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Clara and Christina
- Author
- Andrew Cunning
- Narrator
- Nicky Harley
- Publisher
- John Murray Press
- Publish Date
- 30 July 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 28 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
'An exquisitely written novel . . . full of big ideas, quietly and carefully explored' Jan Carson, author of The Firestarters
Two women meet in an unassuming coffee shop in Belfast; they seem an unlikely pair. Clara is young, inquisitive, optimistic for what the meeting holds. Christina is older, in her seventies, still glamorous, still quick. She is working on her fifth novel but no one yet knows of its existence. Clara is there to interview Christina, for her own book, anticipating some major scoop on this reclusive novelist. She wants to unearth the truth behind the fiction. But Christina has a different lesson in store for Clara.
Over a few months, a relationship forms between these two women who live their lives in books. Clara, writing her first, embraces this opportunity to learn from a writer finishing her last. During this time, Clara, face to face with her hero, begins to question her own convictions ultimately asking herself: what if there is nothing but fiction?
Critics Review
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For those of us who care about literature, there are many troubling facets to contemporary fiction, particularly the proliferation of books by young writers that are hyped to death and wildly overpraised, both by critics and those blurbers for whom everything is an instant classic. Originality, for one thing. Imagination, for another. Daring, for a third. This book, however, has all those qualities in spades and while I hope it reaches many readers, it should be required reading for writers
Irish Times
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What a delight of a novel. Clara and Christina radiates with wisdom, intelligence and humanity. Andrew Cunning is a very fine writer
Wendy Erskine, author of The Benefactors
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An exquisitely written novel . . . full of big ideas, quietly and carefully explored. This is a book which reminded me how powerful conversation can be . . . it felt like spending time with an old, and infinitely wiser, friend
Jan Carson, author of The Fire Starters
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An absolute delight, full of warmth and human surprise. Christina, in particular, is a revelation of a character who will stay with me for the rest of my life
Louise Nealon, author of Snowflake
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An intelligent, insightful, and humane piece of writing . . . A novel full of wisdom, insight, tenderness, and love, it stands in a league of its own among recent debuts
Patrick Holloway
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An assured, accomplished debut - sharply-observed, full of warmth and intelligence. I adored it!
Gráinne O'Hare, author of Thirst Trap
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I read it all in one breathless sitting
Michelle Gallen, author of Big Girl, Small Town
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Unashamedly cerebral, reflective, wise, academic, and literary - and a defence of the true spirit of enquiry and creativity
Books Ireland
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Andrew Cunning
- Narrator
- Nicky Harley
- Duration
- 9 hours 28 minutes
- Release Date
- 30 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781399830249
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- John Murray Press
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: interior life / psychological fiction
Synopsis
'An absolute delight, full of warmth and human surprise' Louise Nealon, author of Snowflake'An exquisitely written novel . . . full of big ideas, quietly and carefully explored' Jan Carson, author of The FirestartersTwo women meet in an unassuming coffee shop in Belfast; they seem an unlikely pair. Clara is young, inquisitive, optimistic for what the meeting holds. Christina is older, in her seventies, still glamorous, still quick. She is working on her fifth novel but no one yet knows of its existence. Clara is there to interview Christina, for her own book, anticipating some major scoop on this reclusive novelist. She wants to unearth the truth behind the fiction. But Christina has a different lesson in store for Clara.Over a few months, a relationship forms between these two women who live their lives in books. Clara, writing her first, embraces this opportunity to learn from a writer finishing her last. During this time, Clara, face to face with her hero, begins to question her own convictions ultimately asking herself: what if there is nothing but fiction?
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