All the Beggars Riding

Delve into the complexities of love, loss, and family secrets with Lucy Caldwell's poignant novel, *All the Beggars Riding*. This captivating story, from the award-winning author of *The Meeting Point* (recipient of the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize in 2011), offers a deeply moving exploration of identity, inheritance, and the enduring power of the past. Lara, nearing forty, finds herself at a crossroads, tending to her dying mother while simultaneously grappling with the fragments of her fractured childhood. The narrative unfolds through Lara's perspective as she pieces together the enigmatic life of her father, a renowned plastic surgeon whose life was tragically cut short in a helicopter crash when she was just twelve and her brother, Alfie, was eight. The Ireland that shaped her father, a land scarred by the Troubles, is a constant undercurrent. He honed his surgical skills tending to victims of the bombings, a stark contrast to the Harley Street clinic in London where he met Lara's mother during his brief, regimented visits. These trips, limited to two weekends a month, created a sense of distance and detachment, punctuated by a single, ill-fated family holiday to Spain that ended abruptly. Home, for Lara's father, was not the comfortable life he had in London, but Belfast, where he led a life shrouded in mystery, a life that held a piece of his heart and the secrets that shaped his children's destinies. As Lara's mother's life ebbs away, so does Lara's chance to find the answers she has always been seeking about her fathers life and the truth about the two lives he led in London and Belfast. *All the Beggars Riding* is a haunting and beautifully written novel about the legacy of trauma, the search for belonging, and the enduring bonds of family. Caldwell masterfully captures the nuances of human relationships and the complexities of grief and reconciliation. This is a must-read for those who appreciate emotionally resonant stories that explore the human condition with sensitivity and grace. Readers have praised Caldwell's elegant prose and her ability to create believable and compelling characters. The novel is not just a family drama; it's a reflection on Irish identity, the impact of political turmoil on personal lives, and the universal quest for understanding and closure. Prepare to be moved by this unforgettable story that lingers long after the final page is turned. This edition is the main edition published by Faber & Faber.