Unless (Shortlisted For Orange Prize For Fiction 2003)

Description:
Dazzling novel from Carol Shields, author of 'The Stone Diaries', winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and 'Larry's Party', winner of the Orange Prize. 'Breathtaking!a masterpiece.' Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail Reta Winters has a loving family, good friends, and growing success as a writer of light fiction. Then her eldest daughter suddenly withdraws from the world, abandoning university to sit on a street corner, wearing a sign that reads only 'Goodness'. As Reta seeks the causes of her daughter's retreat, her enquiry turns into an unflinching, often very funny meditation on society and where we find meaning and hope. 'Unless' is a dazzling and daring novel from the undisputed master of extraordinary fictions about so-called 'ordinary' lives.

Review:
Praise for Carol Shields: 'Her perceptions are so quick, her style is so acute, that she can tack a breath to the page and skewer a thought on the wing. It is her speciality to isolate moments that remain distinct in the mind for years, perhaps for a lifetime.' Hilary Mantel, Sunday Times 'Few writers could make a book about what it means to be alone this charming.' Observer 'A wonderful, powerful book, written in a style which combines simplicity and elegance. Deeply moving.' Joanne Harris 'Shields writes like an angel, awesome in the intelligence of her observations and never less than elegant in expressing them.' David Robson, Sunday Telegraph 'It takes the vessel of fiction in its hands and hurls it to the floor!a masterpiece.' Rachel Cusk, New Statesman 'As poised and wise a novel as any you will read this year.' Tim Adams, Observer 'Our most intelligent and beguiling observer!'Unless' is her most raw and intentful novel yet.' Penny Perrick, Sunday Times 'Her wisdom and generosity of spirit are visible at every turn.' Sunday Times

Prizes:
Shortlisted for James Tait Black Memorial Prize (Fiction) 2002.
Shortlisted for Booker Prize for Fiction 2002.
Shortlisted for Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2002.
Shortlisted for Orange Prize for Fiction 2003.

Author Biography:
Carol Shields's novels include Larry's Party (1997), winner of the 1998 Orange Prize; The Stone Diaries (1993), winner of the Pulitzer Prize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize; The Republic of Love (1992); Happenstance (1991) and Mary Swann (1990). Dressing Up for the Carnival, a bestselling collection of short stories, was published in 2000, and a previous collection, Various Miracles, was published in 1994. Born and brought up in Chicago, Carol Shields has lived in Canada since 1957. She was the Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg.