After Darke

Released from prison after serving his sentence for the assisted death of his wife his health failing and his chronic impatience exacerbated Dr James Darke self-isolates. But on his return he understands that he is now a displaced person lost in a new world for which his education and inclinations have not prepared him.

Irascible misanthropic intensely bookish fastidious in his tastes and rich enough to indulge them Darke is a happy shut-in busily writing oppositional pamphlets and composing a literary hoax. But his daughter and the Bulgarian housekeeper she hired to look after him have other ideas.

After Darke is a moving witty reflection on grief ageing and love in all its forms and James Darke is one of the most memorable exasperating yet loveable characters of contemporary fiction.