Overview

Arthur wakes to a grey November dawn. He lies in the dark of the bedroom he shares with his wife waiting for his dream to fade. He is fifty-six, he loves his wife and the unspoken rhythms of married life. He has a grown son, O'Neil, and a daughter, Kay, and he has a secret. His wife, Miriam, has a secret too. When the morning comes they will set out to visit O'Neil at college. This day will change the lives of their family for ever.

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Reviews

'Subtle, truthful and lovely' Observer 'An artful debut..Cronin is admirably fearless in the scope of his imagination' New York Times Book Review 'Precise and illuminating...an absorbing study of family relations' The Times

The story opens with Arthur, reflecting in the darkness of a November dawn, interpreting a dream against the backdrop of his life and marriage. He holds close a tender secret, whilst next to him his wife of many years sleeps. This is the story of family relationships, of love in its many guises and how emotions shape lives. Arthur's wife Mary has a secret too, something dark and frightening that she wants to protect him from. Their children, Kay and O'Neil, are grown and have independent lives but their bonds are strong and each has a part still to play in the others' lives. The characters are brought to life by the author's skilful and subtle prose and the reader is drawn into their world by the emotional truth of their story. This is a touching and tender tale of the courage of human triumph over tragedy and the poignancy of grief. These are characters steeped in realism who struggle on despite life's setbacks and this gives the story its pathos. This is a tale of death and grief, illness and survival, betrayal and forgiveness, all woven through the story of the lives of three generations of one family and the people who join them - some briefly, others for the duration - on their journey through life. A beautifully written, totally absorbing novel. Highly recommended. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Justin Cronin is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and associate professor of English at La Salle University. He lives with his wife and their young daughter in Philadelphia. He is a winner of the 2002 Whiting Writers' Award and Mary and O'Neil won the PEN/Hemingway Award for Fiction.

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