"A witty and sentient writer"-LA Times



"Wilkins can command a breathtakingly supple literary style"-The New York Times



1928: Thomas Hardy is dying in the upstairs room of Max Gate, the house he built in his beloved Dorset. Downstairs, his literary friends are locked in a bitter fight with local supporters. Who owns Hardy's remains? Who knew him best? What are the secrets of Max Gate?



Housemaid Nellie Titterington narrates this earthy and emotionally-charged novel about ambition, duty, belonging, and love.



Damien Wilkins is the author of seven novels, including the New Zealand Book Award-winning The Miserables.