The Night Brother – Rosie Garland

09 Apr The Night Brother – Rosie Garland

It is a week or so since I finished the Night Brother by Rosie Garland. It was the most sumptuous and interesting book.

Edie doesn’t understand why she is so tired each morning, or why her feet are so dirty when she wakes up. Her mother becomes increasingly hostile towards her, and Edie doesn’t know why.

Gnome is growing up into a mischievous young man. He wants to establish himself as a big shot in town. Sometimes he remembers the nights that he and Edie used to run away on adventures to see the fireworks.

In a story that explores sibling rivalry and subversive sexuality, set in late nineteenth century Manchester, magic, empathy and brutality weave together to form a rich, passionate story of gender equality.