In J.L. Carr’s tale of survival and healing, a damaged veteran rediscovers the primeval rhythms of life so cruelly disorientated by the Great War.

In the summer of 1920 two men meet in the quiet English countryside. One is a war survivor, living in a church, intent upon uncovering and restoring a historical wall-painting. The other, too, is a war survivor, camping in the next field in search of a lost grave. Out of their physical meeting comes a deeper communion - with the landscape, with history - and a renewed belief in the future.

Shortlisted
The Booker Prize 1980
Published by
Harvester
Publication date
J.L. Carr

J.L. Carr

About the Author

J.L. Carr was born in Thirsk, England. He started writing full-time relatively late in life, at the age of 55.
More about J.L. Carr

Other nominated books by J.L. Carr

The Battle of Pollocks Crossing