The Walled Garden
Unearth the most moving and captivating novel of the year
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bonnier Books Ltd
Published:16th Mar '23
Should be back in stock very soon
In The Walled Garden, Alice Rayne faces the aftermath of war, struggling with her husband's transformation and discovering new love in a time of healing.
Set against the backdrop of post-World War II England, The Walled Garden tells the poignant story of Alice Rayne, who grapples with the emotional scars left by the war. In 1946, as soldiers return to their homes in the village of Oakbourne, they bring with them not just physical injuries but deep psychological wounds. Alice's husband, Stephen, once a gentle soul, has transformed into a bitter stranger, haunted by his experiences and the secrets he keeps. The war has not only altered him but has also cast a shadow over their marriage and the future of Oakbourne Hall.
As Alice navigates her new reality, she feels increasingly isolated and fearful of the man her husband has become. In her quest to restore both her marriage and the estate, she turns her attention to the walled garden, a once-thriving sanctuary now in disrepair. As she nurtures the garden back to life, she finds herself drawn into a new, forbidden love that offers her a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
The Walled Garden is a beautifully written exploration of love, trauma, and resilience. It captures the essence of healing—both personal and communal—set in the lush Suffolk countryside as it transitions from the starkness of winter to the vibrancy of spring. With its rich character development and evocative prose, this debut novel invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships in the aftermath of conflict.
Richly evocative and transporting. * Stacey Halls *
A tender and lyrical evocation of the restorative power of nature and the garden. This beautiful book had notes of both Elizabeth von Arnim and Elizabeth Jane Howard. More please! * Natasha Solomons *
This touching, absorbing novel considers World War II from an unusual standpoint: the wives of shattered survivors returning home . . . A beautifully written story that will especially appeal to Rachel Hore fans. * Daily Mail *
A poignant drama . . . What happens when war ends? How do people move on after what they've seen and possibly done? Hardy explores these complex themes in this gentle but powerful novel. There'll be tears, but this evocative read is worth every one. * Woman & Home - Book of the Month *
This wonderfully written debut confronts the horrors of war with a clear eye and captures the long-lasting effects on both soldiers and the families they left behind. There's an incisive sharpness to Hardy's observations and her characters' flaws serve to make them more human. Ultimately this is a story of love and hope. * Anne Cater, S Magazine, Sunday Express *
A heartbreaking tale, vividly dramatised, wise and well-observed about the traumatic effects of war on survivors and their families in the little Suffolk community where it's set. The characters are splendid - they blaze from the page - and the author writes beautifully and knowledgeably about the natural world. A splendid debut! * Rachel Hore *
An enveloping story to savour. * Kate Sawyer, Costa shortlisted author of THE STRANDING *
Written with great delicacy and feeling. * Elizabeth Buchan, author of Two Women in Rome *
Sarah Hardy's supremely observed novel blossoms like a rose-sharp and pointed, and stunningly beautiful. * Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon *
A poignant, powerful novel about aftermath, trauma and hope. * Katie Lumsden, author of THE SECRETS OF HARTWOOD HALL *
ISBN: 9781838779252
Dimensions: 242mm x 159mm x 36mm
Weight: 622g
400 pages