A COMING-OF-AGE TALE OF ADVENTURE AND LOVE FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF REBECCA ' She
wrote exciting plots . . . a writer of fearless originality' GUARDIAN ' One of the
last century' s most original literary talents' DAILY TELEGRAPH ' Amazingly
vivid' SATURDAY REVIEW ' The iron of the bridge felt hot under my hand. The sun had
been upon it all day. Gripping hard with my hands I lifted myself on to the bar and gazed down
steadily on the water passing under . . . I thought of places I would never see and women I
should never love.' As far as Richard' s father a famous poet is concerned his son
has no talent as a writer and will never amount to anything. In a moment of crisis Richard
decides to end his life but is saved by Jake a passing stranger. The two men both at turning
points in their lives set out for adventure jumping aboard a ship to Norway. Their travels
take them through Europe and they form a passionate friendship. But in bohemian Paris Richard
meets Hesta a music student who inspires him to follow his artistic dreams.
