A devastating novel of love and obsession from the Man Booker Prize and Whitbread Prize shortlisted author.

'An unsettling tale of passion, faith and identity . . . engrossing' Observer

Arnold Proctor's quiet life is thrown off balance when he falls obsessively in love with Vera, a religious woman and one of his wife's friends. Vera seems untroubled by her wrongdoing, yet faithless Arnold is wracked with guilt. He has never believed in God, but now he wonders if he truly believes in anything at all?

Polly makes handcrafted paper, and even though the age of paper is dead, she runs a successful shop selling her exquisite products. Polly is secure and happy in her life, until the day her husband Arnold makes a very uncharacteristic declaration.

The Paper Lovers is a devastating story of love and betrayal, and what becomes of us after our greatest certainties have been shattered.

'A beautifully written novel about marital infidelity from a Booker-shortlistee' A Sunday Times must-read

'This is contemporary family drama at its most compelling' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall

'An immensely clever, tense, troubling and satisfying book, with so many little chambers of interest and so many huge issues subtly handled.' Jim Crace, author of Harvest

The pains and perils of adultery are brilliantly exposed in this haunting novel.