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Libby Purves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 1997

Catherine and Caroline, Toby and Mark were globetrotting siblings: British 'diplo-brats', whose childhood homes lay in Italy or Israel, China or Los Angeles - wherever their father was posted at the time. But all that was years ago. Now Catherine is approaching middle-age, married to a life of selfless cheeseparing idealism on a chilly organic farm; Mark is a prim supermarket executive, Caroline a wealthy young Kensington wife, and Toby - well, Toby is a problem. He always was. Amid growing tensions, marriage-fatigue and singularly pointless feuds between the generations, Toby's mysterious disappearance jolts his sisters and brother into making angry, anxious journeys: across Europe, along California beaches, back in time and into their own hearts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A feel-good novel ... hilarious ... humorous ... fabulously incisive' -- Independent 'Purves' novel of ordinary lives is compelling, her perceptions are acute ... sophisticated and skilful' -- Daily Telegraph 'Libby Purves' prose is clean, sharp and in touch with things that matter' -- Valerie Grove, The Times

About the Author

Libby Purves is a writer and also a broadcaster who has presented the talk programme Midweek on Radio 4 since 1984 and formerly presented Today. She is a main columnist on the Times and in 1999 was named the Granada "What the Papers Say" Columnist of the Year, and awarded a O.B.E for services to journalism. Her books on family life, How Not to Be a Perfect Mother, How Not to Raise a Perfect Child and How Not to Be a Perfect Family have been widely translated. Her compendium Nature's Masterpiece appeared in 1999 to complete the work. She also wrote One Summer's Grace, an account of a voyage around Britain in a small sailing boat with her husband and two small children in 1988. She lives in Suffolk with her husband the broadcaster and writer Paul Heiney, and their two teenage children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Sceptre (June 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340680407
• ISBN-13: 978-0340680407
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,552,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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