publication date June 6, 2024:



The Tailor of Granville - a wartime novel set in Normandy -

paperback and kindle ebook


Historical fiction - In 1937 Paris, Noah Vogelsang, a 17-year-old Polish-Jewish youth, arrives from Oswiecim, Poland, to apprentice at Adèle Katz’s clothing workshop in the 2nd arrondissement. Immersed in French culture, Noah falls for Odette Harcourt, one of Adèle’s clients. Despite his feelings, Noah knows their love is impossible as he plans to return to Poland after his training. However, Mr. Harcourt, Odette’s father, who runs a tailoring workshop in Granville on the Normandy coast, hires Noah as an assistant at the end of his internship on his daughter’s recommendation. Reunited with Odette, Noah’s feelings remain unchanged, but Odette is married…


“The Tailor of Granville” chronicles the Harcourt family’s journey from 1937 to 1947, depicting how the war and German occupation shape the lives of these small-town artisans.


Bohemian Tales - a novel - paperback and kindle ebook


 

Historical fiction - In the summer of 1967, in Prague, a young man named Karel Skodaček is still searching for answers about his missing father. He is offered a new job at the University of Prague just as Czechoslovakia is undergoing significant political changes that will lead to the Prague Spring. Karel’s life is irrevocably altered as he uncovers hidden secrets. This evocative first-person narrative about Czechoslovakia during the Cold War deals with themes such as identity and exile. Karel’s story is not just about a distant country; his emotions are universal. It explores the quest for truth, the pain of loss, and the hope for a better future



 Notice bibliographique Bohemian Tales | BnF Catalogue général - Bibliothèque nationale de France



info: Dominique@zebras54.fr

email me
welcome - ,  
vítejte ,Ласкаво просимо - ☘ fáilte!


zebras54
Dominique Hoffman author

established in  2002

.
Hello,
my name is Dominique Hoffman 
 I am a writer, photographer translator, and painter.
and webmaster for zebras54



First I would like to say: thank you for visiting zebras54.fr 

This website first went online during Easter 2002, when I was living in Austria. I updated it from the computer room at Vienna University and the Karlsplatz Cybercafé. It was originally hosted by Geocities.  Zebras54 HQ moved to Belfast in 2003 and then to Normandy in 2017. It is currently being refurbished.

I am a European humanist, indie author, photographer, and artist. My life has been shaped by the places I’ve lived—Northern Ireland for 23 years and Austria for three—before eventually settling in Normandy, France. With a background in Applied Foreign Languages from Montpellier, I consider myself  as an English-speaking writer as I refined my craft in Northern Ireland  and first self-published early versions of my first novel in 2012. 

This site started in 2002 as a blog for music, art, and literature, and it still houses my writing, photos, and drawings today. My work usually reflects my travels through Northern Ireland, , Ireland, Czechia, Poland, Austria, France, and Ukraine, as well as my interest in European history and culture. This space remains a DIY home for everything I create. Beyond the arts, I use this  platform for my values. I as I champion social justice and critique extremism, and I am an advocate for a two-state solution in the Middle East. Having spent time in Ukraine, I passionately support the country and stand firmly against Kremlin disinformation.

Living in Northern Ireland had a profound impact on my music taste. I met people like Terri Hooley, whose legendary shop and stories opened up new ways of listening. In 2002, this site became a space to recommend bands, concert snapshots, and musical discoveries in the spirit of DIY zines. I discovered many artists through MySpace; back then, the page functioned like a playlist with clickable links to artist profiles. I don't seek out a particular genre; instead, I am drawn to indie musicians with unique sounds. CDs became my primary format in the late '90s, often purchased at concerts or via the bands' websites. Since 2011, I have also maintained a YouTube page for concert footage, filmed in a non-profit, DIY spirit. Since moving to France in 2017, life’s turbulence paused things briefly, but since summer 2025, the music section  has been modernizing its format. The songs and albums featured here have existed in my home across various formats—cassette, vinyl, CD, and MP3—but through Spotify, these collections finally come together in harmony. The music I listen to remains deeply linked to the countries I have visited and the people I have seen perform live


As a novelist, I’ve published:

Bohemian Tales (2022) – a historical novel set in Prague and Vienna during the Cold War

The Tailor of Granville (2024) – about a family of artisans in Normandy during World War II

my latest work is an illustrated non-fiction called "15 days in Ukraine" about my trip to Ukraine. This is a non profit project  





some of my art: