About the Author

Lilian Nattel was born in Montreal and now lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter. A full time writer, she is working on her second novel.

The River Midnight was published in the New Face of Fiction program in 1999.

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Books by this author

The Singing Fire (Vintage Canada, 2004)
The River Midnight (Knopf Canada, 2004)
The River Midnight (Vintage Canada, 2000)
The River Midnight (Knopf Canada, 1999)

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Literary Awards

• Winner of the Martin & Beatrice Fischer Prize for Fiction (The River Midnight)
  

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Book Reviews and Quotes

Praise for The Singing Fire:

"By turns earthy and lyrical, The Singing Fire authoritatively conjures up the fog- and smoke-filled breath of London, and at the same time it's steeped in an atmosphere of mystery, reaching for soaring, transcendental truths. Nattel's greatest strength… is as an old-fashioned storyteller… I must confess, I wept unabashedly more than once as I raced through this fine novel."
-The Globe and Mail

"Think Isaac Bashevis Singer, Charles Dickens and Gabriel García Márquez and you will have some idea of the scope of literary influences behind Lilian Nattel's new novel."
-Quill & Quire

"Marvelous… vibrant… Her prose is just as finely balanced, rich in humor that's never simply for laughs… and filled with passages of heartbreaking beauty that acknowledge the permanent scars left by tragedy but affirm the healing powers of love and self-knowledge. Beautifully-written, strongly imagined and deeply felt."
-Kirkus Reviews

"The Singing Fire is sure to be a big hit. Nattel has so many strengths as a writer that it's tempting just to list them: a historian's eye for detail and language, a storyteller's mastery of rhythm and suspense, a modern woman's sympathetic understanding for those who've preceded her."
-Toronto Star

Praise for The River Midnight:

"The novel's undeniable pleasure is due to Nattel's intricate evocation of a lost world and the sense of privileged intimacy she bestows on her readers."
-Calgary Herald (3/27/99)

"Lilian Nattel's mesmerizing first novel...is not simply remarkable as a historical text. Nattel's flair for the telling detail is just one treasure in her bag of writer's tricks… painterly and precise."
-Washington Post (3/23/99)

"This historical first novel from Toronto writer Lilian Nattel is engaging, warm and gently surprising. Here's to novelists who understand that cynicism is not a prerequisite of good fiction, and that Jewish history offers many tastes - not only bitter, but also sweet."
-Edmonton Journal (2/28/99)

"With the assurance of a veteran writer, Nattel weaves her novel from nine interlocking narratives, each reflecting the viewpoint of a different character. Put your feet up, unplug the phone and prepare to be swept away. You'll be hearing about Nattel… who has the book world abuzz. And rightly so."
-Flare Magazine (03/99)

"Enchanting… Dynamic women, feckless men - this fin de siecle novel often sounds as if it were set in the 1990's, not the 1890's…. The River Midnight has the ring of authenticity… [a] vibrant depiction of the shtetl… Nattel writes with refreshing bawdiness…. Nattel often uses imagery to lush effect… Engaging."
-The New York Times

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Links to Extra Resources

Visit Lilian Nattel's Website


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