Man Booker Prize-winning author Anita Brookner - called 'one of the finest novelists of her generation' by The New York Times - returns with an exquisite novel about a man, three women, and a vibrant decision

Retiree Paul Sturgis lives a uniformly solitary life - resigned to his bachelorhood and the quietude of his London flat. Only occasionally does he pay obliging visits to his nearest living relative, Helena, his cousin's widow.

To avoid the impolite complications of turning down Helena's Christmas invites, Paul sets off for a holiday in Venice. There he meets Mrs. Vicky Gardner, an intriguing and lovely woman in the midst of a divorce and at a crossroads in her life. Although he is avoiding new acquaintances, who might shake up his rather monotonous existence, Paul is surprised to find himself warming to the woman. Then, upon his return to England, his former girlfriend Sarah reintroduces herself into Paul's life. The two women spark a transformation within him - Paul's steady and preferred isolation now conflicts with the stark realization of his aloneness and his need for companionship. This awareness brings with it a torrent of feelings as he reassesses his life, his fears of death, and his desire for change. Ultimately, Paul's discoveries about himself lead him to make a shocking decision.