Colm Tóibín's masterpiece finally available in paperback. He was "the love of her life." When Maurice dies far too soon, Nora falls into a state of shock. In provincial Ireland during the 1960s, she must now try to lead an independent life as a woman and mother of four children. She finds a job, dyes her hair to look younger - a scandal in the small town where everyone knows each other and she is watched at every turn. Nora, both Catholic and unconventional, seeks new paths for herself and her children with grim intelligence. Above all, she slowly grows beyond her role as a mother and widow. Colm Tóibín succeeds in portraying a woman who, despite all adverse circumstances, preserves the authenticity of her feelings and ultimately gains independence.