and superbly written, this novel has it all.’ — Better Reading

‘I highly recommend this exceptional, tragic, and triumphant story that shows how even death cannot quell the power of love and the cry for freedom.’ — Cindy L. Spear

‘What a page-turner. This really was completely engrossing.’ — Anna Lode

‘A gripping story in which Diane Armstrong plumbs the depths of the human condition.’ — Amy Lees, Sunday Telegraph on The Collaborator

‘The depth of emotions evoked is stunning. I was thrilled and deeply moved.’ — Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22 on Mosaic

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This event is part of Emanuel Synagogue's PEOPLE OF THE BOOKS series. To stay informed about future events and other cultural programs at Emanuel, follow us on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter. We delight in celebrating our rich and diverse culture with you.