Paperback Review: Married Love, By Tessa Hadley Vintage £8.99

David Evans
Saturday 02 February 2013 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tessa Hadley's brief stories locate poignant drama in quotidian scenes. In "A Mouthful of Cut Glass" a vicar's daughter visits her boyfriend's working-class family and feels out of place; in "Journey Home" an academic worries about his emotionally fragile sister when she changes her status on Facebook; in "Because the Night" two young children find ways to amuse themselves during their parents' wild parties.

Lottie, the headstrong bride of the title story, has a "gift ... the occasional lightning flash of vision so strong that it revealed to others, for a moment, the world as it was from her perspective". Hadley herself is blessed with a similar ability, punctuating these low-key tales with acute descriptions that act like little epiphanies, vividly illuminating aspects of character and place.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in