A Sea of Straw
A Sea of Straw by Julia Sutton, published by Cheyne Walk on October 25, 2016, is a work of fiction that explores the complexities of love and freedom against a backdrop of political turmoil. Set in 1967, the narrative follows Zé, a Portuguese painter, as he grapples with the oppressive environment of Salazar’s Portugal. The arrival of Jody, a young mother and designer from England, introduces a new dimension to his dreams, igniting a connection that is soon tested by personal and political challenges.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of emotions as Jody faces a heart-wrenching choice between her daughter and her burgeoning love for Zé. The story intricately weaves together themes of love and revolution, set against the contrasting landscapes of conservative England and the vibrant yet troubled Portugal of the time. With 294 pages, this edition invites readers to reflect on the intersections of personal desires and broader societal changes during a pivotal moment in history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Will a man walk two thousand kilometres for a woman? In 1967, Zé will. Salazar’s Portugal has become a prison for him.
1966: When Jody, young mother and designer from the north of England, arrives on the Lisbon coast, she brings the lure of ‘Swinging London’ to Portuguese painter Zé’s existing dreams of freedom. A nascent love is interrupted when, back in England, husband Michael forces her to choose between their 2-year-old daughter Anna and Zé. And Zé, at home in Lisbon and grounded by the state’s secret police, can only wait.
For both Jody and Zé, love is revolution. And personal and political threads weave their story, a period piece set amid the then socially conservative North of England, the light and rugged landscapes of modern Portugal, and the darkness of the dying years of Europe’s longest-running dictatorship. A Sea of Straw, with its pervading atmosphere of saudades, is a quest for love in revolutionary times.
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