‘Mosaic flows like a novel, which once started is hard to put down. It is a compelling family history of extraordinary people set against some of the most frightening events of our century. The depth of emotions evoked is stunning. I was thrilled and deeply moved.’
—Joseph Heller, author of Catch 22 on Mosaic
‘Diane Armstrong’s book is a source of delight to the reader. Written with fervour and talent, it will capture your attention and retain it to the last page.’
—Nobel Prizewinner Elie Wiesel on Mosaic
‘A most remarkable book about one family’s experience…a rich and compelling history…Just as AB Facey’s A Fortunate Life and Sally Morgan’s My Place have become part of the national literary heritage, so too has Mosaic earned its place in our social dialogue as part of our cultural tapestry.’
—Daily Telegraph on Mosaic
‘I found myself replaying the scenes in the book like a film reel in my mind…Nocturne is one of those novels that will leave you reading into the night and will stay with you, like the notes of an unforgettable melody, long after you’ve read the last line.’
—Australian Jewish News on Nocturne
‘A moving and poignant celebration of survival…’
—Booklist on Mosaic
‘A consummate writer at the top of her form…remarkable for her narrative dexterity and emotional resonance. A bold adventure of a novel…a fine fictional debut from a writer who’s already made her mark.’
—Sara Dowse, The Canberra Times on Winter Journey
‘A cleverly crafted mystery…a good story, well told. Armstrong’s skill in weaving an elaborate fabric out of her characters and subject matter stand her in good stead…the bleak wintry landscapes of the Polish countryside are vividly captured.’
—Andrew Riemer, The Sydney Morning Herald on Winter Journey
‘A complex and often heart-and-gut-wrenching novel. The book intelligently explores the need to confront and acknowledge evil before it can be exorcised. Armstrong’s supremely confronting basic material is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as “warped timber” humanity.’
—Katharine England, Adelaide Advertiser on Winter Journey
‘The best and worst of the human spirit are dredged up in this profoundly moving, compelling and superbly written story.’
—Carol George, Australian Women’s Weekly on Winter Journey
‘Like Geraldine Brooks, Diane Armstrong’s historical research is expertly woven into the fabric of a fictional tale, providing an engrossing “action” of heroism and resilience which will appeal to both fans of fictional dramatic/romantic sagas, as well as lovers of insightful history’
—Australian Bookseller & Publisher on Nocturne
‘Easy reading, racy…Diane Armstrong’s Nocturne is in the category of blockbuster with extra heart. The stories of the role played by young women in the Warsaw revolt are extraordinary…Armstrong keeps us turning the pages and may well introduce a new readership to a story that must keep on being told.’
—The Age on Nocturne
‘A gallant and gut-wrenching story. The accounts of the two uprisings...are dramatic and heart-breaking…superb reading.’
—Australian Book Review on Nocturne
‘Nocturne had me captured from its opening chapters...it is an inspirational account of how ordinary people are forced to find strength and courage within themselves when the world around them falls apart.’
—Vibewire on Nocturne
‘Compulsive reading, thanks in no small part to Armstrong’s ability to bring each character to life.’
—The Bulletin on Mosaic
‘A stirring and powerful tapestry into which she has masterfully interwoven the story of her family with the enormity of the Holocaust, commuting fluently between the individual and the historical, the particular and the universal.’
—Australian Jewish News on Mosaic
‘Her rich account of lives good and bad, love, joy, bravery, greed, and bitterness is a testament to the human spirit. Armstrong’s stories will bring smiles and tears.’
—Marie-Claire on Mosaic
‘It is no small achievement and it bristles with life…Mosaic is a work of many levels. But ultimately it succeeds because most of its characters demonstrate how the human spirit can soar way, way above adversity.’
—The Sydney Morning Herald on Mosaic
‘A haunting Holocaust history that deserves shelf space alongside Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel. Diane Armstrong’s work is a monumental accomplishment—both accessible enough and powerful enough to linger in our consciousness long after we have turned the last page.’
—Barnes & Noble on Mosaic
‘Mosaic has the epic sweep and emotional depth of a nineteenth-century novel. Her skilful blending of vibrant individual voices across the generations makes this memoir a touching tribute to the healing powers of storytelling as well as to the unquenchable human spirit.’
—Amazon.com on Mosaic (one of Amazon’s Top Ten memoirs 2001)
‘A vivid, heartwarming family memoir. The plot and her characters move along in a fast-paced, tightly woven narrative.’
—Publishers Weekly on Mosaic
‘Armstrong weaves in these individual tales with great skill. They flow in and out of the narrative in rhythm with the ship’s slow movement from the old world to the new.’
—The Age on The Voyage of Their Life
‘Armstrong’s triumph in this history is to avoid judgment or argument…she allows readers to enter into the mindset of the refugees, to empathise with them’
—Weekend Australian on The Voyage of Their Life
‘The characters become familiar and absorbing…almost unbearably moving’
—Australian Book Review on The Voyage of Their Life
‘She is a natural sleuth…her writing is clear, incisive, yet imaginative’
—The Sydney Morning Herald on The Voyage of Their Life
‘While it is a good read, The Voyage of Their Life is also an important historical document in that it gives humanity and dignity to the stories of dispossessed people arriving in post-war Australia.’
—Wentworth Courier on The Voyage of Their Life
‘Diane Armstrong’s study of the Derna is an important contribution to post-war Australian history. Her careful research combined with her excellent writing skills make this book essential reading for anyone interested in the development of Australian society.’
—Dr Suzanne Rutland, Australian Historical Society Journal on The Voyage of Their Life