Mr Golightly’s Holiday

A novel from the best-selling author of ‘Miss Garnet's Angel’ and ‘Instances of the Number 3’.

Holiday: a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation. [literally: holy day]

Many years ago Mr Golightly wrote a work of dramatic fiction that grew to be an international bestseller. But his reputation is on the decline and he finds himself out of touch with the modern world.

He decides to take a holiday and comes to the ancient village of Great Calne, hoping to use the opportunity to bring his great work up to date. But he soon finds that events take over his plans and that the themes he has written on are being strangely replicated in the lives of the villagers he is staying among.

He meets Ellen Thomas, a reclusive artist, young Johnny Spence, an absconding schoolboy, and the tough-minded Paula who works at the local pub. As he comes to know his neighbours better, Mr Golightly begins to examine his attitude to love, and to ponder the terrible catastrophe of his son's death. And as the drama unfolds we begin to learn the true and extraordinary identity of Mr Golightly and how the nature of the secret sorrow that haunts him links him to his new friends.

Mysterious, light of touch, witty and profound ‘Mr Golightly's Holiday’ confirms Salley Vickers's reputation as one of our most original and engaging novelists.

Reviews

Praise for ‘Mr Golightly’s Holiday’:

‘Salley Vickers is a writer whose subtle intelligence and unobtrusive command of narrative I always enjoy. She sees with a clear eye and writes with a light hand, and she knows how the world works; and these qualities are much rarer than they should be. She's a presence worth cherishing in the ranks of modern novelists.’ Philip Pullman

‘Few novelists would dare tackle the theme of Salley Vickers’s third novel; fewer still would pull it off so triumphantly. I am speechless with admiration.’ John Julius Norwich

Praise for ‘Instances fo the Number 3’:

‘The reader glides through it effortlessly. The plot is simple, yet has an amazing amount of narrative power. Vickers’ second novel confirms that she will have a long and outstanding career.’ Martyn Goff, The Times

Praise for ‘Miss Garnet’s Anger’:

‘Writes like a haunted angel.’ The Times

‘Rich, complex and haunting…she makes the ancient story as riveting as Miss Garnet's own adventures.’ Sunday Times

About the author

Salley Vickers divides her time between London and Venice. Previously a university lecturer in English, when not writing she practices as a psychologist and still lectures widely on the connections between literature, psychology and religion.