Shy Creatures: A Novel by Clare Chambers Christmas

Shy Creatures: A Novel by Clare Chambers ChristmasIn all failed relationships there is a tipping point. It goes unnoticed at the time but can later be identified as the beginning of the decline. For Helen it was the weekend that the Hidden Man came to Westbury Park The London suburb of Croydon,1964: Helen Hansford is unmarried and in her thirties. Something of a disappointment to her middle class parents, shes an art therapist at the Westbury Park psychiatric hospital, where she has been having a

With Tucker by her side

for it is also the story of princess Salome

echoing Louis Armstrong’s question

“What did I do to be so Black and blue

Now Agnès is free to tell her story

but she's determined not to ruin their opportunity

plain-faced

The Pigeon’s got this

and Abe is recounting their life together as a way of keeping them going: the parts they knew—their courtship and early marriage

and I’m an addict

a Kosovar torture survivor

The Sophies drink tea