First published 1995
Mary has lost her son Robin and returns to live with her mother, Mrs Marsh. Her sister Barbara is married to Sebastian, an academic, and they have two children together. Christmas Eve brings the entire family to Mrs Marsh's cottage at the edge of the woods. Mary struggles with her grief while the family gathers for the holiday. Beneath the surface of festive cheer, tensions simmer among the relatives. Barbara and Mary navigate their complicated relationship as sisters. Sebastian brings his own academic perspective to the family dynamics. The cottage setting intensifies the emotional pressure as everyone tries to maintain appearances. Unease builds throughout their time together. Frustration mounts between family members. Jealousy emerges in unexpected ways. The carefully maintained facade of holiday harmony begins to crack. What started as a traditional family Christmas becomes a reckoning with buried resentments and unspoken truths. Ellis examines how people seek comfort and meaning after loss, exploring the small ways families wound and console each other during their most vulnerable moments.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: family-drama, grief
Setting: Cottage, Woods
Period: Christmas Eve
Paperback · OLIVIER