A Son of War: Longlisted for the Booker Prize

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE THE SECOND NOVEL IN 'ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED LITERARY SERIES IN RECENT TIMES' (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH) 'A novel of remarkable power and grace . . . astounding' The Times 'Deeply humane and acutely truthful' Sunday Times 'Full of a simple poetry . . . a true portrayal of the rhythms of everyday working-class life' Independent After the upheavals of the Second World War, the Richardson family - Sam, Ellen and their young son Joe - settle back to working-class life in the Cumbrian town of Wigton. Yet for them, as for so many, life will never be the same again. As the old order begins to be challenged and new vistas open, Sam and Ellen forge their future together with differing needs and desires - and conflicting expectations of Joe, who grows up with his own demons to confront.

About the Author :
Melvyn Bragg is a writer and broadcaster. His novels include The Hired Man, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, Without a City Wall, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, The Soldier's Return, winner of the WHSmith Literary Award, A Son of War and Crossing the Lines, both of which were longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and most recently Grace and Mary. He has also written several works of non-fiction, the latest being The Book of Books about the King James Bible. He lives in London and Cumbria.

Review :
It is as if these were the novels he was always waiting to write ... He catches brilliantly the volatility of emotions - how happiness can curdle, anger flare, guilt build into terrror. -- Nicci Gerrard Observer A novel about being alive, the kind of slice-of-life novel that everyone feels they have inside them but few could write -- Brandon Robshaw Independent on Sunday Shot through with blazing integrity and authenticity -- Val Hennessy Daily Mail This sequel to The Soldier's Return - widely acclaimed as Melvyn Bragg's best novel - is every bit as convincing and enjoyable ...This seems likely to become not only an outstandingly good series but one of the finest and most authentic records of the changes in English society, life and manners since the Second World War -- Allan Massie Scotsman [A] deeply humane and acutely truthful novel -- Peter Kemp The Sunday Times A compelling sequel to his award-winning tour de force, The Soldier's Return -- Frank Egerton Financial Times A novel of remarkable power and grace ... his authenticity is astounding -- Roy Hattersley The Times Full of a simple poetry that is deeply evocative ... even better than The Soldier's Return -- Carol Birch Independent