Product Description

Capturing the beauty and pain of two extraordinary love affairs separated by a gulf of 2000 years, this book explores true emotion, loss and the healing power of forgiveness.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #204440 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 524 pages

From the Back Cover
One long look and I was brought down. She was in my blood...

Be careful how you uncover the past.

In the splendour and savagery of ancient Rome, Cassius, the greatest poet of his age, loses the only woman he ever loved. Two thousand yeas later, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Antonia is driven to solve the riddle Cassius left behind. Her chance comes when she and her father, both archaeologists, excavate the sun-baked valley where Cassius lived and died.

This is the heartbreaking, heartwarming story of what Antonia found, and of all that followed. For Antonia there is a chance - one final chance - to undo the mistakes of the past, and to solve the age-old, all-pervading mystery that binds past and present together.

About the Author
Michelle Paver
Michelle Paver was born in Malawi; her father was South African and her mother is Belgian. They moved to England when she was small and she was brought up in Wimbledon, where she still lives. After gaining a first in biochemistry at Oxford she became a lawyer and was until recently a partner of a large City law firm, specialising in patent litigation. She has now given up the law to write full-time. She is the author of Without Charity, A Place in the Hills and The Shadow Catcher, all published by Corgi.

Customer Reviews

Stunning, evocative, memorable
I chanced upon this book and am delighted that I did. Ms Paver weaves two parallel stories together, one set in present-day France on the site of an archaeological dig, one in ancient Rome. The sensual detail - sights, sounds, smells - is so acute that one lives the experience. I have rarely been so transported by a novel. It has a solid, intellectual quality that raises it high above the average historical novel, and a brutal passion which I haven't experienced since I read Emily Bronte. The characters of all ages and periods felt utterly real. Ms Paver is a rare and gifted writer who can combine accessibility with intelligence and fine, satisfying detail. I can't rate this highly enough. You will be taken to another place and you won't want to come back. Many more of the same, Ms Paver, Please!

My only criticism was the jacket, which I'm afraid does not reflect the quality of the content - had I seen this in a shop (rather than been passed it on recommendation) I probably wouldn't have bought it. I would have missed a treat. Why do publishers think intelligent fiction has to be packaged like a packet of sweets?? Trust the female buying public, please! I have now read Ms Paver's first novel too and judge her to be one of the most talented contemporary women's fiction writers currently writing in England. Please try her for yourself. She doesn't disappoint.

An Thoroughly Absorbing Story - and a Joy to Read
Michelle Paver has written an absorbing novel, with two storylines running parallel for the entire length of the novel. I literally read this in two sittings and even then, to the disgust of my children (and husband), was rude and impatient to anyone who dared to interrupt me whenever the book was in my hands.....a sure sign that I am completely hooked! Ms Paver writes with such depth of feeling and all her characters are well depicted. The story of Antonia and Patrick, which takes place mostly in the present day, was an emotional rollercoaster - although frustrating at the same time. As for that of Cassius and Tacita, set 2000 years in the past......well, suffice to say that this one had me in tears at the end and if I had any criticism at all - which I don't - then it would be my wish for the author to have explored their story with a little more depth as I found both their characters utterly compelling. This particular period in history, concerning the Romans, has always fascinated me and this book has made me even more determined to seek out other books which are set during this time. Believe me, I cannot praise this book enough. The words just seemed to flow off the pages and her style of writing was uncomplicated and so down-to-earth. I look forward to reading any future novels of Ms Paver - and also her first, "Without Charity", which I haven't read yet. I recommend anyone who enjoys a good story, with human emotions at its core, to read this book. You will not be disappointed.

A superb book full of characters you genuinely care about.
I enjoyed this book from first page until last. So many of the characters were both heartwarming and funny. Even the destructive Myles envoked your pity as he just couldn't help himself and poor little Modge almost broke my heart. I also liked the book dipping back into ancient Rome so that we could get to know Cassius and Tacita's story. Definitely a book I could not put down and I look foward to reading more Michelle Paver in the future