Jane Urquhart Book order

Jane Urquhart’s stunning new novel weaves two parallel stories: one in contemporary Toronto and Prince Edward County, Ontario, and the other in the nineteenth century along the northern shores of Lake Ontario. Sylvia Bradley, rescued from her parents’ home by a doctor intrigued by her withdrawn nature, finds nourishment in their marriage, yet feels imprisoned by her husband’s care. Her life shifts dramatically upon meeting Andrew Woodman, a historical geographer. Following Andrew’s death, Sylvia connects with Jerome McNaughton, a young Toronto artist who discovers Andrew’s body on a small island, unlocking secrets from his own past. In Toronto, Sylvia recounts her unusual childhood and her passionate affair with Andrew, whose life was shaped by past decisions. Central to the novel is Andrew’s ancestry, including his great-great-grandfather Joseph Woodman, who emigrated from England during the timber and shipbuilding boom, and his daughter Annabel, along with his son Branwell, an innkeeper and painter. Branwell’s relationship with an orphaned French-Canadian woman sparks a new family generation, setting the stage for future events. This novel explores loss and the fleeting nature of place, rich with evocative prose and haunting imagery, showcasing Urquhart’s celebrated writing in her most accomplished work to date.

Ein Sommer im Jahr 1889 an den Niagarafällen in Ontario. Es ist die Saison für leichtsinnige Wassersprünge, und die Witwe des Leichenbestatters ist mit Beerdigungen vollauf beschäftigt. Ihre Tage sind getrübt von dem unerklärlichen Schweigen ihres jungen Sohnes. Im Kick-Hotel haben Fleda und ihr Mann David ein Zimmer genommen, wie jedes Jahr, und Fleda träumt von ihrer Begegnung mit dem jungen Dichter Browning, die einst am Fuße der Niagarafälle stattfand und ihr ganzes Leben veränderte. Zur selben Zeit sinniert der Dichter Browning in Venedig über seinen nahenden Tod. Am Ende des Sommers verbinden sich die Schicksalsfäden dieser Menschen und ein Opfer wird im Strudel der Ereignisse zu beklagen sein.

The bestselling epic of love and of loss, and of the redemptive power of time

Austin Fraser's painting teacher had indoctrinated him with the view that unless something could be turned into art, it simply was not worth his time. And in this, he included people. Austin applied the principle to Sara Pengelly, who lived alone on the northern edge of Lake Superior, and whom Austin travelled north to visit for fifteen summers.

The award-winning author of The Whirlpool returns with a seductive, powerful, and humorous novel of the lives of four generations of extraordinary women that "charts the restless weather of the human heart . . . the way the ancient Greeks mapped the constellations" (Washington Post).