In the Sweep of the Bay by Cath Barton
This warm-hearted tale explores marriage, love, and longing, set against the majestic backdrop of Morecambe Bay, the Lakeland Fells, and the faded splendour of the Midland Hotel.
Ted Marshall meets Rene in the dance halls of Morecambe and they marry during the frail optimism of the 1950s. They adopt the roles expected of man and wife at the time: he the breadwinner at the family ceramics firm, and she the loyal housewife. But as the years go by, they find themselves wishing for more…
After Ted survives a heart attack, both see it as a new beginning… but can a faded love like theirs ever be rekindled?
“A tender and moving study of a marriage” Alison Moore, author of the Booker short listed
The Lighthouse
About Cath Barton:
Cath Barton lives in Abergavenny. She won the New Welsh Writing AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella in 2017 for The Plankton Collector, which was published in September 2018 by New Welsh Review under their Rarebyte imprint. She also writes short stories and flash fiction and, with her critical writing, is a regular contributor to Wales Arts Review. In the Sweep of the Bay is her second novella.
Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CathBarton1
Website: https://cathbarton.com/
Louise Walters Books: https://www.louisewaltersbooks.co.uk/cath-barton
Purchase Links:
Louise Walters Books: https://www.louisewaltersbooks.co.uk/shop-1
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ez3EwP
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3k7aVF6
Foyles: https://bit.ly/2U0o3Bs
Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3ka6d9Hhttps://bit.ly/3ka6d9H
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2U5Nm5c
Review
In the Sweep of the Bay is such a delightful wee book that follows the lives of Ted and Rene from the 1950s to present day. Part of their story and all the characters revolve around the above statute of the marvellous Eric Morecambe, which you can find in Morecambe.
The characters in this book were very human, you saw all their inner thoughts and fears laid out on the page with no filter. It was very open with people’s emotions, secret ideas and who they loved. I loved that all three generations of Ted and Rene’s family were involved and I must say I loved Meg their granddaughter.
Now I am a certain nerd of a show which comes to this area once a year and I adored the addition to the story of this! The narrative in general was right up my street. I love family histories and the social history that comes with it.
Don’t hesitate to read this book if you get the chance as it’s beautiful. I’m sure a lot of people would love to get it for Christmas. Hint hint!
