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The Mission House

By Carys Davies
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3.78 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 1,772 ratings, 312 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Mission House by Carys Davies follows the story of a British man named Hilary Bird who seeks solace and a fresh start in a small town in South India. He finds refuge in a local priest's home and becomes entangled with the lives of the villagers. Through his interactions, themes of displacement, belonging, and cultural contrasts are explored, creating a vivid tapestry of human connections against a backdrop of change.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by explorations of cultural disparity and personal displacement set against a vividly described Indian backdrop. The narrative follows a British man seeking solace and meaning on his journey, offering a compelling mix of humour and introspection. This novel may appeal to you if you appreciate character-driven stories with a touch of mystery and introspective storytelling.

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The first full-length novel from one of this generation’s greatest literary writers

The first full-length novel from one of this generation's greatest literary writers.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Fleeing the dark undercurrents of contemporary Britain, Hilary Byrd takes refuge in a hill station in South India. There he finds solace in life’s simple pleasures, travelling by rickshaw around the small town and staying in a mission house beside the local presbytery, where the Padre and his adoptive daughter Priscilla have taken him under their wing.

As his friendship with the young woman grows, Hilary begins to wonder whether his purpose lies in this new relationship. But religious tensions are brewing and the mission house may not be the safe haven it seems.

The Mission House boldly and imaginatively interrogates the fractures between faith and non-belief, young and old, imperial past and nationalistic present. Tenderly subversive and meticulously crafted, it is a deeply human story of the wonders and terrors of connection in a modern world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Carys Davies' novel is widely praised for its tender, piercing, and enchanting storytelling. Critics commend her ability to capture complex themes with brevity and elegance, crafting a narrative rich in nuance and immediacy. Set against the backdrop of contemporary India, the book explores human connections, colonial legacies, and personal yearnings with understated yet profound insight. Reviewers highlight the novel's magical atmosphere, subtle humour, and depth, noting Davies' distinctive voice and masterful prose that invite readers to reflect on the world and the characters who navigate it.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922330635

Publisher: Text Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 August 2020

Country: Australia

Imprint: The Text Publishing Company

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

Collections

Carys Davies Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Carys Davies’ debut novel, West, was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize, runner-up for the Society of Authors’ McKitterick Prize and winner of the Wales Book of the Year for Fiction. She is also the author of two collections of short stories, Some New Ambush and The Redemption of Galen Pike (published in Australia as the single collection The Travellers and Other Stories), which won the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize. She lives in Edinburgh.

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