Picking at the Knot

In Sarah Hampton's first novel, Julia touched the hearts of many. Now she returns, older but still engaged with life and those around her.


The arrival of a late-in-the-day grandson rejuvenates and enlivens Julia's declining years. Young Harry is as much an iconoclast as his grandmother; her desire to cherish and protect him leads her into conflict with both family and authority.


Picking at the Knot is a story of unconditional love across generations. It is also searingly honest about growing old, trying to make sense of the past and still seeking a purpose for the future.


Sarah Hampton's first novel, Learning to Tie a Bow, was published in 2012 when she was 83 years old. Critically acclaimed, it was shortlisted for the Lakeland Book of the Year Award.


'Acutely observed… She brings to her writing the suppleness of youth with the wisdom gained from rich and hard experience. This book deserves to be widely read.'

Steve Matthews, Cumberland News