From the bestselling author of the Richard & Judy selected SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.

'Exceptionally accomplished ... a near masterpiece' DAILY EXPRESS

'Heart-wrenching ... a mesmerising page-turner' MAIL ON SUNDAY

'Delightfully written...Paul Torday is a remarkably original novelist' EVENING STANDARD

Late one summer evening, Wilberforce - rich, young, and work-obsessed - makes a detour on his way home to the vast undercroft of Caerlyon Hall, and the domain of Francis Black, a place where wine, hospitality and affection flow freely.

Through Francis, Wilberforce is initiated into a life rich in the promise of friendship and adventure, where, through his new set of friends, the possibility of finding acceptance, and even falling in love, seems finally to be within his reach.

Wilberforce becomes a willing pupil to Francis, and in the cellars of Caerlyon he nurtures a new-found passion for wine. But even the finest wine can leave a bitter aftertaste, and Wilberforce will learn the undercroft's unpalatable secrets, and that passion comes at a price ...

The new paperback from the bestselling author of the Richard & Judy selected SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.

About the Author
Paul Torday burst on to the literary scene in 2007 with his first novel, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, an immediate international bestseller that has been translated into 28 languages and has been made into a film starring Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Blunt. His subsequent novels, THE IRRESISTIBLE INHERITANCE OF WILBERFORCE, THE GIRL ON THE LANDING, THE HOPELESS LIFE OF CHARLIE SUMMERS, MORE THAN YOU CAN SAY, THE LEGACY OF HARTLEPOOL HALL and LIGHT SHINING IN THE FOREST, were all published to great critical acclaim. He was married with two sons by a previous marriage, had two stepsons, and lived close to the River North Tyne. He died at home in December 2013.

Reviews
Exceptionally accomplished.. second novels are notoriously difficult to pull off but Torday has managed a near masterpiece * DAILY EXPRESS *
The whole book is delightfully written...Paul Torday is a remarkably original novelist * EVENING STANDARD *
Grows more and more poignant as the novel progresses.. satisfyingly full-bodied and slips down a treat * SUNDAY TIMES *
Remarkably, given the bleakness of both subject and hero, it is an incredibly good read * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
What makes us want to find out about Wilberforce is Torday's wonderful prose - the same simple, clear writing that made Salmon Fishing so readable * FINANCIAL TIMES *
He has a good feeling for character and a sly sense of humour * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
A well-told tale...Torday wryly observes Wilberforce's descent * THE TIMES *
Telling the story back-to-front allows Torday to highlight Wilberforce's self-delusion; he's that familiar figure, the alcoholic who pretends that he's merely a connoisseur * GUARDIAN *
Torday's confidence in his story's power to command attention is not misplaced...Wilberforce is well worth sampling * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
A heart-wrenching tale of alcoholism and a lonely man's search for identity...a mesmerising page-turner * MAIL ON SUNDAY *
[The plot] provides Torday with copious opportunities for comedy, which he readily exploits. But there is a serious undertone * TIME OUT *
Slips down a treat * THE WEEK *



Book Information
ISBN 9780753823156
Author Paul Torday
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publisher Orion Publishing Co
Weight(grams) 260g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 24mm