Synopsis
'A beautifully written story of loss and love' Florence Knapp
'Tender, moving' Daily Mail
'A beautiful story of grief, hope and love' Lucy Diamond
'Superbly crafted and tender' Woman & Home
‘Spectacular... a gift to readers everywhere’ Adriana Trigiani
*THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD*
The unforgettable story of a tragic love affair, a lost boy and a tiny seafaring village finding new hope as its secrets come to light.
The sea stole him from her. Could it bring him back?
Dorothy first came to Skerry when she was a hopeful young teacher, but she has never felt at home. Misunderstandings with the other women in the village have left her isolated from their close-knit circle. And then there is Joseph, the soft-spoken fisherman who stirred up her heart all those years ago but does everything he can to avoid her now.
But when Joseph finds a little boy washed up on Skerry’s windswept beach, barely alive, his arrival unearths the villagers’ buried secrets. As the snow cuts Skerry off from the rest of the world, Dorothy agrees to look after the child – and finds herself thrown together again with Joseph, after years of keeping their distance…
READERS LOVE THE FISHERMAN'S GIFT:
‘Took my breath away’ *****
‘This book emotionally destroyed me in the best way… My heart aches so much for these characters’ *****
‘An absolute treasure of a book’ *****
‘A haunting and evocative read’ *****
‘A completely immersive, first-class story’ *****
Publisher information
- Publisher: Vintage Publishing
- ISBN: 9781529943085
- Number of pages: 368
- Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 24 mm
- Weight: 250g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View all
An emotional read.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book. Initially, I found the story slow, but once I had read a couple of chapters it caught my attention. Set ... READ MORE
Powerful Story of Loss and Grief
In the winter of 1900, Dorothy Gray arrives a small Scottish fishing village to take up the post of school mistress in the village school. After a difficul... READ MORE
Atmospheric Tale of Love and Loss
A beautifully written historical fiction tale of family, love, loss, grief and hope.
The setting: 1900 in Skerry, a small Scottish fishing village gave ... READ MORE
Enthralling, touching and inspiring, this impressive historical fiction debut has a touch of magical realism and explores grief, healing, immorality, redemption and second chances.
Kelly’s wave of narrative carries us up through the crests of joy and plunges us into the depths of sorrow, a voyage as beautiful as it is profound. As a S... READ MORE
A haunting novel
A double timeline story set in remote Scottish village where Dorothy moves to escape from her previous life.
She marries the wrong man and loses a son. Mu... READ MORE
Gentle historical family tale
Set in the past, this is a story of a mother who lost her child. Dorothy is a school teacher in a tiny fishing village. As an incomer, she finds it hard to... READ MORE
Glorious and deeply moving
Oh how I loved this book. Beautifully written with some lyrical prose. The choices we make, the things done to be accepted, to maintain ‘the norm’ or at le... READ MORE
Atmospheric
Dorothy has lived a quiet but tragic life in the village of Skerry. Her husband William up and left her and her son and soon after tragedy hits again when ... READ MORE
Harrowing
A double timeline story of Dorothy who moves from Edinburgh to a remote Scottish village to escape from her troubles. A young boy is washed up on the shore... READ MORE
Thoroughly enjoyable read
A slow burner, this is an emotional story, full of missed chances, grief and the intensity of living in a small, remote village where everyone knows everyo... READ MORE
A tale of tragedy, loss and hope
Such a beautifully written story that leads you through many emotions in what is a tale of tragedy and loss, but also eventually a glimmer of hope. Dorothy... READ MORE
Too slow for me
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The very slow pace of the narrative was very irritating at times. The relationships between the characters repeate... READ MORE
Beautiful and powerful read
This book is beautiful. This book is powerful. This book is sad and nostalgic. This book is about looking back and looking forward. This book is about ... READ MORE
Five stars!
Set against the stark and unforgiving backdrop of a small Scottish fishing village in 1900, The Fisherman’s Gift by Julia Kelly is a poignant and atmospher... READ MORE
A book to read slowly
This is a beautifully written atmospheric story about lost love, repressed emotions and living in a close community.
Set over two timelines, initially sch... READ MORE
Beautifully story of grief and hope
Beautifully written. Loved the complicated character of Dorothy. The dual time line worked really well in building to the ending and creating a dynamic pac... READ MORE
Stunning debut
What an incredible book. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel – the writing is so confident and beautiful, full of atmosphere and emotion.
The story... READ MORE
A treasure of a book
An absolute treasure of a book. I loved it from start to finish. Well written story that pulls on the heartstrings and wonderfully descriptive of the lan... READ MORE
Completely immersive story.
A completely immersive, first class story. Brilliantly observed, atmospheric and haunting all in one novel! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and really felt ... READ MORE
Beautiful, mysterious and heartbreaking
This is a beautiful, heartfelt, heart-breaking but life-affirming story. I can’t believe it’s a debut novel. It’s written with such insight, emotion and ca... READ MORE
A Good Gift
Julia Kelly was a new author to me...I think I'll be reading her again.
This was a challenging read at times, tragedies can be like that as anyone that'... READ MORE
A poignant and heartbreaking story of love and loss
This is a most moving story. So many people living their daily lives but yearning for love, friendship or just acceptance.
The story surrounding Dorothy,... READ MORE
Such a good read. Emotional
This story, set in 1900s Scotland, was moving and emotional. I loved the sense of place and could feel the angst and anger of the inhabitants of the small ... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
A slow burner, this is an emotional story, full of missed chances, grief and the intensity of living in a small, remote village where everyone knows everyo... READ MORE
Great read, highly recommended
Set in 1900 in a remote Scottish village, this is the story of Dorothy who came to the village as a teacher some years previously after the death of her mo... READ MORE
There is a love that lasts
The Fisherman's Gift by Julia R Kelly
As I read this heartbreaking story, a part of me didn't want to be in this world in which we are immediately aware... READ MORE
An understated beauty
#netgalley
When I started The Fisherman’s Gift, I liked the premise - “a little boy washes up on the beach of a small fishing village in Scotland, barel... READ MORE
Fascinating and saddening
Oh goodness. What an unexpected read this is. Told in dual timeline and from multiple POV’s and set in Skerry Sands, a remote village in Scotland. This i... READ MORE
A tale of sadness and loneliness
Set in 1900 a young boy washes up on the shore of a small fishing village in Scotland, Skerry Sands. This event brings back memories because years before, ... READ MORE
The Fisherman’s Gift
This is a gentle story of lost opportunities and glimmers of hope. The intricacies of village life and its characters are beautifully portrayed and landsc... READ MORE
Beautiful
This was simply stunning, the authors writing hooked me in straightaway, I felt I was there on The Skerry Isles.
The characters were so interesting, non... READ MORE
You may also like...
A Place of Greater Safety
Price: £12.99
Pure
Price: £10.99
Master and Commander
Price: £9.99
Remarkable Creatures
Price: £9.99
Pompeii
Price: £9.99
Azincourt
Price: £9.99
Stonehenge
Price: £10.99
Restoration
Price: £9.99
The Grand Sophy
Price: £10.99
A Place Called Winter
Price: £12.99
The Once and Future King
Price: £12.99
The Leopard
Price: £9.99
The Other Boleyn Girl
Price: £9.99
Tai-Pan
Price: £12.99
Shogun
Price: £12.99
The Beginning of Spring
Price: £9.99