Overview

The fantastic new edition of the bestselling second novel from the author of ‘Miss Garnet’s Angel’. Bridget Hansome and Frances Slater have only one thing in common. And that's Peter Hansome, who has died suddenly. Without their husband or lover, the women find that before they can rebuild their lives they must look to themselves and unravel mysteries that they had never before even suspected. So begins an unlikely alliance between wife and mistress and a voyage of discovery that is as comic as it is profound. ‘Instances of the Number 3’ is a funny, beguiling exploration of love, bereavement, Shakespeare, illusion and the impossibility of escaping your past. Following on from ‘Miss Garnet’s Angel’, this brilliant novel confirms Salley Vickers as a writer who transcends generations.

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9781841156590

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Reviews

'Salley Vickers is a remarkable optimist. She shows that happiness can be found even after it seems to have died.' David Sexton, Evening Standard 'Gentleness of perception and sharpness of intellect!sustains you long after the last page.' Bel Mooney, The Times 'Admirable. Salley Vickers has a way with persuasive characters and crisp narrative.' Penelope Lively, Independent 'Vickers writes sympathetically about the bereaved women as they remake their lives.' Margaret Walter, Sunday Times 'Studded with observations and asides that stop you in your tracks.' Julie Wheelwright, Scotland on Sunday 'The reader glides through it effortlessly. The plot is simple, yet has an amazing amount of narrative power. Vickers' second novel confirms that she will have a long and outstanding career.' Martyn Goff, The Times 'Lovely. Distinctive grace.' Murrough O'Brien, Daily Telegraph 'Her voice rings true and strong.' Jane Gardam, Spectator

'Salley Vickers is a remarkable optimist. She shows that happiness can be found even after it seems to have died.' David Sexton, Evening Standard 'Gentleness of perception and sharpness of intellect!sustains you long after the last page.' Bel Mooney, The Times 'Admirable. Salley Vickers has a way with persuasive characters and crisp narrative.' Penelope Lively, Independent 'Vickers writes sympathetically about the bereaved women as they remake their lives.' Margaret Walter, Sunday Times 'Studded with observations and asides that stop you in your tracks.' Julie Wheelwright, Scotland on Sunday 'The reader glides through it effortlessly. The plot is simple, yet has an amazing amount of narrative power. Vickers' second novel confirms that she will have a long and outstanding career.' Martyn Goff, The Times 'Lovely. Distinctive grace.' Murrough O'Brien, Daily Telegraph 'Her voice rings true and strong.' Jane Gardam, Spectator

Wise and wryly tender tale in which a dead man's divided affections lead to unexpected revelations-and alliances-as the women he loved learn to live without him. Low-key and refreshingly unponderous meditations on the number 3, Purgatory, and forgiveness give Vickers's already intelligent story appealing heft. Peter Handsome is in his early 60s when he's killed in a London traffic accident. Wife Bridget, an antiques dealer who escaped her abusive father in Ireland as soon as she could, has since school found consolation in reading Shakespeare, especially Hamlet, to which she now turns as she grapples with sorrow. Her grieving is further complicated by a telephone call from Peter's not-entirely-unsuspected mistress, 40ish Frances Slater, who works in an art gallery. The two women meet ( It seems discourteous, somehow, to Peter if we don't meet, though I hardly know how we should conduct ourselves, observes Bridget) and begin a fraught but surprisingly resilient friendship. They are soon joined by the good-looking Iranian boy called Zahin, who Peter once helped and who now claims to be studying engineering though he seems more interested in keeping house. As the three uneasily connect, a ghostly Peter keeps his eye on Frances and Bridget. This could be hokey, but on balance it works, as Peter recalls his past and his search for the perfect woman, which led him to an ultimately fatal relationship with Iranian prostitute Zelda. While Peter learns the redemptive ways of Purgatory, Bridget begins to make a new life, as does Zahin after certain confessions, and Frances also finds surprising new happiness. Not as surefooted as Vickers's delightful Miss Garnet's Angel (2001), but still a deliciously urbane and affecting love story with an intriguing difference. (Kirkus Reviews)

There are many interlocking triangles in this novel from the author of word-of-mouth triumph Miss Garnet's Angel. Centrally, there's the threesome formed by Peter Hansome, his wife Bridget and his mistress Frances. When Peter dies, Bridget and Frances form an uneasy friendship, joined by the enigmatic Zahin, whom Peter had latterly befriended. Each of the main protagonists is themself the centre of their own threesome; and each has multiple aspects to their character - thus there's Peter as husband and lover, and also a ghostly Peter who watches over his loved ones and eventually manifests himself to Bridget. And overlaying all this are the Trinity and notions of heaven, hell and purgatory, with which Peter had become increasingly fascinated before his death, taking instruction in Catholicism from Father Gerard. Despite this very carefully structured plot, the book is never heavy-handed. Vickers's voice is firm but subtle, ironic and measured, the strongest emotions often conveyed in tones of great restraint. This is a book that engages the intellect as much as, if not occasionally more than, the emotions, but there is plenty to savour in this highly original novel. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Salley Vickers divides her time between London, the West Country and Venice. Previously a university lecturer in English, when not writing she practices as a psychologist and still lectures widely on the connections between literature, psychology and religion.

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