A Place Called Winter

Costa Shortlisted 2015

by Patrick Gale

Paperback – 27 August 2015

A Place Called Winter is such a beautifully written novel. I wish I had read it sooner.

Harry Cane is the eldest son of a privileged family. He has never needed to work and leads a comfortable, relaxed life. He gets married and they have a baby girl, and all seems right with the world. Then there is an affair which at first seems not to impact on his marriage or their family. However, his secret is discovered, and he has no choice but to abandon his current life or face the consequences. Consequences which will shame his family, ruining their reputation, as well as see him facing arrest.

The new life Harry must embark on is about as far from the lifestyle he has been used to as it could get. We join Harry on this back breaking journey and share his every emotion along the way.

Harry is such a likeable character, and I was fascinated by his story. Such a tender love story. A love which faces many challenges though, not least because it is the early 1900s.

This story is full of emotion, love, hard work and heartache. It is also full of hope. I loved it!

This is my first experience of Patrick Gale’s writing, but it will not be my last.