About the Author

Christopher Nolan is also the author of "Under the Eye of the Clock," which won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award. He died in 2009.

Reviews

Richly even baroquely told . Nolan writes with verve. "The New York Times Book Review"
Nolan s soaring language and lilting, alliterative style suffuse the book with a sense of the miraculous. "The Philadelphia Inquirer
"
A work of genius. Everything in this charming story simmers with life . Unflaggingly engaging. "The Christian Science Monitor
" Nolan makes the ordinary extraordinary. In his hands, a simple tale of a countrywoman s steadfast strength becomes an elegiac, enthralling epic; funny, poignant, and as earthy as the Irish sod it s set on. "BookPage"
Nolan is a stunning writer. "The New York Review of Books"
Nolan manages to make a familiar story of rooted parents and rootless children seem sparklingly original. "The Sunday Times" (London)
Nolan s memorable narrative is a brilliantly observed marvel of atmosphere and humanity, as sophisticated as it is simple and ripe with rich, earthy, inventive language. Few novels will beguile as much. "Image Magazine"
Told with considerable warmth . A novel like this one is to be valued for its celebration of the way in which the imagination changes things. "The Irish Times
" Nolan . . . mesmerizes us from the opening passage . . . his descriptive prowess reminds one of Joyce as he takes this simple family story and breathes into it clarity and understanding. "The Boston Globe""

"Richly-even baroquely-told.... Nolan writes with verve."-"The New York Times Book Review"
"Nolan's soaring language and lilting, alliterative style suffuse...the book with a sense of the miraculous."-"The Philadelphia Inquirer
"
"A work of genius. Everything in this charming story simmers with life.... Unflaggingly engaging."-"The Christian Science Monitor
""Nolan...makes the ordinary extraordinary. In his hands, a simple tale of a countrywoman's steadfast strength becomes an elegiac, enthralling epic; funny, poignant, and as earthy as the Irish sod it's set on."-"BookPage"
"Nolan is a stunning writer."-"The New York Review of Books"
"Nolan manages to make a familiar story of rooted parents and rootless children seem sparklingly original."-"The Sunday Times" (London)
"Nolan's memorable narrative is a brilliantly observed marvel of atmosphere and humanity, as sophisticated as it is simple and ripe with rich, earthy, inventive language. Few novels will beguile as much."-"Image Magazine"
"Told with considerable warmth.... A novel like this one...is to be valued for its celebration of the way in which the imagination changes things."-"The Irish Times
""Nolan . . . mesmerizes us from the opening passage . . . his descriptive prowess reminds one of Joyce as he takes this simple family story and breathes into it clarity and understanding." -"The Boston Globe"