Christine Dwyer Hickey

‘Sprawling yet intimate’ Guardian ‘Huge of heart and soaring of soul’ CLAIRE KILROY ‘A profound love story...Like Barbara Kingsolver, Hickey captures the pulse of the living moment’ COLUM McCANN ‘A London novel that captures the living moment of the city across decades’ PAUL LYNCH 1979. In the vast and often unforgiving city of London, two Irish outsiders seeking refuge find...

A brilliant portrait... With a beguiling grace and a deceptive simplicity, Christine Dwyer Hickey reminds us that the past is never far away - rather, it constantly surrounds us, suspends us, haunts us. - Colum McCann 1950: late summer season on Cape Cod. Michael, a ten-year-old boy, is spending the summer with Richie and his glamorous but troubled mother. Left...

In 1933, Bella Stuart leaves her socially constrained life in London to become a tutor in Italy. Her pupil, Alec, is the 'not quite right' child of a beautiful Jewish heiress and an elderly Italian aristocrat. Living at the family's summer residence, Bella's habitual reserve softens as she comes to love her young charge and finds friendship in Maestro Edward,...

In 1933, Bella Stuart leaves her quiet London life to move to Italy to tutor the child of a beautiful Jewish heiress and an elderly Italian aristocrat. Living at the family's summer home, Bella's reserve softens as she comes to love her young charge, and find friendship with Maestro Edward, his enigmatic music teacher. But as the decade draws to...

It is a long time since I have read such a fine novel or one that I have enjoyed quite so much. Irish Times A brilliant portrait... With a beguiling grace and a deceptive simplicity, Christine Dwyer Hickey reminds us that the past is never far away - rather, it constantly surrounds us, suspends us, haunts us. Colum McCann 1950:...