In this poignant rumination on life, death, memory, dreaming and the anxious spaces in between, it's hard to find fault with a single one of Hay's words. * The Age *
Wishful, astringent and rewarding * Sydney Morning Herald *
Beautifully rendered and psychologically acute. * Weekend Australian *
[Hay's writing] recalls the sour-sweet best of Michael Ondaatje's fiction. Another author, Ford Madox Ford, began his The Good Soldier by claiming, This is the saddest story. It isn't. That title rightly belongs to The Railwayman's Wife. * The Australian *
Hay is a gifted and insightful writer; her prose is elegant and she has an eye for the telling detail. Most important, she understands people and the secret battles her characters face. * Adelaide Advertiser *
An elegiac tale of love, loss and letting go, The Railwayman's Wife shimmers with grace. * The Newtown Review of Books *
Her characters are illuminated by an incandescent intelligence and rare sensibility. * Australian Book Review *
The Railwayman's Wife deals beautifully with loss, mourning, and consolation, on the part of two men returned from war service, and of a woman suddenly widowed. * Australian Book Review, Books of the Year *
Ashley Hay's writing evokes a sense of reading a classic piece of literature where every word is stunningly placed and the briny smell of salty fog wafts into the room with the reader... An absolutely riveting book that I anticipate being a top pick for book clubs and one that will be mentioned alongside the greatest writers of our time. There is no kidding around in the abundance of my praise for Hay's writing. * Indie Next *
Multilayered, graceful, couched in poetry, supremely honest, gentle yet jarring, Hay's thought-provoking novel pulls you along slowly, like a deep river that is deceptively calm but full of hidden rapids. Much to ponder. * Kirkus *
Exquisitely written and deeply felt...a true book of wonders. -- Geraldine Brooks
An absorbing and uplifting read. -- M.L. Stedman
This is a book in which grief and love are so entwined they make a new and wonderful kind of sense. -- Fiona McFarlane
Hay has lovingly crafted a poignant, character-driven novel filled with heartache and hope, which is transferred to the reader through lyrical prose, poetic dialogue and stunning imagery. * RT Magazine *
Hay's poetic gifts are evident in her descriptions of the wild coastal landscape and Roy's measured verse. This poignant, elegant novel delves into the depth of tragedy, the shaky ground of recovery, and the bittersweet memories of lost love. * Booklist *
