Ostraca by Isabell Serafin Krause

“I continue to think about this story days after I read it... rich and wonderful.” Marcy Dermansky, author of Hot Air

Photographer Sophie Rowe dies in the year 2010, mysteriously and after a long term affair. But long before the affair, what were the events of Sophie’s life that led to a relationship, which culminated in her demise – and who should be held responsible for her death?

Through the eyes of Sophie’s closest friend, acclaimed painter Mathéo Lee, the reader embarks on a deeply emotional journey. As Mathéo delves into Sophie’s personal journal entries, letters, and emails exchanged over the years, the story unfolds—revealing the triumphs and heartaches of two artists seeking freedom across continents: Africa, Asia, the US, and Europe. Their correspondence is filled with passionate accounts of their shared creative and emotional struggles, highlighting both the beauty and fragility of their bond.

Influenced by the poetic works of French writer Marguerite Duras and the epistolary fiction of Natalia Ginzburg, Isabell Serafin Krause weaves a narrative rich in introspection, blending her own life experiences and memoir with short fiction. Ostraca explores profound themes of love, loss, emotional vulnerability, and the delicate strength found in lasting friendship.

This is a book about re-membering not just the past, but the complexities of the human heart. Ostraca is a must-read for anyone captivated by stories of deep emotional connection and the haunting beauty of memory.

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Pub date: 17-Jun-2025

Page count: 302

ISBN: 978-3-98832-155-8