The wait is finally over: Anne Griffin‘s highly-anticipated, already critically-acclaimed debut WHEN ALL IS SAID is out today in the UK! Published by Sceptre, here’s the synopsis…
Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime.
‘I’m here to remember — all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’
At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual — though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.
Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories — of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice — the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.
Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.
As we mentioned at the top, the novel has already received an incredible amount of praise from far and wide: reviewers, bloggers and celebrated authors have taken to their websites, Twitter and interviews to mention how much they loved WHEN ALL IS SAID. Here is just a small selection from the reviews…
‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton
‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne
‘Poetic and touching without being sentimental… something special.’ — Good Housekeeping
‘Warning: it is impossible to read the last chapter of this book without weeping copious tears… an ingenious narrative… Maurice’s toast to his late wife that will leave you reeling though. Here is a man who deeply loved a woman but just didn’t know how to show it (often held back by his own parsimony), stifling her in the process until one day she rebels in the smallest but most moving of ways. When you read that page, you might want to get the tissues at the ready…’ — Stylist
‘Beautifully written, unhurried and thoughtful, a lonely man truthfully wrought and a character you love from the off, in spite of his flaws or maybe because of them… a terrific debut.’ — Kit de Waal, award-winning author of My Name is Leon
‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart
‘Anne Griffin is a writer with a bright, bright future.’ — Janet Peery (National Book Award finalist)
WHEN ALL IS SAID is due to be published in North America by St. Martin’s Press, in March. The novel has also been sold in a number of other territories, and we’ll share details and covers as soon as we have them.
