This novel is set in the southern French town of Montauban, during the last six months of 1944. It is a love story between a young girl, Yvette, and her farmer boyfriend Pascal. It is a story of a family caught up in the shadow of a monster, the German Das Reich 2nd SS armoured division and the background of the D-Day invasion. The full moons of joy and sadness combine in triumph and tragedy for both soldiers and civilians alike.
It tells of the difficulties of communication across the rugged landscape of the Correze, Cevennes and Auvergne; everybody battling with hunger, courage and determination to survive on slender threads of hope.
Above all, it recounts the harsh times and lives of normal people in the face of love, and daily chances of death. It reflects the guilt still felt today in France about Vichy and how could their own people behave with so much more cruelty than the Germans.
It draws on real life characters of the marquis, SOE, the Das Reich, two German soldiers and Pascal who become separated only to meet again via unusual circumstances.