The Submerged Cathedral

A superb, enthralling novel of love, tragedy and atonement from the award-winning author of Stone Yard Devotional and The Natural Way of Things.


Set me as a seal on your heart, for love is stronger than death.


Spanning many years, travelling across Australia's vast continent and through some of Europe's great cities, The Submerged Cathedral is a beguiling, heartbreaking story of paradise and the fall, of sacrifice and atonement, and of sisterly love and rivalry. Most of all, however, it is about an enduring and sacred love - a love stronger than death - and the journeys undertaken in its name.


Written in spare, haunting prose, this novel is a work of the highest literary merit, as well as a timeless love story that will enthrall readers.


'Assured, bold and elegant ... The Submerged Cathedral will be celebrated for its capacity to make us weep in a way only the best writing can.' The Sydney Morning Herald 


'A tender, intelligent and beautiful novel ... Wood's writing is made of the same stuff as Debussy's music.' The Bulletin 


'A love story shot through with religious overtones that is as engrossing as it is moving … elliptical, clean and entirely convincing.' The Age