A Times bestseller 'Wonderful...I was hooked from the first page. It's the real stuff.' - Michael Frayn 'Deeply affecting' - Guardian 'Superb' - Mail on Sunday

The deeply moving second novel from the author of the award-winning FIVE RIVERS MET ON A WOODED PLAIN. 'Courageous...memorable...moving' - Guardian 'One of our

'Shot through with compassion . . . this dreamlike, winding tale is a joy.' A. L. KENNEDY 'Moving and unconventionally wise.' Guardian ________________________

'Lyrical' Daily Mail 'Beautiful' Spectator 'Skilled' Financial Times 'Vulnerable' Guardian 'Deft' Independent 'Profound' Observer 'The beginning of summer. Perh

A collection of stories in which an Austrian writer analyzes the craft of writing and describes the people he met over the years. One of them is a former Miss Y