During Mother's Absence

Description

Subversive, sensual tales, wise and witty fictions; this collection of short stories from one of Britain's most acclaimed novelists is by turns shockingly delicious and soberingly disquieting. When mother is away taboos are breached, the untouchables embraced and the forbidden tasted. In 'Laundry' a poor, plain girl takes devilish pleasure in outwitting the pious monks and nuns she washes for. In the haunting, powerful fable 'Anger' a young woman, branded by fire at birth by her mother is scarred- and blessed- for life. In the highly sensuous 'Taking it Easy' a mother with writers block finds an escape from the slavery of her twin enemies by turning them into food for thought. And in the beautiful, arresting 'God's House' a young girl faces the ultimate mother's absence.

Half-English and half-French, Mich le Roberts was born in 1949. DAUGHTERS OF THE HOUSE (1992) was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the W.H. Smith Literary Award.

'Wise, witty and haunting.' TIME OUT 'Deep, sensual short stories of Europena provenance that hold your breath in their charm while you dare them to resolve happily ever after. Perhaps they do, but the delight of their delivery is that they quite equally might not. Read before sleep and dream disturbing, forbidden and perfectly described dreams.' THE LIST 'A majestically beguling collection of short stores moving effortlessly between haunting fables, teasing tales and... profoundly affecting accounts of sadness and loss... richly rewarding.' SUNDAY TIMES 'A dark and witty book... exciting reading.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'Michele Roberts' writing has the same mix of earthiness and delicate sensuality as Colette's' COSMOPOLITAN 'Roberts serves up an appetising feast. Consume. Enjoy.' TIME OUT 'Roberts has a matchless gift for conveying tastes and textures.' GUARDIAN 'Long standing admirers of Robert's fiction will see confirmed the ripening of confidence and power.' TLS 'DURING MOTHER'S ABSENCE is like the Normandy cream Roberts remembers with relish- once you have had a taste, you want the whole bowlful.' SUNDAY TIMES