It is 1970 in the suburbs of north London and, from the untidy comfort of her crowded house, Colette Jones is watching her older brother go to pieces, drinking himself into oblivion on home-made wine. Colette knows the solace a drink can provide, being partial to an evening at the Red Lion herself. But soon she finds she cannot afford to ignore the destructive effect that alcohol is having on her family, and with gritted teeth Colette is forced to exile the alcoholic son she loves so much from the house. But this act takes its toll and, just as she can't resist a drink, so she can't resist allowing Janus back into her life - with heartbreaking consequences for everyone.

Gerard Woodward's magnificent second novel continues the story of the Joneses, so memorably introduced in August. By way of an odyssey through the pubs, parks and shopping parades of suburban London, it lurches from farce to tragedy as the members of one unforgettable family build and destroy their lives.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2004.

About the Author
Gerard Woodward was born in London in 1961. After studying painting and anthropology, he published three prize-winning collections of poetry: Householder, After the Deafening and Island to Island. His first novel August, was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award. He lives in Manchester.

Reviews
The narrative is mind-bogglingly crisp, resourceful and sometimes hilarious in its description of the myriad ways in which people drink... This is both a moral and a literary book... Remarkable * Sunday Times *
This is a novel where the characters seem like friends and family. It's a fine achievement -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *
The funniest sad book you'll read all year * The Times *
A painfully funny, beautifully written account of a wayward family falling like dominoes to the demon drink -- Rowan Pelling
Far above the ordinary. Woodward's characters are wonderfully complex and rich * Daily Telegraph *


Awards
Short-listed for Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2004.



Book Information
ISBN 9780099286936
Author Gerard Woodward
Format Paperback
Page Count 448
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 360g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 130mm * 28mm