Hotel Savoy (novel)

Its story is set in the Hotel Savoy in Łódź, where lonely war veterans, variety dancers and others dream of better places.

None of this is mere cafe surrealism or angst; one of Roth's achievements is to give a sense of strict accuracy; his story is a laconic scenario, with characters offered like facts."

Gold continued: "Roth's swift style makes things happen naturally; we see, hear, smell and believe.

A joyous storyteller's gift remains precariously alive within the pessimism of decay and loss.

Although the teller of the tale says 'there is no end there, no break - always continuity and connection,' his art is kind and draws us to a satisfying conclusion after the luridness of events.