Gathering the Water

In 19th-century northern England, two outsiders find comfort and support in their mutual isolation, in Robert Edric’s resonant historical fiction.Charles Weightman has been given the unenviable task of overseeing the flooding of Forge Valley and evicting its lingering inhabitants. Heartily resented by these locals, Weightman is increasingly unconvinced of the wisdom of his appointment and the integrity of the men who posted him there. He finds some solace, however, in the companionship of his enigmatic neighbour, Mary Latimer, who acts as carer for her mad sister. As winter closes in, the waters begin to rise in Forge Valley..."Gathering the Water returns to the historical landscapes where Edric has always felt very much at home. Its protagonist is a freelance engineer, imported to West Yorkshire in the 1840s to supervise the flooding of a remote valley and the dispersal of its inhabitants... However predictable its finale - the body in the water, the hints of greater and lesser betrayals - nearly all the novel's procedural drawbacks are redeemed by the subtlety of its design. Always avoiding the bold declaration for the sideways glance, forever exchanging the promise of resolution for a lingering disquiet, its sparse materials can sometimes seem inadequate for the task in hand. Once again, though, Edric's architectural skills have produced an unexpectedly durable structure. Booker judges take note." - D. J. Taylor, The GuardianRobert Edric is the pseudonym of Gary Edric Armitage and he writes under both names. He is a prolific author who never stints on quality, as evidenced by his 2002 and 2006 longlistings. Edric has published 28 novels since 1985 including My Own Worst Enemy, a memoir of his tough upbringing in Sheffield in the 1960s. It Is 1847, Northern England, And Charles Weightman Has Been Given The Unenviable Task Of Overseeing The Flooding Of The Forge Valley And Evicting Its Lingering Inhabitants. Weightman Is Heartily Resented By These Locals, And He Himself Is Increasingly Unconvinced Both Of The Wisdom Of His Appointment And Of The Integrity And Motives Of The Company Men Who Posted Him There. He Finds Some Solace, However, In His Enigmatic Neighbour, Mary Latimer. Caring For Her Mad Sister, Mary Is Also An Outsider, And A Companionship Develops Between The Two Of Them Which Offers Them Both Some Comfort And Support In Their Mutual Isolation. As Winter Closes Steadily In And As The Waters Begin To Rise In The Forge Valley, It Becomes Increasingly Evident That The Man-made Deluge Cannot Be Avoided; Not By The Locals Desperate To Save Their Homes, Nor By The Reluctant Agent Of Their Destruction, Weightman Himself. In A Masterful New Novel, Edric Captures Powerful Human Emotions With Grace And Precision. The Hauntingly Resonant Backdrop To This Story Of David And Goliath Marks Edric's Dramatic Return To Historical Literary Fiction. The stunning novel by the Booker longlisted author of Peacetime It is 1847, northern England, and Charles Weightman has been given the unenviable task of overseeing the flooding of the Forge Valley and evicting its lingering inhabitants. Weightman is heartily resented by these locals, and he himself is increasingly unconvinced both of the wisdom of his appointment and of the integrity and motives of the company men who posted him there. He finds some solace, however, in his enigmatic neighbour, Mary Latimer. Caring for her mad sister, Mary is also an outsider, and a companionship develops between the two of them which offers them both some comfort and support in their mutual isolation. As winter closes steadily in and as the waters begin to rise in the Forge Valley, it becomes increasingly evident that the man-made deluge cannot be avoided; not by the locals desperate to save their homes, nor by the reluctant agent of their destruction, Weightman himself. In a...