The Greatcoat: A Ghost Story

Review "Written in crisp, enthralling prose . . . The dynamics of Isabel's new marriage are conveyed with subtlety and precision, and the sense of deja vu surrounding the story makes it all the more chilling. . . . Tense and engaging."—The New Yorker “A perfect ghost story”—The Independent"Atmospheric . . . Haunting . . . Dunmore's eerie evocation of post-WWII Britian provides the perfect framework for this nifty little ghost story."—Booklist"The Greatcoat is spooky."—The Daily Best (Hot Reads)“Conveys a shivery menace . . . This is the most elegant flesh-creeper since Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black.”—The Times (UK)“Dunmore has a sharp eye, and a fine pen, for the hairline cracks in a new marriage, for what is not said as passion begins to dwindle.”—The Guardian "A taut, elegantly written ghost story . . . Dunmore is on fine form here, wielding her skill at bringing history to life in the small, dismal details of the post-war period, and showing off her talents as a poet in her mesmerising depiction of a possession. . . . Spines are delicately, deliciously chilled when she reveals just who is doing the possessing—ghost stories don’t have to be long or gruesome, to be thoroughly scary."—The Sunday Times (UK)“A powerful evocation of the period and of the tricks the mind can play on itself, [The Greatcoat’s] unadorned prose builds a chilling effect reminiscent of The Turn of the Screw.”—Prospect (UK)“Dunmore achieves a delicate balance . . . in this beautifully written tale.”—The Scotsman “Haunting and exquisitely crafted.”—Glamour“Dunmore writes with passion and precision . . . The Greatcoat is a charming character study, a poignant romance, and a fascinating period piece.”—The Daily Mail“A deceptively slight tale that catches the reader off guard, revealing the slipperiness of reality . . . The Greatcoat is a gentle tale as war stories go but exposes, all the more searingly for that, the corrosive half-life that lingers on in homes and hearts long after hostilities have ceased.”—The Sunday Herald Product Description Bestselling novelist Helen Dunmore’s historical novels have earned her comparisons in the press to Tolstoy and Emily Bronte. In her newest book, Dunmore mines the past to chilling effect in this evocative and sophisticated ghost story about a love affair between a neglected wife and a mysterious soldier. It is the winter of 1952 when Isabel Carey moves to the East Riding of Yorkshire with her new husband, Philip, a medical doctor. While Philip spends long hours working away from home, Isabel finds herself lonely and vulnerable as she adjusts to the realities of being a housewife in the country.One evening, while Philip is on call, Isabel is woken by intense cold. When she hunts for extra blankets, she discovers an old RAF greatcoat hidden in the back of a cupboard. Sleeping under the coat for warmth, she starts to dream and is soon startled by a knock at her window. Outside is a young RAF pilot wearing a familiar coat. His name is Alec and his powerful presence disturbs and excites her as they begin an intense affair. Nothing though has prepared her for the truth about Alec’s life, nor the impact it will have on her own. From Booklist Dunmore’s eerie evocation of post–WWII Britain provides the perfect framework for this nifty little ghost story. As newlyweds Isabel and Philip Carey attempt to cope with housing, fuel, and food shortages in their remote Yorkshire village, the lonely and dissatisfied Isabel becomes increasingly drawn into a disturbingly realistic relationship with a deceased airman. After discovering an RAF greatcoat in their drab little flat, she begins receiving visits from the coat’s original owner. Just who Alec was and how he figured into the life of the Careys’ ominously dour landlady is revealed in delectable dribs and drabs as Isabel begins to lead a double life. Hovering between two worlds, she must figure out exactly what is going on, what her landlady has to do with
ASIN: B00DF27LOI
VSKU: KDV.B00DF27LOI.G
Condition: Good