Black Lake

For generations, the Campbells have lived happily at Dulough, an idyllic, rambling estate on the windswept coast of Ireland. But upkeep has drained the family coffers. Faced with the heartbreaking possibility of having to sell, John Campbell makes a very difficult decision; to keep Dulough he will turn the estate into a tourist attraction. He and his wife, daughter and son will move from the luxury of the big house to a small, damp caretaker's cottage. The upheaval strains the already tenuous threads that bind the family, and when a tragic accident befalls them, long-simmering resentments and unanswered yearnings are forced to the surface.

“'Beautifully written debut'”

Johanna Lane writes in an easy melodic stye and she shows a real talent for understanding the separate srrows and secret dreams that simmer beneath the surface - Daily Mail

A complex and beautifully structured story...a compelling and multi-dimensional tale - Irish Examiner

In this beautiful portrait of a family faced with unbearable loss, Lane reveals, not only what slips between the cracks in everyday communication, but also the secret loves and longings we all harbor... A very, very good novel - John Burnside, author of THE GLISTER

Quiet novels like Black Lake don't get much air-time, but it's worth cutting through the noise and losing yourself in this gently devastating read. - Harper's Bazaar

Johanna Lane was born in Ireland and studied English Literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she was awarded the Hemingway Prize for her short fiction, and then attended Columbia's Creative Writing MFA programme. Her first novel, BLACK LAKE, was short-listed for the University of East Anglia's Charles Pick Fellowship. She teaches composition and creative writing in New York.

For generations, the Campbells have lived happily at Dulough, an idyllic, rambling estate on the windswept coast of Ireland. But upkeep has drained the family coffers. Faced with the heartbreaking possibility of having to sell, John Campbell makes a very difficult decision; to keep Dulough he will turn the estate into a tourist attraction. He and his wife, daughter and son will move from the luxury of the big house to a small, damp caretaker's cottage. The upheaval strains the already tenuous threads that bind the family, and when a tragic accident befalls them, long-simmering resentments and unanswered yearnings are forced to the surface.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.