The Cleaner Of Chartres

Author: Salley Vickers

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General Fields

  • : 19.99 AUD
  • : 9780241981009
  • : Penguin UK
  • : Penguin (General UK)
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  • : 0.214
  • : May 2017
  • : 198mm X 129mm
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  • : 22.99
  • : July 2017
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  • :
  • : books

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Barcode 9780241981009
9780241981009

Description

There is something special about the ancient cathedral of Chartres, with its mismatched spires, astonishing stained glass and strange labyrinth. And there is something special too about Agnes Morel, the mysterious woman who is to be found cleaning it each morning. No one quite knows where she came from - not the diffident Abbe Paul, who discovered her one morning twenty years ago, sleeping in the north porch; nor lonely Professor Jones, whose chaotic existence she helps to organise; nor Philippe Nevers, whose neurotic sister and newborn child she cares for; nor even the irreverent young restorer, Alain Fleury, who works alongside her each day and whose attention she catches with her tawny eyes, her colourful clothes and elusive manner. And yet everyone she encounters would surely agree that she is subtly transforming their lives, even if they couldn't quite say how. But with a chance meeting in the cathedral one day, the spectre of Agnes' past returns, provoking malicious rumours from the prejudiced Madame Beck and her gossipy companion Madame Picot. As the hearsay grows uglier, Agnes is forced to confront her history, and the mystery of her origins finally unfolds. The Cleaner of Chartres is a compelling story of darkness and light; of traumatic loss and second chances. Told with a sparkling wit and captivating charm, but infused throughout with deeper truths, it speaks of the power of love and mercy to transform the tragedies of the past.

Reviews

Salley Vickers sees with a clear eye and writes with a light hand and she knows how the world works. She's a presence worth cherishing Philip Pullman Beautifully and brilliantly controlled. A triumph John Julius Norwich on Miss Garnet's Angel Reveals itself as a surprising exploration of the mysteries of imagination and faith -- Joanna Trollope Book of the Year, Daily Telegraph on Miss Garnet's Angel Subtle and utterly joyous...a contemporary moral and psychological drama every bit as absorbing as Miss Garnet's Angel Sunday Times The Cleaner of Chartres is a return to form Sunday Express The Cleaner of Chartres touches lightly on the seedy side of human nature Observer A magical and at times sinister story about love, loss, secrets and forgiveness...with Chocolat-type charm Scotland on Sunday If you're looking for a book to take you by surprise, Salley Vickers' latest is the perfect choice Psychologies

Author description

Salley Vickers is the author of the word-of-mouth bestseller Miss Garnet's Angel and several other bestselling novels including Mr Golightly's Holiday, The Other Side of You and Dancing Backwards as well as a collection of short stories Aphrodite's Hat. She has worked as a cleaner, a dancer, a university teacher of literature and a psychoanalyst. She is currently a RLF fellow at Newnham College Cambridge and she divides her time between Cambridge and London.