Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers 2009

Artist, lover, wife, mother: can one woman be them all?

Born in 1924, Jennet Mallow grew up with a disillusioned mother and a father haunted by memories of war. But Jennet has a talent - and a passion - for art. When she meets the handsome painter David Heaton they begin a tempestuous affair which takes them from the dank terraces of London to a bohemian artistic community in St Ives. But as Jennet's career flourishes, her relationship with David suffers - with potentially tragic consequences . . .

'The most beautiful, accomplished debut I have read for a long time . . . It is a powerful novel by a supremely talented artist' OBSERVER

'Enchanting . . . exquisitely written' DAILY EXPRESS

'A masterful portrait of a woman forging an unexpectedly dazzling career against the backdrop of familial duty' EASY LIVING

An outstanding debut novel about the conflicts of creativity and family and a love affair that survives against all the odds.

About the Author
Francesca Kay grew up in South-east Asia and India and has subsequently lived in Jamaica, the United States and Germany. Her first novel, An Equal Stillness, won the Orange Award for New Writers, and was shortlisted for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize (Europe and South Asia Region). She lives with her family in Oxford.

Reviews
A new star has arrived on the literary scene. -- AN Wilson * EVENING STANDARD *
What distinguishes this tale...is Kay's fine balance of romance and realism and her beautiful evocation of how paintings reflect their creator's experiences. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
one dazzingly brilliantly executed scene after another...A marvel. * INDEPENDENT *
An impressive debut novel that paints a vivid portrait of a woman torn between the conflicts of creativity and familial duty. * DAILY EXPRESS *
sensual...Francesca Kay knows - and shows - how good art takes on a life all of its own. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
an absorbing and ambitious debut * GUARDIAN *
The supple, verbless sentences of Fracesca Kay's accomplished first novel create a sensuous prose full of colour, taste and smell. -- Anthony Cummins * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
This is an outstanding literary debut, with masterful variation in style and characterisation of deep insight * BOOKSELLER PAPERBACK PREVIEW *
The most astounding success lies in the conjuring up of a lifetime's work - a glorious succession of paintings brought to sustained, poetic life. * ART NEWSPAPER *


Awards
Short-listed for Independent Booksellers Award 2010 (UK) and Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book (Europe and South Asia region) 2010 (UK). Long-listed for Authors Club Best First Novel 2010 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9780753825655
Author Francesca Kay
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publisher Orion Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 260g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 24mm