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As
it is in Heaven by Niall Williams Stephen Griffin is a shy and lonely schoolteacher in the West of Ireland, and his father Phillip is a tailor whose wife and daughter died tragically in a car crash fifteen years ago. While Stephen yearns for love and an escape from the monotony of the classroom, his father's only desire is to be reunited with his family in heaven. The appearance of Gabriella Castoldi, a spellbinding musician, turns Stephen's fairy tales into reality. Now both men have a purpose: Stephen's to secure Gabriella's love and Philip's to help him in his task by making the best suit of his career. Stephen's journey to love and happiness is the greatest and most courageous of his life, as he desperately follows Gabriella to Venice and back again to the West of Ireland. 'As it is in Heaven is a pure delight, a wise and romantic novel about love. Stephen's relationship with Gabriella is beautifully portrayed; it is almost impossible to do justice to Niall Williams' writing - to the depth of feeling and to the way in which he uses words almost musically to create atmosphere and images. Stephen at last comes to realize that "all love did not perish and could survive beyond pain and hardship and loneliness".Niall Williams has a unique talent for peopling his stories with unforgettable cameo characters. He has done it again. He has given us a gift to treasure. It is no surprise that Four Letters of Love is being made into a film. As it is in Heaven will surely be another bestseller.' Anna Cooke Books Ireland May 2000 'As it is in Heaven, Niall Williams' tale of love and tragedy, will leave you in tears' Tatler 'The romantic novel of the year, a magical work' Elle 'A wise beautiful novel about two people's journey towards one another. A wonderful achievement' Sunday Times Niall Williams lives in Kiltumper, Co. Clare. By
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