A bestselling, compulsively readable story composed by an award-winning author of brilliant, subtle, compassionate and intelligent language.

WINNER, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Christina Stead Prize for Fiction
SHORTLISTED, Miles Franklin Award
SHORTLISTED, Colin Roderick Award
SHORTLISTED, Age Book of the Year Award
NOMINATED, Dublin IMPAC International Literature Award

With university behind her, Emily Stanton finds herself on the threshold of life. Introduced to a Scottish engineer, the exoticism of his life in Paris beckons, and she leaves her family home in twenties Melbourne to become his wife. But far from providing answers, her conventional marriage awakens in her an ardent desire to find a reason for living beyond that of simply wife and mother, a desire that leads her to flirt with risk, passion and unorthodox friendships, and carries her to Tunisia on a journey of self-questioning and intellectual reawakening.

Through the lives of a rich cast of characters, Conditions of Faith compassionately and subtly explores the problem of a reason for living. This is the timeless theme of the heart of this beautiful and compelling novel.

'Utterly absorbing and deeply rewarding both emotionally and intellectually.' - James Bradley

'This is an amazing book. The reader can't help but offer up a prayerful thank you. that human beings still have the audacity to write like this. No paraphrase can do justice to this novel. Conditions of Faith is a blessing.' - Carolyn See, Washington Post

'I think we shall see few finer or richer novels this year. a singular achievement.' - Andrew Riemer

Details

ISBN13: 9781865084855
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 420
Edition:
Publication Date: 01 Apr 2001
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 19.5(H)x13(L)468
Weight (gm): 468

Author Biography

Alex Miller's latest novel, Journey to the Stone Country has won this year's Miles Franklin Award. He also won the Miles Franklin Award, the Commonwealth Writers Prize and the Barbara Ramsden Award for best book of the year in 1993 with his third novel, The Ancestor Game. His previous novels were Watching the Climbers on the Mountain and Tivington Nott. In 1995, he published his critically acclaimed novella, The Sitters.

Conditions of Faith, his fifth novel, was first published in 2000 and won the Christina Stead Prize for fiction in the 2001 NSW Premiers Literary Awards. It was also nominated for the Dublin IMPAC International Literature Award and was shortlisted for the Colin Roderick Award in 2000, the Age Book of the Year Award and the Miles Franklin Award in 2001.

Reviews

This is an amazing book. The reader can't help but offer up a prayerful thank you: Thank you, God, that human beings still have the audacity to write like this.' Washington PostI think we shall see few finer or richer novels this year a singular achievement.' Andrew Reimer, Australian Book ReviewA truly significant addition to our literature.' The AustralianMy private acid test of a literary work is whether, having read it, it lingers in my mind afterward I am still thinking about Emily.' Colleen McCulloch