 First edition | |
| Author | Ali Smith |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | David Hockney, Winter Tunnel with Snow 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
Publication date | 2017 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 322 |
| ISBN | 978-0241207024 |
| Preceded by | Autumn |
| Followed by | Spring |
Winter is a 2017 novel by Scottish author Ali Smith, first published by Hamish Hamilton, and the second of a Seasonal quartet. [1]
A family gathers in a large Cornwall house for a Christmas reunion. Joining matriarch Sophia and sister Iris is son Art, and Lux, who they believe to be Art's girlfriend, Charlotte. Art has paid Lux to pretend to be Charlotte for Christmas. Sophia suffers from visions of a disembodied child's head which follows her around, Iris is in her 70s, one of the original Greenham women, Art is a nature blogger hijacked by the original Charlotte. Lux is a Croatian and is unable to maintain her identity as Charlotte. But, like a figure in a Shakespearean romance —there are many references to “Cymbeline” - Lux magically brings Art, Iris, and Sophia together. [1]
Upon release, Winter was generally well-received. According to Book Marks , the book received "positive" reviews based on 25 critic reviews with 14 being "rave" and 9 being "positive" and 2 being "mixed". [2] In Books in the Media , a site that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a 
(4.00 out of 5) from the site which was based on 6 critic reviews. [3] On Bookmarks Magazine Mar/Apr 2018 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (4.0 out of 5) based on critic reviews with a critical summary saying, "But the critics were wowed by Smith's "trademark mischievous wit" (Independent) and cogent social critique". [4] [5]
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Autumn is a 2016 novel by Scottish author Ali Smith, first published by Hamish Hamilton. It is the first of four seasonal ‘state of the nation’ works. Written rapidly after the United Kingdom's 2016 European Union membership referendum, it was widely regarded as the first 'post-Brexit novel' dealing with the issues raised by the voters' decision. In July 2017, Autumn was longlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize for Fiction and in September 2017 it was announced as one of six books to make the shortlist. Many newspapers viewed it as the most likely candidate for winning; it was beaten by George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo.
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