32 pages • 1 hour read
Mothering Sunday
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Book Brief
149
Novel • Fiction
Berkshire, England • 1920s
2016
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift centers on Jane Fairchild, a 22-year-old maid who spends a fateful off day with her secret lover, Paul Sheringham, just before his planned engagement celebration. The narrative traverses her reflections and subsequent life journey after Paul’s tragic death in a car accident. Sensitive topics include intimate relationships and death.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
22,526 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Graham Swift's Mothering Sunday is praised for its lyrical prose and evocative storytelling, with particular commendation for its exploration of memory and class differences. Critics appreciate the rich character depth, though some find the novel's pacing slow. Overall, it's a poignant and reflective narrative that resonates emotionally.
Who Should Read Mothering Sunday?
Erudite readers who cherish introspective narratives with subtle emotional depth, akin to Atonement by Ian McEwan or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, will savor Graham Swift's Mothering Sunday. This poignant novel explores themes of love, loss, and memory with lyrical prose.
22,526 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Paul Sheringham
Paul Sheringham
The last male heir of a prosperous family, who is romantically involved with Jane despite being engaged to Emma Hobday. His relationship with Jane is primarily physical.
Emma Hobday
Emma Hobday
The middle-class fiancée of Paul Sheringham, whose presence indirectly influences key events in the story. She remains mostly unseen and unknown to Jane.
149
Novel • Fiction
Berkshire, England • 1920s
2016
Adult
18+ years
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