{"product_id":"the-summer-book-a-novel","title":"The Summer Book: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eTove Jansson's classic, bestselling novel\n\n'Distils the essence of summer' Robert Macfarlane\n'Magical, life-affirming' Elizabeth Gilbert\n \nThe Worldwide Classic about a tiny island and larger love.\n\nAn elderly artist and her six-year-old grand-daughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. As the two learn to adjust to each other's fears, whims and yearnings, a fierce yet understated love emerges - one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the very island itself.\n\nWritten in a clear, unsentimental style, full of brusque humour, and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story. Tove Jansson captured much of her own life and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of her adult novels. With a foreword by Esther Freud and an afterword by Sophia Jansson (on whom the child 'Sophia' is based) who returns to the island during the pandemic at the point of becoming a grandmother herself.\n\nIncludes a 15pp epilogue by Tove's niece Sophia Jansson - the inspiration for 'Sophia' - on a personal and moving return to the island.\n\n'Eccentric, funny, wise, full of joys and small adventures. This is a book for life.' Esther Freud\n\n'Tove Jansson was a genius. This is a marvellous, beautiful, wise novel, which is also very funny.' Philip Pullman\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback \/ softback | 192 pages | Published May 2003\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GARDNERS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63986254643549,"sku":"9780954221713","price":13.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3459\/8749\/files\/9780954221713.jpg?v=1774497640","url":"https:\/\/www.thebookmark.ie\/products\/the-summer-book-a-novel","provider":"The Bookmark ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}