When the Doves Disappeared is a story of occupation, resistance, and collaboration in Estonia during and after World War II. The play follows the experiences of three characters: Roland, a principled independence fighter; his cousin Edgar, who will do almost anything to hide his secrets and maintain his connection to those in power; and Edgar’s wife Juudit, who is buffeted in turns by her love for a German officer, her fear of returning to her unhappy, unconsummated marriage, and her bond with the idealistic Roland.
“With her dense, rich prose, magnificent Sofi Oksanen earns a place somewhere between Quentin Tarantino and Leo Tolstoi.” – klassekampen, Norway
“Explosive text, with a black heart.” – le monde, France