Author:Rose Tremain
'A hell of a read' Sunday Times
'Triumphant, and beautifully told...one of the best novelists writing today' Sara Collins, Guardian
All must gamble with their fate. But not all can win...
In the city of Bath, in the year 1865 Jane Adeane, renowned for her restorative skills, is convinced that some other destiny will one day show itself to her.
But when she finds herself torn between a dangerous affair with a female lover and the promise of a conventional marriage to an apparently respectable doctor, her desires begin to lead her towards a future she had never imagined...
Discover the ultimate historical read.
'Terrific' The Times
'One of our most accomplished novelists' Observer
'One of my favourite writers' Nina Stibbe
A hell of a read - so emotionally sophisticated, so deft with shade and light, more absorbing than most fiction I've read this year
—— Johanna Thomas-Corr , Sunday TimesTerrific
—— Louise Carpenter , The TimesAnother gratifyingly well-put-together work... Tremain's long sentences brim with a poised positivity...[and] add lightness to her fond depictions of these imperfect strivers
—— Francesca Carington , Sunday Telegraph, *Novel of the Week*Subtle, illuminating and captivating
—— Eithne Farry , Mail on SundayA moving exploration of love and the sacrifices we're willing to make in its name
—— Joanne Finney , Good HousekeepingOver a distinguished literary career, Rose Tremain has traversed genres with her customary flair... in her portrayal of the ways in which individual longing and frustration unfold against the constraints of forces beyond our control, Tremain has long been one of our most accomplished novelists, and here is further confirmation
—— Stephanie Merritt , The ObserverAn exhilarating exploration of love, life, loss and death... A thrilling and seductive story... Vivid and beguiling
—— Rowan Mantell , Eastern Daily PressRose Tremain gives Hilary Mantel a run for her money for the title of Britain's greatest living historical novelist... there are still few writers who can conjure up a version of the past that is so startlingly unfamiliar yet so convincing
—— Charlotte Heathcote , Sunday ExpressAn enjoyable page-turner
—— Robert Douglas-Fairhurst , The TimesA new book from Rose Tremain is always a cause for celebration. Her exceptionally well-crafted and deeply humane historical novels are invariably a joy and Islands of Mercy is no exception... A rich, rewarding and highly satisfying novel from one of our finest novelists.
—— Daunt BooksVivid, transgressive, explicit and kaleidoscopic
—— Rose Shepherd , Saga MagazineO'Callaghan's prose is mesmerising in its beauty . . . Profound, moving, sometimes shocking, [Life Sentences is] from the pen of a writer at the top of his game.
—— Anne Cunningham , Meath ChronicleOne of the most beautiful books of the year.
—— Sam Blake, #1 Irish Times bestselling author of the Cat Connolly trilogyThe novel I most look forward to is Billy O'Callaghan's Life Sentences.
—— Maggie Fergusson , Tablet *Highlights of 2021*The accomplished writer . . . O'Callaghan has proved an empathic and expert diviner of the extraordinary in ordinary lives.
—— Marjorie Brennan , Irish ExaminerAn absolutely stunning book . . . A truly beautiful read.
—— Sinéad MoriartyA gifted storyteller.
—— Donal O'Donoghue , RTÉ GuideA terrific family saga.
—— Village BookshelfA lyrical prose reminiscent of William Trevor, and a haunting family drama.
—— Times Literary SupplementOne of the most exciting literary talents to emerge in the last decade.
—— Irish Examiner