Equal Stillness

Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers 2009

Artist, lover, wife, mother: can one woman be them all?

Born in 1924, Jennet Mallow grew up with a disillusioned mother and a father haunted by memories of war. But Jennet has a talent - and a passion - for art. When she meets the handsome painter David Heaton they begin a tempestuous affair which takes them from the dank terraces of London to a bohemian artistic community in St Ives. But as Jennet's career flourishes, her relationship with David suffers - with potentially tragic consequences . . .

'The most beautiful, accomplished debut I have read for a long time . . . It is a powerful novel by a supremely talented artist' OBSERVER

'Enchanting . . . exquisitely written' DAILY EXPRESS

'A masterful portrait of a woman forging an unexpectedly dazzling career against the backdrop of familial duty' EASY LIVING

Review: A new star has arrived on the literary scene. -- AN Wilson * EVENING STANDARD *

What distinguishes this tale...is Kay's fine balance of romance and realism and her beautiful evocation of how paintings reflect their creator's experiences. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *

one dazzingly brilliantly executed scene after another...A marvel. * INDEPENDENT *

An impressive debut novel that paints a vivid portrait of a woman torn between the conflicts of creativity and familial duty. * DAILY EXPRESS *

sensual...Francesca Kay knows - and shows - how good art takes on a life all of its own. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *

an absorbing and ambitious debut * GUARDIAN *

The supple, verbless sentences of Fracesca Kay's accomplished first novel create a sensuous prose full of colour, taste and smell. -- Anthony Cummins * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

This is an outstanding literary debut, with masterful variation in style and characterisation of deep insight * BOOKSELLER PAPERBACK PREVIEW *

The most astounding success lies in the conjuring up of a lifetime's work - a glorious succession of paintings brought to sustained, poetic life. * ART NEWSPAPER *

Prizes: Short-listed for Independent Booksellers Award 2010 (UK) and Commonwealth Writers' Prize Best Book (Europe and South Asia region) 2010 (UK). Long-listed for Authors Club Best First Novel 2010 (UK).