Midwinter Break by Bernard Maclaverty

Midwinter Break by Bernard Maclaverty

A Guardian / Sunday Times / Irish Times / Herald Scotland / Mail on Sunday Book of the Year Winner of the Bord Gáis Novel of the Year ‘Midwinter Break is a work of extraordinary emotional precision and sympathy, about coming to terms – to an honest reckoning – with love and the loss of love, with memory and pain. Full of scenes that are rendered with exquisite accuracy and care, allowing the most detailed physical descriptions to be placed against the possibility of a rich spiritual life, this is a novel of great ambition by an artist at the height of his powers.’ Colm Tóibín Sixteen years on from his last novel, Bernard MacLaverty reminds us why he is regarded as one of the greatest living Irish writers. A retired couple, Gerry and Stella Gilmore, fly from their home in Scotland to Amsterdam for a long weekend. A holiday to refresh the senses, to do some sightseeing and generally to take stock of what remains of their lives. Their relationship seems safe, easy, familiar – but over the course of the four days we discover the deep uncertainties which exist between them. Gerry, once an architect, is forgetful and set in his ways. Stella is tired of his lifestyle, worried about their marriage and angry at his constant undermining of her religious faith. Things are not helped by memories which have begun to resurface of a troubled time in their native Ireland. As their midwinter break comes to an end, we understand how far apart they are – and can only watch as they struggle to save themselves. Bernard MacLaverty is a master storyteller, and Midwinter Break is the essential MacLaverty novel: accurate, compassionate observation, effortlessly elegant writing and a tender, intimate, heart-rending story – but it is also a profound examination of human love and how we live together, a chamber piece of real resonance and power. Forty years on from his first book, Bernard MacLaverty has written his masterpiece.

Its portrayal of the tightening vice of alcohol addiction is unparalleled But its profound exploration of its love, companionship, faith, work and our search for meaning in life made it a tender masterpiece, and one of the year’s essential reads. -- Justine Jordan * Guardian, **Books of the Year** *
MacLaverty doesn’t publish novels very often but when he does they are outstanding. -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times, **Books of the Year** *
A gem of a novel. -- Allan Hunter * Herald Scotland, **Books of the Year** *
Alive with utterly convincing actuality, this affecting, funny and acute book is a triumph of quiet masterliness. -- Peter Kemp * Herald Scotland, **Books of the Year** *
It's an immersive and astonishing book. -- Jackie Kay * Herald Scotland, **Books of the Year** *

Bernard MacLaverty lives in Glasgow. He has written five previous collections of stories and five novels, including Grace Notes, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and Midwinter Break, the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Novel of the Year. He has written versions of his fiction for other media - radio and television plays, screenplays and libretti.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781787330214
ISBN 10	1787330214
Title	Midwinter Break
Author	Bernard Maclaverty
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Vintage Publishing
Year published	2017-08-03
Number of pages	256
Prizes	Winner of Bord G is Energy Irish Book Awards - Eason Novel of the Year 2017 (UK), Short-listed for Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year 2017 (UK), Short-listed for Kerry Group Novel of the Year 2018 (UK), Long-listed for Wellcome Book Prize 2018 (UK)
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.