On the Water

A"powerfultaleofromanticregret"(TheSeattlePost-Intelligencer),LosAngelesTimesBestBookof2001,andfinalistfortheFrenchPrixMedicis,OntheWatertellsthepoignantstoryofAntonandDavid,twooarsmentrainedbyamysteriousGermancoachinthegoldenAmsterdamsummerof1939.Antonstandsonthebanksofhisbelovedriveryearslater,onthewintryeveofHolland'sliberation,andmournsalostworld.David,hisJewishteammateandquietobsessionfromthatmagicalsummer,hasdisappeared,andtheboathouseisnowderelictanddeserted.Spare,lyrical,andnuanced,OntheWaterisquietlyenormous,capturingamomentsopreciseandexactitisasifcaughtinamber--arowingclubinAmsterdamandtwoofitscompetitorsfromverydifferentbackgrounds,setagainstthebackdropoftheoncomingwar.Themenaceoftragedytocomeissubtlywovenintothestoryofthetwoboyswhoseonlyconcernsarepractices,races,andthemselves.Intheend,allthatisleftforAntonisthememoryofhissupremehappinessthatsummer."...beautiful,vividwriting...vandenBrinkdescribesthegrace,ecstasy,andagonyofrowing,themiracleofitsteamworkharmony."--CarmelaCiuraru,TheWashingtonPostBookWorld"[A]smallmiracleofabook."--DanielTopolski,TheGuardian