Winter

By Christopher Nicholson

From the author of the Costa Best Novel-shortlisted ‘The Elephant Keeper’, a poignant imagining of Thomas Hardy’s relationship with his last muse.

A celebrated author, in the winter of his life, awaits a visit from a beautiful young actress – the leading lady in a staging of his most famous tragedy. But his wife is troubled. An anxious and sickly woman, she watches the growing intimacy between her husband and the young woman, and becomes tormented by the idea that they will betray her.

In this delicately-wrought novel, Christopher Nicholson has been inspired by the true story of the first theatrical production of ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ to paint a subtle and moving portrait of life’s little ironies, its disappointments and its desires.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Jan 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9780007516063

Christopher Nicholson

Christopher Nicholson read English at Cambridge University. He has been a community development worker in Cornwall, and a radio scriptwriter and producer in London. He lives in Dorset. ‘The Elephant Keeper’ is his second novel.

Reviews for Winter

[jwhenderson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fictional account of an incident in the life of the author Thomas Hardy, the novel recounts moments of romance and creativity resulting from that romance. The style of the novel mimics that of Hardy himself and is more successful than not for the most part. Overall this is an enjoyable narrative of historical literary fiction.

[cariola_6 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

How disappointing! I was looking forward to this book about the later years of one of my favorite authors, Thomas Hardy, but the main characters were so unlikable and the narratives slow and repetitive that I almost gave up on this one (and probably should have). Hardy is 84 focusing on poetry. He lives in a country home with his second wife, Florence, who is roughly half his age. She is one of the most annoying, unpleasant characters I have ever encountered. And Hardy is not much better. The story is told by three narrators, the Hardys and Gertie, a young wife and mother who has played Tess in a local production and has dreams is introducing the role on the London stage.Florence is a hypochondriac, and I would also consider her a hysterical. She had a small growth on her neck that she felt sure was cancerous and went to three doctors until she found one who agreed that it might be a concern and removed it. Now she is obsessed with her scar, continuously wearing a wrap with a Fox head and fussing to make sure her scar is covered. She has convinced herself that her health issues are caused by the large pines on the property and begs her husband relentlessly about cutting them down or cutting them back. When she isn't whining about the trees, she's whining, "You don't love me. You don't love me as much as you loved your first wife. Did you ever really love me?" Despite of all this whining, by the end of the book, she is calculating how much money she will have when Thomas dies and fantasizing about who she might choose for her next husband. Oh, and about removing the trees, of course.Lest you feel sorry for Thomas, never fear, he is equally annoying. He has become obsessed with Gertie and spends his time writing love poems to her that are never sent, gazing at one of her hairs that he has preserved in a book, and fantasizing about eloping with her. Remember that Gertie is a married woman in her 20s, a new mother whose only interest in Hardy is that his influence might get her the role of Tess on the London stage. I guess we're supposed to see him as a man nearing death longing for one last stab at youth, but I found him foolish and annoying. He does either ignore Florence or treat her condescending, but I really can't blame him for that.Gertie is the only somewhat likeable character. She loves her baby and is committed to her husband, but she does dream of acting in London and is thrilled when Hardy arranges a limited run of Tess in London. She and her husband have agreed that they will work things out so that she can leave for a month. But Florence suspects that Thomas has designs on Gertie and then finds the love letters. She feels threatened by the fact that the two will be in London without her. Her first plan of attack is to nag Thomas to withdraw the role, claiming that Gertie should be with her baby, that the separation could ruin her marriage, and that the girl could be destroyed by negative reviews. When that doesn't work, she goes to Gertie's house and claims that "Mr. Hardy and I" think it best that she write to the producer and decline the role, citing the reasons above. When Gertie remains unconvinced, Florence become hysterical and confesses that Thomas is infatuated with her, and she agrees to withdraw from the play.This review is more detailed than I usually like, but I want to give readers sufficient reason to avoid this plodding, annoying novel. Read Hardy's novels instead.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a fictionalized account of Thomas Hardy's late life, written from his point of view, as well as that of his second wife, Florence, and a young amateur actress Hardy is infatuated with. The book is well written. Although funny at times, there is a sense of sadness that permeates these pages. The author has done a good job of evoking many of the themes, and the atmospheres Hardy himself wrote of.

[schmerguls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Since I have read some ten volumes of Thomas Hardy's work and four biographies of him when I learned of this boo I wanted to read it. It lived up to my hopes and expectations. It is elegantly written depicting Hardy and his second wife, Florence, in 1924, when Hardy was 84 and Florence was 46. Hardy is stubborn and not very affectionate toward his wife though bedazzled by a younger woman who portrays Tess in an amateur production and hopes to do so in a London theater. Florence is insanely jealous and one should feel sorry for her but I found it funny. It is all very deftly done, and the book is a delight to read.

[starbox_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"How many years were left before Death laid its cold hand upon his shoulder?", 25 June 2015This review is from: Winter (Paperback)A wonderful novel, focussing on a winter three years before the death of author Thomas Hardy. Unhappily married to a depressed, rather neurotic woman much younger than him, Hardy becomes charmed with local girl Gertrude Bugler. She is part of the local amateur dramatic group, where Hardy meets her in their performance of 'Tess'. As he plans to help her get the lead role when the play is put on in London, his wife, Florence, is becoming obsessively jealous...Nicholson tells the story in chapters narrated alternately by Florence, Gertrude and by an all-knowing narrator, who can describe Hardy's thoughts and imaginings. There are vivid, Hardy-esque descriptions of the countryside and the old-fashioned house - which he loves but which Florence does not. And the thoughts of the 84 year old as he ponders his imminent demise, his final chance of happiness, are very moving and convincing.I absolutely loved this book and recommend it.