This is the story of two very different children growing up in a small Irish seaside town in the 50s and 60s. Shouting their hearts' desires into the echo cave, praying that their destiny will lead them far away from the town in which they live. Castlebay, in winter empty and grey with wind and sea spray, becomes all bustle and colour in the gaudy days of summer. The paths of these two characters are destined to criss-cross in a quite unforeseen way, and eventually both roads will lead back to Castlebay. The end of this long drama of ambition, betrayal and love is played out in the seaside town where it began, against a backdrop of whispered family gossip and the tangled skein of past friendships.

Author Biography

MAEVE BINCHY was born and educated in Dublin. She is the author of the bestselling books Tara Road, Evening Class, This Year It Will Be Different, The Glass Lake, The Copper Beech, The Lilac Bus, Circle of Friends, Silver Wedding, Firefly Summer, Echoes, Light a Penny Candle, and London Transports, three volumes of short stories, two plays, and a teleplay that won three awards at the Prague Film Festival. She has been writing for The Irish Times since 1969, and lives with her husband, Gordon Snell, in Dublin. Kate Binchy, has read all the previous spoken word versions of Maeve Binchy's novels. Kate Binchy has worked extensively in all media including West End to fringe theatre. Numerous television appearances include Ruth Rendell, Father Ted, Peak Practice, Casualty, Poirot and Fair City. She has appeared in over 500 radio plays, and films such as Mrs. Dalloway and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne. She is Maeves cousin.