Published in 2024 by Sceptre, Andrew Miller's The Land in Winter is a decidedly English novel. Set over the course of three months -- from December 1962 to February 1963 -- the novel follows Eric Parry, who lives with his wife in the idyllic English countryside (called the "West Country"). While Eric is a doctor, his wife stays at home, growing bored of the mundanity of her life and feeling out of sorts in an unfamiliar place. Meanwhile, Miller introduces readers to Bill Simmons and his wife, Rita. Like Irene, Rita feels out of place in her new home, leading to consternation in their respective marriages. Still, the two couples move forward, and Irene and Rita become pregnant. Never satisfied, though, Eric begins an affair with a patient, and the two couples are forced to contend with increasing difficulties in their community, which culminates in a party involving all of the couples. It is a story about marriage, commitment, finding oneself, and keeping oneself busy despite living somewhere not particularly exciting.
Despite being a child in the 1960s (Miller was born in early 1960), reviewers have commented that he was able to capture the spirit of a time period in an authentic way. Further reflecting the novel's critical success, it was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize and several other prestigious prizes. Writes Rachel Seiffert of The Guardian: The Land in Winter "brilliantly evokes the legacy of the second world war."
