The Winter Gathering
A warm, life-affirming story of enduring friendship
Published on 16. October 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
448 pages
978-0-7553-3230-4 (ISBN)
Description
It's ten years on from the first winter gathering, when four of Maggie Quinn's closest friends rushed in to spend Christmas with her after her husband walked out just days before. And at Christmas, it doesn't take long for an event to become a tradition.
But this Christmas Day, for the first time, there's an addition to the party, in the form of a young, very handsome man. Only one of the women knows what he's doing there, and she's remaining tight-lipped.
So begins a new chapter in the lives of the five friends. As the winter moves towards spring, each faces personal hurdles, from family difficulties to illness to the unexpected reappearance of Maggie's ex. Throughout, each proves that friends truly are the family you choose -- and that, ultimately, the magic of Christmas can arrive at any time of year.
But this Christmas Day, for the first time, there's an addition to the party, in the form of a young, very handsome man. Only one of the women knows what he's doing there, and she's remaining tight-lipped.
So begins a new chapter in the lives of the five friends. As the winter moves towards spring, each faces personal hurdles, from family difficulties to illness to the unexpected reappearance of Maggie's ex. Throughout, each proves that friends truly are the family you choose -- and that, ultimately, the magic of Christmas can arrive at any time of year.
Reviews / Votes
A jewel of a story * Sunday Independent * An Irish storyteller in full stride... exemplary skill * Irish Times * A writer fully in charge of her craft... impeccable * Sunday Tribune * An audacious novel... An absorbing, needling read -- Helen Dunmore, <i> The Times </i> Spellbindng... fascinating and provocative...[Deirdre Purcell has] a new masterpiece on her hands * Irish Independent * Written in her customary incisive prose...Purcell's book balances the warmth of friendships against darker issues of illness and everyday family crises * Irish Mail on Sunday * Refreshing * Sunday Business Post *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Headline Publishing Group
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
300 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7553-3230-4 (9780755332304)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2013
Headline Review
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Deirdre Purcell was born and brought up in Dublin, and educated there and in a County Mayo convent. Before turning to the writing of fiction, she lived through an eclectic set of careers, including acting, as a member of the permanent company of Ireland's National Theatre (The Abbey), and journalism for all media - for which she won Ireland's top awards.