“[A]domesticdramawiththeadrenalin-fueledbeatingheartofathriller.“--Elle“Beautifullywrittenandcarefullyobserved...Kingisawildlytalentedwriter.“--ChicagoTribuneFifteenyearsagoVidaAveryarrivedaloneandpregnantateliteFayerAcademy.ShehassincebecomeafixtureandoneofthebestEnglishteachersFayerhaseverhad.Livingoncampus,onanislandofftheNewEnglandcoast,Vidahascocoonedherselfandherson,Peter,fromtheoutsideworldandfromaninsidesecret.Foryearsshehaslivedlargelythroughthebookssheteaches,butwhensheacceptstheimpulsivemarriageproposalofardentwidowerTomBelou,theprescribedlifeVidahasconstructedisswiftlydismantled.Peter,however,welcomesthechanges.Excitedtomoveoffcampus,eagertohavesiblingsatlast,Peteranticipatesaregularlifewitha“normal“family.ButtheBelouchildrenarestillgrieving,andthememoryoftheirrecentlydeadmotherexertsapowerfulholdonthehouse.AsVidabeginsteachinghersignaturebook,Tessofthed’Urbervilles,anineteenth-centurytaleofanostracizedwomanandsocialinjustice,itsthemesbegintoechoeerilyinherownlifeandPeterseesthatthemotherheperceivedasindomitableiscollapsinganditisuptohimtohelp.
