EMPTY BED BLUES

EMPTY BED BLUES tells the story of Kate, a middle aged Irish woman, who discovers after the sudden death of her husband that he had huge debts, a mistress and was the owner of an apartment in a small coastal town in Northern Italy, where he conducted his affair in secret.

Overcome with anger and grief, and under pressure from numerous debtors, Kate bolts and disappears to the flat that no one knows exists.

Initially struggling to adapt, she is befriended by her neighbour, Anna Alagna, who helps her begin to make a new life for herself. In so doing, Kate slowly learns the language of belonging and with that believes for the first time that there is hope for a fulfilling life.

A short novel with a deep emotional impact, this is a mature, sophisticated and elegant Work. Largely set in Italy in recent times, it is a warmhearted story about intergenerational female friendship...with an edge of sharpened steel.

This is Bill's seventh novel. He is also the author of three collections of short fiction and four of poetry. His work has won many prizes, including the 2017 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and Virginia Faulkner Award. THIS IS THE COUNTRY was long listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2005. He divides his time between Ireland and Italy and is fluent in Italian.