"Highly sophisticated and absolutely sincere.” - The Irish Times

“Certainly not short of ambition. Van Booy's concern is human emotion, how we cope with the tragedies and joys that life throws at us. Van Booy is an extremely sensitive writer.” - The Scotsman

Simon Van Booy brings to the page his unique talent for poetic dialogue and sumptuous imagery in this his remarkable debut novel of love and loss, dependence and independence. 

Rebecca has come to Athens to paint. Born and raised in the south of France, Rebecca’s mother abandoned her and her sister when they were very young, left to be raised by her loving yet distant grandfather. Young and lost, she seeks solace in the heat of Athens. George has come to Athens to translate language. Dropped off at a New England boarding school when he was a child, he has close to no relationships with anyone, except the study of ancient language and alcohol. Henry has come to Athens to dig. An archaeologist, Henry is on-site at Athens during the day, and roams the Agora on the weekend. Three lost and lonely souls whose worlds become inexorable enmeshed with consequences that ripple far among the ruins of ancient Athens. 

Praise for Simon Van Booy’s short stories: 

“Its combination of staccato sentences and tidy symbolism transforms the finest passages into little haikus of prose.” – The Daily Telegraph 

“His stories are full of the most exquisite insights.” – Patrick Cotter, Director of the Frank O’Connor Award 

“It’s rare that reading, typically a solitary exercise, makes you feel so connected to other people.” – Time Out New York 

“Van Booy is a master of the atmospheric scene written in lyrical prose.” – The Short Review

Published 7th July 2011

ISBN 9781907616617

Hardback £15.99