At SIEL 2026 in Rabat, libraries from different countries continue to share stories and books from around the world. Today’s literary journey takes readers to the United Kingdom with Où l’amour demeure (Still Life in English), a novel by Sarah Winman.

The novel tells a moving story rooted in World War II. Spanning several decades, the book begins during the final days of the war and moves between East London and different Italian cities, especially Florence. It is both a historical novel and a tribute to art, Renaissance culture, and the restorative power of beauty.

Sarah Winman, an internationally bestselling writer and winner of several literary awards, follows the story of Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, and Evelyna Skinner, an independent art historian, who meet in a ruined cellar in Tuscany in 1944. Their conversation about art and Florence becomes a turning point in Ulysses’ life.

After the war, Ulysses returns to London before moving back to Italy with a group of eccentric and memorable characters, including Peg, a childhood friend, and Claude, a Shakespeare-quoting parrot. Together, they form a chosen family navigating love, loss, and resilience.

The novel explores how people heal after trauma through connection, community, and art. Winman’s descriptions of Florence, Italian piazzas, and Renaissance paintings create a vivid atmosphere throughout the story. While the novel touches on grief and the scars of war, its tone remains hopeful, celebrating the quiet moments of beauty that survive even in difficult times.