Still Life

Still Life by Sarah Winman is an evocative and enchanting novel that captures the essence of love, art, and the intricate tapestry of human connections. As bombs rain down on the Italian countryside in 1944, a chance meeting occurs in the most unexpected of places – the ruin of a Tuscan villa's wine cellar. There, Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, encounters Evelyn Skinner, a 64-year-old art historian who has come to salvage precious artworks from the ravages of war.

For Evelyn, a journey to Italy represents a reconnection with her past, where memories of an Italian maid and days filled with art and beauty linger. For Ulysses, this serendipitous encounter with Evelyn is the beginning of a transformation that will ripple through his life and the lives of those he holds dear back in post-war London.

This heartwarming story unfolds across years and continents, revealing the profound impacts of friendship, family, and the beauty found in life's most unexpected moments. Still Life is a richly woven narrative that celebrates the human spirit and the unexpected paths that lead us to where we belong.

Winner of Dymocks Book of the Year 2021

The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller

A Guardian Best Book of 2021

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime

A BBC Between the Covers Book Club Pick

'Sheer joy' - Graham Norton

'Utterly beautiful … filled with hope’ - Joanna Cannon, author of Three Things About Elsie

'A gorgeous, generous story of kind hearts and kindred spirits’ - Daily Mirror

From the acclaimed author of When God Was a Rabbit and Tin Man, Still Life is a testament to the strength of bonds forged through shared experiences and the unpredictable ways in which our lives intersect. The enduring themes of love, connection, and the search for beauty resonate throughout this sweeping saga.

Still Life has garnered praise for its moving, wise, and poetic narrative:

'THE most beautiful book … it will stay with me a long time' - Sara Cox, BBC Two’s Between the Covers

'Extraordinary... my book of the year' - Liz Nugent, author of Our Little Cruelties

'Moving, wise, poetic and funny' - Daily Mail

'Winman’s pages teem with boisterous, exuberant life' - Sunday Times

Discover the novel that captivates with its vivid characters, emotional depth, and a plot that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Dive into Still Life and experience a story that will linger in your heart long after the final page.