'I think there is no punishment for what I did. Not enough sadness and no punishment' To mark the centenary of the First World War, Vintage is launching a unique collection of war fiction. April 2014 will see the publication of twelve works by the greatest writers of the last century, each tackling this most powerful and universal of subjects.

A startlingly powerful debut... Not to be missed Daily Mail Ambitious and powerful... Seiffert writes lean, clean prose. Deftly, she hangs large ideas on the vivid private experiences of her principal characters... Poignant - and ultimately optimistic... Engrossing New York Times What a bold book... Compelling... Challenging and substantial Time Out Guilt, shame, responsibility, new beginnings, the individual in history - these are Seiffert's subjects, conveyed in a style of deceptive simplicity... Provocative and accomplished The Times Explores the experience of 'ordinary' Germans...the descendants of Nazis and Nazi sympathizers...and poses questions about the country's psychological and political inheritance with rare insight and humanity New Yorker

The daughter of an Australian father and a German mother, Rachel Seiffert was born in Oxford and later moved to London. Her novel The Dark Room was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. She has also written an acclaimed collection of short stories, Field Study.