Overview

Melbourne, 1938. Annabel's dream is to be a scientist. Falling in love is not part of her plan. Butwhen she meets Bill Whitten she knows instantly that they are destined for each other. She has to wait for him to come back from the war. Their life together, as lovers andmicrobiologists, can now begin. The newlyweds emigrate to New York. They are at once captivated by fellow immigrants Frank,an ex-Communist from Hungary, and his playwright wife, Suzy. It's the 1950s and the Cold Waris in full swing. Frank, Annabel and Bill find work on weapons projects, experimenting with lethalinfectious diseases. Did they cross the world for this? Annabel's whole being is anchored in her ardour for Bill, andtheir work together. But other forces-suspicion, paranoia, deceit-are at play. Everythingbegins to unravel- her work, her career and her marriage. With its backdrop of science and politics Who We Were is a love story to bereckoned with, anintimate and powerful first novel about trust, obsession and the truth itself.

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9781922079527

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Reviews

'A love story turns into a Cold War thriller: a beautifully, tautly written novel...I could not put it down.' -- Joan London 'A tense and cooly assured debut novel.' Adelaide Advertiser 'A very restrained sort of thriller...A dark, sad tale about taking risks, making allowances and justifying the unjustifiable...Well-written, the prose is gentle, almost dream-like in tone.' NZ Weekend Herald 'Neave's elegant, assured prose turns a run-of-the-mill love story into an intense and intriguing narrative that builds into a Cold War thriller...This is a first-class debut novel that crosses the literary and commercial divide.' Herald Sun

'A love story turns into a Cold War thriller: a beautifully, tautly written novel...I could not put it down.' -- Joan London

Emma writes: Scientists Annabel and Bill fall in love in Melbourne in 1938. A gentle romance turns gradually into an exciting cold-war thriller in elegant prose. Annabel and Bill move to New York, begin careers in government research including germ warfare, and make friends with out-and-out communists. The tension burns slowly but intensely, and before you know it you're as caught up in the plot as you are entranced by the writing itself. Highly recommended new Australian fiction by a debut novelist.

'A love story turns into a Cold War thriller: a beautifully, tautly written novel...I could not put it down.' -- Joan London 'Who We Were is a tale told simply with great poise and assurance. Neave has a strong narrative sense and a gift for the evocation of time and place.' Weekend Australian 'A tense and cooly assured debut novel.' Adelaide Advertiser 'A very restrained sort of thriller...A dark, sad tale about taking risks, making allowances and justifying the unjustifiable...Well-written, the prose is gentle, almost dream-like in tone.' NZ Weekend Herald 'Neave's elegant, assured prose turns a run-of-the-mill love story into an intense and intriguing narrative that builds into a Cold War thriller...This is a first-class debut novel that crosses the literary and commercial divide.' Herald Sun 'Neave has written a powerful novel set in an intriguing time, with interesting Melbourne and New York-and a mysterious twist in the tale-woven in for good measure.' Melbourne Weekly Times

'A love story turns into a Cold War thriller: a beautifully, tautly written novel...I could not put it down.' -- Joan London 'A tense and cooly assured debut novel.' Adelaide Advertiser 'A very restrained sort of thriller...A dark, sad tale about taking risks, making allowances and justifying the unjustifiable...Well-written, the prose is gentle, almost dream-like in tone.' NZ Weekend Herald

Author Information

Lucy Neave completed a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing in the US on a Fulbright scholarship, and has received a Varuna New Writers’ Fellowship and Australian Society of Authors Mentorship. Her fiction has appeared in Australian and American literary journals, including Southerly, Overland and Lost Magazine, and in Best Australian Stories 2009. She teaches Creative Writing at the Australian National University.

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