an IndieNext List Pick:
THE RAILWAYMAN’S WIFE
Ashley Hay
“The Perfect Spring Read. A perfect gift. An unforgettable journey.”
Atria Books celebrates the release of its Spring leading fiction title, one of the most beautiful, heartfelt and relatable stories ever told. One we can all somehow relate… The Railwayman’s Wife by author Ashley Hay.
From time to time comes a story that latches onto the soul long after turning the last page in the book. A story so emotional and captivating you can’t help going back to it over and over again. This is that type of story. Whether readers prefer to collect this novel or gift it to that special friend, sister, or mother, The Railwayman’s Wife, will surely resonate among readers.
Ashley’s writing is so intense, richly descriptive and captivating, it is hard not to lose yourself in this mesmerizing tale. THE RAILWAYMAN’S WIFE explores the power of beginning and endings, and how hard it can sometimes be to tell them apart. Most of all, it celebrates love in all its forms, and the beauty of discovering that loving someone can be as extraordinary as being loved yourself.
BEAUTIFUL PRAISE FOR THE RAILWAY…:
“Hay’s poetic gifts are evident in her descriptions of the wild coastal landscape and Roy’s measured verse. This poignant, elegant novel delves into the depth of tragedy, the shaky ground of recovery, and the bittersweet memories of lost love.”
-Booklist
“While exploring how three different people experience life after war and loss, The Railwayman’s Wife uses beautiful prose and empathetic characters to tell a story of both hope and heartache.”
-BookPage
“poetic story of love, loss and moving on”
-Star Telegram
“Significant moments are described with astoundingly solid writing, and the coastal setting is beautifully depicted. Previously released to critical acclaim in Australia in 2013 and a 2014 winner of the Colin Roderick Prize in the UK, this second novel from Hay is the kind of slow, ruminative, evocative story that will appeal to devotees of literary fiction who read primarily for language.”
-Library Journal
“Hay is both cerebral and emotional in portraying life's catastrophes and the way people cope. As if her message is too raw to lay out in blazing color, she camouflages it in poetry and half-seen images—and it works. The message is clear, and the shocks are softened but no less there. Multilayered, graceful, couched in poetry, supremely honest, gentle yet jarring, Hay's thought-provoking novel pulls you along slowly, like a deep river that is deceptively calm but full of hidden rapids. Much to ponder.”
-Kirkus
“Hay has lovingly crafted a poignant, character-driven novel filled with heartache and hope, which is transferred to the reader through lyrical prose, poetic dialogue and stunning imagery.”
-RT Book Reviews
“"After wow-ing European audiences, this book is coming stateside to dazzle you. Beautifully written, and featuring some excellent passages about writing and reading itself,
this book will have you feeling every emotion at once."
-Bustle.com
SOME OF THE THINGS OUR READERS ARE SAYING:
“I needed to time to reflect on this story that connected with me on a deep level in its themes of life goes on and the positive effect we can have on another’s healing.”
-Kathy Reads Fiction
“The author’s vivid descriptions of the water, the library, the train station, and the beach really help the atmosphere of the book, allowing readers to imagine such beauty.”
-Librarian Laura
“The Railwayman’s Wife is a touching, emotional read that will break your heart with a thoughtful smile.”
-Books for Her
Anikka “Ani” Lachlan has always been happy with her life. She has a husband, Mac, who loves her deeply, and a daughter, Isabel, who is the joy of their lives. And while they may not have much money with Mac’s wages as a railwayman, their little family is content. They spend countless hours roaming the wild coastline of their beloved town of Thirroul and in the local Railway Institute Library, discovering new worlds and new adventures amid the books. But that suddenly changes when Mac is killed in a horrific work accident and Ani is left lost, alone, and grieving—destined to bear the devastating loneliness of raising Isabel on her own. When she’s offered the position of librarian at the Railway Institute Library, she takes it—with the hope that she’ll find answers amid the pages of her favorite books and relearn the most difficult lesson of all: how to go on living.
The acclaimed town poet, Roy McKinnon, experiences a different kind of loss. He served in the WWII, and took part in the necessary brutality men face in battle. In spite of this, he wrote the most powerful poem of his career, finding beauty amid the chaos and terror of war. Now, adrift and depressed, he wonders why he lost his voice and vision upon returning home.
Roy’s childhood friend, Dr. Frank Draper, is determined to return to his life before the war, but struggles to cope with his failure to help those who needed it most—the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps, the ones he couldn’t save during their first moments of freedom.
All three struggle to find their own peace, and their own new story. But along with the firming of friendship and a sense of lives inching towards renewal come other extremities – and misunderstandings. One day, perched upon Ani’s sitting room mantle, is a poem. She doesn’t know how it got there, and its title page is unattributed. But she has her suspicions. A love triangle involving the poet, the poem, and Ani begins to form between an emerging reality and the things she wishes were true.
Ashley Hay’s most recent novel, The Railwayman’s Wife, was released in Australia to critical acclaim in April 2013. It was published in the UK in January 2014. It won the Colin Roderick Prize (awarded by the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies), as well as the People's Choice award in the 2014 NSW Premier's Prize. It was longlisted for both the Miles Franklin and Nita B. Kibble awards.
Her previous books span fiction and non-fiction and include Gum: The Story of Eucalypts and Their Champions (2002) and Museum (2007; with visual artist Robyn Stacey). Her first novel, The Body in the Clouds (2010), was shortlisted for categories in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the NSW and WA premier’s prizes, and longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
A writer for more than 20 years, she publishes regularly in Australian journals including The Monthly, Australian Geographic, andThe Australian. Her essays and short stories have appeared in volumes including the Griffith Review, Best Australian Essays (2003),Best Australian Short Stories (2012), and Best Australian Science Writing(2012).
