内容简介
Elements of a psychological suspense thriller and agut-wrenching love story blend into this irresistible narrative,Winston's 13th novel, written in supple, lyrically charged prose.Australian expatriate Scully is a working-class bloke with a "wonkyeye... Brillopad hair" and a "severely used face." All the morewonder that beautiful, upper-middle-class Jennifer married himeight years ago. The adoring Scully has since followed her everywhim, trailing along with her and their seven-year-old daughter,Billie, across Europe. Jennifer decided they must buy the tiny,dilapidated cottage in rural Ireland that Scully now cleans andrebuilds with the demon energy of his love while awaiting his wifeand child to return from Australia, where Jennifer has gone to selltheir possessions. On the night before their arrival, Scully sees atroupe of ghost horsemen, their torches burning, arrayed before theancient castle keep on his neighbor's land. The next day, atraumatized, mute Billie deplanes without her mother, who hassomehow disappeared at Heathrow airport. To find her, Scully andBillie begin an odyssey to all the places they lived while Jenniferwas aspiring to fulfill what she considered her artistic potential.Gradually, Scully realizes that there are things about Jennifer hecould never admit to himself; tormented by fear, desperation andheartache, he almost loses his sanity. Precocious Billie, who knowsthings her father will never understand, uses the power of her loveto redeem them both. Perhaps Billie is a little too wise andresilient and Scully not credibly protective of her welfare,dragging her into perilous situations. But Winton propels thenarrative so quickly that one accepts Scully's obsession andBillie's compliance. Winton is particularly deft in creating thesupporting characters in this powerful drama, all of whom assumevividly dimensional form. He also conjures up settings with amagician's hand: the frigid, barren Irish countryside; Australiadrowsing in summer heat; a Greek island shorn of tourists inwinter; Paris, Florence, Amsterdam. His terse, lyricalde*ions, the throbbing energy of his prose, can illuminate ascene like a lightning bolt, cut like a knife or wring the heart.Readers who met this stunning Australian writer in Cloudstreet orThat Eye, the Sky, will find his talent fiercely honed. Authortour.