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The year is eighteen hundred and thirty one when fifteen-year-old Mary begins the difficult task of telling her story. A scrap of a thing with a sharp tongue and hair the colour of milk, Mary leads a harsh life working on her father's farm alongside her three sisters. In the summer she is sent to work for the local vicar's invalid wife, where the reasons why she must record the truth of what happens to her - and the need to record it so urgently - are gradually revealed. "Haunting, distinctive voices...Mary's spare simple words paint brilliant pictures in the reader's mind...Nell Leyshon's imaginative powers are considerable". ("Independent"). "Bronte-esque undertones ...a disturbing statement on the social constraints faced by 19th-century women". ("FT"). "A small tour de force - a wonderfully convincing voice, and a devastating story told with great skill and economy". (Penelope Lively). "I loved it. "The Colour of Milk" is charming, Bronte-esque, compelling, special and hard to forget. I loved Mary's voice - so inspiring and likeable. Such a hopeful book". (Marian Keyes). "Brilliant, devastating and unforgettable". (Easy Living).Nell Leyshon's first novel, Black Dirt, was long-listed for the Orange Prize, and shortlisted for the Commonwealth prize. Her plays include "Comfort me with Apples", which won an Evening Standard Award, and "Bedlam", which was the first play written by a woman for Shakespeare's Globe. She writes for BBC Radio 3 and 4, and won the Richard Imison Award for her first radio play. Nell was born in Glastonbury and lives in Dorset.

Reviews

Haunting, distinctive voices ... Mary's spare simple words paint brilliant pictures in the reader's mind ... Nell Leyshon's imaginative powers are considerable Independent on Sunday The Colour of Milk is an astounding read. Like the best bits of Hardy's Tess of the D'Ubervilles ... Mary is one of the most compelling narrators I've ever encountered ... packs a powerful punch ... a very British gem Stylist It is once in a blue moon that an author creates a voice quite as alive and as startling as Mary's. Nell Leyshon deserves to be showered with awards for The Colour Of Milk Sunday Express Spare and beautifully crafted ... compelling ... Like a love letter to the power of words Marie Claire A small tour de force - a wonderfully convincing voice, and a devastating story told with great skill and economy -- Penelope Lively Brilliant, devastating and unforgettable Easy Living Leyshon is a master of domestic suspense ... Slender but compelling, the charm of Leyshon's novella is to be found as much in its spare, evocative style as in the moving candour of its narrator Observer Leyshon's spare, dialogue-centred storytelling is lean and vivid ... a small potted tragedy The Times Leyshon's novel has a powerful impact ... one is wholly submerged in the horrific events ... skilfully captures the young girl's steadily growing confidence in her writing Independent I loved it. The Colour of Milk is charming, Bronte-esque, compelling, special and hard to forget. I loved Mary's voice - so inspiring and likeable. Such a hopeful book -- Marian Keyes An urgent tale of class division, poverty and the hardship of life as a poor woman in a patriarchal world ... packs a punch Psychologies Bronte-esque undertones ... a disturbing statement on the social constraints faced by 19th-century women Financial Times The economy of her prose heightens the power of this slender but vivid tale Daily Mail The narrative is so direct, so guileless, that the reader feels completely drawn in, as homesick as Mary herself for the known world of her farmhouse ... The story is shocking and haunting, turning suddenly and violently dark ... Read it, in one sitting Spectator Memorable ... the ending will surprise you Glamour