A succinct and witty literary venture that tells the strange story of a priceless treasure discovered in East Anglia on the eve of World War II
In the long, hot summer of 1939, Britain is preparing for war, but on a riverside farm in Suffolk there is excitement of another kind. Mrs. Pretty, the widowed owner of the farm, has had her hunch confirmed that the mounds on her land hold buried treasure. As the dig proceeds, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary find.
This fictional recreation of the famed Sutton Hoo dig follows three months of intense activity when locals fought outsiders, professionals thwarted amateurs, and love and rivalry flourished in equal measure. As the war looms ever closer, engraved gold peeks through the soil, and each character searches for answers in the buried treasure. Their threads of love, loss, and aspiration weave a common awareness of the past as something that can never truly be left behind.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
John Preston is the arts editor and television critic of the Sunday Telegraph. He is the author of three highly acclaimed novels, including Kings of the Roundhouse (2005), and a travel book, Touching the Moon. He lives in London.
“All the elements are here for a corking adventure yarn, perhaps in the style of Howard Carter’s account of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, which we see Mrs. Pretty reading. Yet despite the fact that most of the characters are real people...the novel’s interests are psychological rather than factual. Even as marvels are uncovered, an insistent strain of melancholy blows through these pages... The ambient dread is partly due to the gathering storm of World War II...But the apprehension is also metaphysical, connected to the fact that the archaeologists are not digging for buried treasure so much as disturbing a grave. Mr. Preston delicately portrays the effect the specters of mortality and decay have on each narrator. As it brushes away the soil from the remarkable ship, The Dig stages understated excavations of marriage (both Basil’s and Peggy’s) and parenthood (Mrs. Pretty, who became a mother at 47, fears she won’t live to see her son grown up). Thus Mr. Preston creates an intriguing and ultimately moving concoction, a true-life chronicle that delves into secrets of the heart.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Shimmers with longing and regret . . . Preston writes with economical grace . . . He has written a kind of universal chamber piece, small in detail, beautifully made and liable to linger on in the heart and the mind. It is something utterly unfamiliar, and quite wonderful.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“A timeless tale of ancient English treasure. . . Beautifully understated.” —Seattle Times
"As homey at times as chamomile tea but spiked with pointed undercurrents, this is a real treat for a reader who can appreciate its quiet pleasures." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A very fine, engrossing, and exquisitely original novel.” —Ian McEwan, author of Atonement
“Wistful and poignant. A masterpiece in Chekhovian understatement.” —Times Literary Supplement
“An enthralling story of love and loss, a real literary treasure. One of the most original novels of the year.” —Robert Harris, author of An Officer and a Spy
“A moving tale of mortality and the passage of time . . . affecting . . . Preston is subtle but precise in his characterizations, and meticulous with period detail.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Dig offers both a vividly reimagined slice of history and a tantalizing rumination on what remains after we cease to exist” —Booklist
“Intensely human . . . [The Dig] constantly reminds us, rediscovering the past is a deeply equivocal pursuit . . . Preston keeps an iron grip on the reader's attention . . . a wonderful, evocative book. From his simple tale of dirt, Preston has produced the finest gold.” —The Guardian
“A rich vein of dry humor runs throughout.” —Evening Standard
“Intriguing, tender and entertaining . . . easily Preston's best.” —The Independent
“A delicate, quietly affecting human drama.” —Daily Mail
“A moving novel that coheres wonderfully as it progresses.” —Spectator
“A delicate evocation of a vanished era.” —Sunday Times
“Beautifully written . . . there is a true and wonderful ending to the story.” —Bill Wyman, Mail on Sunday
“Exciting, evocative and beautifully written . . . A treasure in itself.” —Griff Rhys Jones
“So absorbing that I read right through lunchtime one day, and it's not often I miss a meal.” —Nigella Lawson
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Seller: ICTBooks, Wichita, KS, U.S.A.
Condition: good. Book shows wear from use but remains a usable copy. May include writing highlighting underlining library markings. LISTING USES STOCK PHOTOS AND COVER MAY VARY.Ships via USPS and typically arrives within 10-12 business days. Seller Inventory # ICM.4IV8
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00067873563
Quantity: 5 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 8508053-6
Quantity: 3 available
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9736410-75
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9736410-75
Quantity: 8 available
Seller: Seattle Goodwill, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. May have some shelf-wear due to normal use. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwills nonprofit mission!. Seller Inventory # 0KVOGF002MNR_ns
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Seller Inventory # H04A-02916
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Bellwetherbooks, McKeesport, PA, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: As New. LIKE NEW/UNREAD!!! Text is Clean and Unmarked! Has a small black line or red dot on the bottom/exterior edge of pages. Seller Inventory # RH-PB39-LN-1590517806
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.7. Seller Inventory # G1590517806I3N00
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: ThriftBooks-Reno, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.7. Seller Inventory # G1590517806I3N00
Quantity: 2 available