The premise is simple. Glyn Peters, a sixtyish British landscape historian, comes upon a group photograph that includes his late wife, Kath. Details in the photo, and a brief note that he finds with it, suggest that there are aspects of Kath's married life that he didn't know. So, researcher that he is, he makes some enquiries. Consequences ripple outwards from there, affecting a tight group of people who had been connected with Kath. These include: Elaine, her older sister, a successful garden designer; Elaine's husband, Nick, a former publisher, now full of plans that seldom come to fruition; Oliver, Nick's former business partner, now running a desk-top publishing business of his own; and Nick and Elaine's daughter Polly, who had been very close to Kath growing up and is now a web designer. All of them remember Kath as a force of nature, stunningly beautiful, a magnetic presence in any room. Although there is little present-day action in the novel, Kath is very much alive in the memories of those who were close to her. Her incandescence comes through from the very beginning, but as we move through the heart of the novel into its poignant conclusion, we begin to glimpse the real woman behind the brilliant glow, and each of the characters finds something different in the Kath whom they thought they knew.

There is one other significant character in that photograph, Kath's friend Mary Packard. Mary understands things about Kath that even her family has missed. It is her appearance at the end of the story and her ability to listen (for all the others are talkers) that provides the final clues that make us see Kath in a new and gentler light.


A novel that builds, layer upon layer: the plot, the tension, the characters, all come to light gradually as the book progresses. Lively has been exceptionally skillful in crafting the book and especially in developing her characters. Much of the novel is based on their inner thoughts and recollections, and as it progresses we wonder how well can we truly know another person, even one with whom we are intimate? How much do they allow us to see? I found it to be absorbing, intelligent, and very moving.


Reserved for sakirmo as a wishlist tag

Winging its way off to Finland to sakirmo as a wishlist tag.
Happy reading!

The book arrived safely, many thanks!!

Beautifully written, but I'm not sure there was enough substance in this story for a novel... perhaps would have worked better as a short story. Or maybe it wasn't really my cup of tea. Not a bad book as such, just left me feeling a bit meh in the end.

At the meet-up

I absolutely love Penelope Lively, so the book might find its way to the top of the tbr-pile... Thought I had spotted this on a BC friend's wishlist, but couldn't find it any more. However, I do have a few people in mind who might like this!

Perhaps I was in the right mindset and mood, but I could barely put The Photograph down. I don't know which fascinated me more, the fleeting character of mysterious Kath or the feelings she evoked in everyone who had been around her. Though Lively could have chosen a shorter route and taken the characters faster forward she took all the feelings all different relationships carry and made her characters feel them over again, whether they or the reader liked them or not. Best part of it being her absolutely impartial stance - all the faults and feelings the characters had were permitted. I felt somewhat sorry for Mary: true friends are always overlooked by others outside the friendship, but they usually play the biggest part in one's life.

Sent the book forward with a courier! Perhaps it'll suit another crosser's reading preferences..if not, they'll know how to get rid of the book with efficiency!

Thanks for the surprise, Pippis!! This book seems to be like one I might like and I'm happy to notice that Penelope Lively was born in Cairo and lived in Egypt as a child - if I'm quick with this book, it can be part of the Africa release challenge arranged by Lola Robin :D

Quite an amazing story! On the surface nothing really happened in this book, a widower looked back his life after finding an old photo, but the story was built like a very intensive thriller and it was captivating indeed. You just had to find out what really happened between these people years ago! The end was sad and left you thinking about your own relationships - do you really know anything about the people around you?

Next to Annimanni as a part of the wishlist tag game of the Finnish BC forum. Enjoy!

Arrived safely, thank you!