The Trick Is to Keep Breathing - Paperback

by Janice Galloway (Author)

The widely celebrated debut from one of Scotland's most important authors tells the stark and honest story of a woman struggling to cope with the loss of her lover.

Janice Galloway's inventive, lively first novel is about the grief and breakdown of Joy Stone, who is pushed to the limits of loneliness. After the accidental drowning of her married lover and the death of her mother, the twenty-seven-year-old drama teacher spirals into anguish and self-blame. While the novel paints a portrait of a woman enduring great emotional suffering, it is also a story of warmth and humanity; it's the wit and irony found in moments of despair that prove to be Joy's salvation.

First published in 1989 and often compared to The Bell Jar, the re-release of The Trick Is to Keep Breathing is a modern classic, and a gift to today's readers.

Author Biography

Janice Galloway was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1955. Her first novel, The Trick Is to Keep Breathing, was initially published by Polygon in 1989. This novel, now regarded as a Scottish classic, was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel, Scottish First Book, Italia Premio Acerbi and Aer Lingus Awards. In 2023, Galloway was prestigiously elected A Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.