Dancing Backwards

Salley Vickers is the author of the bestselling Miss Garnet’s Angel, Instances of the Number 3, Mr Golightly’s Holiday and The Other Side of You. She has worked as a dancer, an artist’s model, a university teacher of literature and a psychoanalyst.

'If you enjoy the work of Marilynne Robinson, Penelope Fitzgerald, James Salter or Anita Brookner, you should be reading Vickers. All these authors reflect, with grace and gravity, on life's moments of sorrowful epiphany.' Michael Dirda, Washington Post Praise for 'Instances of the Number 3': 'Salley Vickers is a remarkable optimist. She shows that happiness can be found even after it seems to have died.' David Sexton, Evening Standard 'Gentleness of perception and sharpness of intellect!sustains you long after the last page.' Bel Mooney, The Times 'Admirable. Salley Vickers has a way with persuasive characters and crisp narrative.' Penelope Lively, Independent 'Vickers writes sympathetically about the bereaved women as they remake their lives.' Margaret Walter, Sunday Times 'Studded with observations and asides that stop you in your tracks.' Julie Wheelwright, Scotland on Sunday 'The reader glides through it effortlessly. The plot is simple, yet has an amazing amount of narrative power. Vickers' second novel confirms that she will have a long and outstanding career.' Martyn Goff, The Times 'Lovely. Distinctive grace.' Murrough O'Brien, Daily Telegraph 'Her voice rings true and strong.' Jane Gardam, Spectator Praise for Miss Garnet's Angel: 'Subtle, unexpected and haunting.' Penelope Fitzgerald 'Very kind, very funny.' John Bayley 'Writes like a haunted angel.' The Times 'Rich, complex and haunting!she makes the ancient story as riveting as Miss Garnet's own adventures.' Sunday Times 'The sort of novel I really enjoy.' John Bayley Reveals itself as a surprising exploration of the mysteries of imagination and faith.' Joanna Trollope, Daily Telegraph Books of the Year 'A refreshing, gentle story.' Anita Brookner, Spectator Books of the Year 'A subtle, witty tale.' John de Falbe, Spectator Books of the Year 'Delightfully affecting.' Julia Neuberger, Independent Books of the Year 'Original and delightful.' Woman's Journal 'It is a triumph.' John Julius Norwich