Second Place

From the author of the Outline trilogy, a fable of human destiny and decline, enacted in a closed system of intimate, fractured relationships.

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021

‘A classic, but with contemporary urgency thumping through it.’ – Claire-Louise Bennett, author of Pond

A woman invites a famed artist to the remote coastal landscape where she lives. Drawn to his paintings, she believes his vision may penetrate the mystery at the centre of her life. But as a long, dry summer sets in, his provocative presence soon twists the patterns of her secluded household.

‘The most singular book . . . A psychodrama that is both timeless and up-to-the minute . . . Truly one of a kind.’ – Justine Jordan, Guardian
‘Glittering brilliance.’ – Jon Day, Financial Times