Interpretations of Love
(Paperback)
Available Formats
Paperback
Published: 9th September 2025
Hardback
Published: 12th November 2024
Paperback
Published: 8th October 2024
Publishing Details
Interpretations of Love
By (Author) Jane Campbell
Quercus Publishing
riverrun
9th September 2025
5th June 2025
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Fiction
Second World War fiction
Physical Properties
Paperback
240
Width 129mm, Height 198mm
Description
'Her work merits comparison with that of Edna O'Brien or Muriel Spark' New York TimesStretching from war-torn 1940's Liverpool to Oxford at the end of the century, this story explores the emotional landscape of the time and the impact tiny moments of betrayal can have on our relationships in the years that follow. Malcolm has held on to a secret for more than fifty years: a letter his sister Sophy gave him just before she died. He had promised to give it to the young doctor she met one night during the Liverpool Blitz: a night that altered the course of her life. But the letter was never delivered. Now, after so many years of uncertainty, Malcolm has decided to share Sophy's secret with her daughter Agnes. It is the day of Agnes's daughter's wedding party. The ghosts of Agnes's past and all the powerful emotions of the family reunion wrap around her thoughts. Until she is distracted by a hand on her arm as her uncle Malcolm holds out an envelope for her to take . . .Touching on the many different forms love can take and told from multiple perspectives, Interpretations of Love is the story of a letter and our endless search for the stories that we have lost.
Reviews
The octogenarian's novel Interpretations of Love, set in the 1940s, has moving things to say about grief * Independent (Biggest read for July) *
Reminded me of Ian McEwan's Atonement . . . a haunting debut * The Lady *
For fans of Atonement * Grazia (The hot debut) *
Astute, thought-provoking, and brilliantly constructed, this is an instant classic. * Oprah Daily *
A perfectly poised, elegant debut from an octogenarian author who understands her characters better than they understand themselves. * Saga *
Thoughtful, elegant, self-analytical, fluently offering vivid description and interesting thoughts . . .This suspenseful, morally complex plot reminded me a bit of Ian McEwan's 'Atonement.' * The Washington Post *
Wise and moving . . . stunning. * Daily Mail *
Author Bio
Jane grew up in Zambia and Cape Town and read English at Oxford. She has worked as a Group Analyst, teaching and training and lecturing internationally, for nearly forty years. Cat Brushing is her first collection.
