Oxygen

Andrew Miller

From Shelf: The Booker Prize 2001 Shortlist

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, a deeply moving exploration of courage, love and liberation in the modern age

'ANDREW MILLER'S WRITING IS A SOURCE OF WONDER AND DELIGHT' Hilary Mantel 'ONE OF OUR MOST SKILFUL CHRONICLERS OF THE HUMAN HEART AND MIND' Sunday TimesShortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Novel Award 'Beautiful'The Times 'Superbly realised'Sunday Telegraph 'Breathtaking'Irish Times The third novel from the critically acclaimed author of Pure - a deeply moving exploration of courage, love and liberation in the modern age In the summer of 1997, four people reach a turning point: Alice Valentine, who lies gravely ill in her West Country home; her two sons, one still searching for a sense of direction, the other fighting to keep his acting career and marriage afloat; and Laszlo Lazar, who leads a comfortable life in Paris yet is plagued by his memories of the 1956 Hungarian uprising.For each, the time has come to assess what matters in life, and all will be forced to take part in an act of liberation - though not necessarily the one foreseen. PRAISE FOR ANDREW MILLER 'Unique, visionary, a master at unmasking humanity' Sarah Hall 'A writer of very rare and outstanding gifts' Independent on Sunday 'A highly intelligent writer, both exciting and contemplative' The Times 'A wonderful storyteller' Spectator