Patrick Parker, golden child of bomb-devastated Coventry, adored and encouraged by his mother, fulfils his dream destiny to be a bridge builder as great as Brunel. Audrey Wapshott, born at the same time, feels her destiny is to become the wife of handsome, brilliant Patrick. But Patrick has other plans and Audrey, miserable and abandoned, is left to follow her own journey to self-fulfilment beginning in Paris, and sinfulness, in the arms of a much older man. When their paths cross years later, wicked Audrey plots a grand and satisfying retribution.

About the Author
Mavis Cheek was born and grew up in Wimbledon. She began her working life at Editions Alecto, the contemporary art publishers. After Alecto, she attended Hillcroft College for Women from where she graduated in Arts. After her daughter Bella was born, she began her writing career in earnest; journalism and travel writing at first, then short stories, and eventually, in 1988, her novel Pause Between Acts was published by Bodley Head and won the She/John Menzies First Novel Prize. She is the author of thirteen novels novels including Mrs Fytton's Country Life, Janice Gentle Gets Sexy and, most recently, Amenable Women which was described in The Times as 'a brilliantly funny, warm, intelligent read'. She now lives and writes in the heart of the English countryside..

Reviews
"'There has always been a touch of the Alan Bennett about Mavis Cheek. Both writers share an uncanny talent for capturing the cadences of the way we speak, and for re-creating them on the page so delicately and with such charm that it takes your breath away... Cheek is an English author to be cherished.' Daily Mail 'There is much of Alan Sillitoe and John Braine in the portrait of the working-class boy on the make, and Cheek has a excellent eye for detail...' Michael Arditti, Daily Express"



Book Information
ISBN 9780571214488
Author Mavis Cheek
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Faber & Faber
Publisher Faber & Faber
Weight(grams) 265g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 127mm * 24mm