Shirley Hazzard Knihy

Reissue of this highly acclaimed Virago title, a 'finely written, beautiful and tragic novel' - Hermione Lee, FT

From the author of The Great Fire , a collection of stories about love and acceptance, expectations and disappointment Shirley Hazzard's stories are sharp, sensitive portrayals of moments of crisis. Whether they are set in the Italian countryside or suburban Connecticut, the stories deal with real people and real problems. In the title piece, a young widow is surprised and ashamed by her lack of grief for her husband. In 'A Place in the Country', a young woman has a passionate, guilty affair with her cousin's husband. In 'Harold', a gawky, lonely young man finds acceptance and respect through his poetry. Moving and evocative, these ten stories are written with subtlety, humor, and a keen understanding of the relationships between men and women.

'Shirley Hazzard is, purely and simply, one of the greatest writers working in the English today' (Michael Cunningham). Now at last comes the first complete book of her short stories, including those previously uncollected.

A young Englishwoman working in Naples, Jenny comes to Italy fleeing a history that threatened to undo her. Alone in the fabulously ruined city, she idly follows up a letter of introduction from an acquaintance and so changes her life forever. Through the letter, she meets Giocanda, a beautiful and gifted writer, and Gianni, a famous Roman film director and Giocanda’s lover. At work she encounters Justin, a Scotsman whose inscrutability Jenny finds mysteriously attractive. As she becomes increasingly involved in the lives of these three, she discovers that the past--and the patterns of a lifetime--are not easily discarded.

From the prizewinning author of The Great Fire comes 'an authentic work of art . . . A cause for delight and gratitude . . . Beautiful, absorbing, satisfying' Chicago Tribune

Set in post-World War II Japan, the narrative explores the lives of characters grappling with trauma and loss in the aftermath of the Great Fire. Through their intertwined stories, themes of memory, resilience, and the search for redemption emerge. The novel delves into the complexities of human relationships amidst the backdrop of a devastated landscape, offering a poignant reflection on the impact of war and the struggle to rebuild both physically and emotionally.