Here We Are is a quietly devastating, magical novel that explores the depths of emotion and narrative complexity. It is set in Brighton in 1959 and follows the lives of Ronnie, Evie, and Jack, three young performers at the theatre at the end of the pier. The off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold that will have lasting consequences for all their futures. The book has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its literary magicianship, its power, and its moments of quiet, undramatic poignancy. It is a welcome addition to a proud legacy and is perfect and smooth as an egg.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2021
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

‘A quietly,devastating,magical novel  Daily Telegraph Beautiful,gentle,intricate...  Here We Are  smuggles within the pages of a seemingly commonplace tale depths of emotion and narrative complexity that take the breath away. The Observer It is Brighton,1959,and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie,a brilliant young magician,and Evie,his dazzling assistant,are top of the bill,drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile,Jack – Jack Robinson,as in ‘before you can say – is everyones favourite compère,a born entertainer,holding the whole show together.   As the summer progresses,the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success,and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures.   Rich,comic,alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition. ‘With a wizardry of his own,Swift conjures up an about-to-disappear little world and turns it into something of wider resonance   Sunday Times ‘Theres nothing extravagant or showy about Here We Are . . . The books power comes precisely from the fact that it performs its magic in front of your eyes,leaving nowhere to hide . . . you wonder how he does it. Financial Times ‘As with all his books,its the moments of quiet,undramatic poignancy that stay with you   Sunday Express He tells simple,truthful stories about what feel like real people.  Here We Are  is a welcome addition to a proud legacy.   The Big Issue The variety of voices and its historical and emotional reach are so finely entwined,it is as perfect and smooth as an egg. Passages leap out all the time,demanding to be reread,or committed to memor.

A quietly, devastating, magical novel

The Daily Telegraph

Beautiful, gentle, intricate...

Here We Are

smuggles within the pages of a seemingly commonplace tale depths of emotion and narrative complexity that take the breath away.

The Observer

It is Brighton, 1959, and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile, Jack – Jack Robinson, as in ‘before you can say – is everyone’s favourite compère, a born entertainer, holding the whole show together. As the summer progresses, the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures. Rich, comic, alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition.

With a wizardry of his own, Swift conjures up an about-to-disappear little world and turns it into something of wider resonance

Sunday Times

There’s nothing extravagant or showy about Here We Are . . . The book’s power comes precisely from the fact that it performs its magic in front of your eyes, leaving nowhere to hide . . . you wonder how he does it.

Financial Times

As with all his books, it’s the moments of quiet, undramatic poignancy that stay with you

Sunday Express

He tells simple, truthful stories about what feel like real people.

Here We Are

is a welcome addition to a proud legacy.

The Big Issue

The variety of voices and its historical and emotional reach are so finely entwined, it is as perfect and smooth as an egg. Passages leap out all the time, demanding to be reread, or committed to memor.

A quietly, devastating, magical novel

The Daily Telegraph

Beautiful, gentle, intricate...

Here We Are

smuggles within the pages of a seemingly commonplace tale depths of emotion and narrative complexity that take the breath away.

The Observer

It is Brighton, 1959, and the theatre at the end of the pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing audiences each night. Meanwhile, Jack – Jack Robinson, as in ‘before you can say – is everyone’s favourite compère, a born entertainer, holding the whole show together. As the summer progresses, the off-stage drama between the three begins to overshadow their theatrical success, and events unfold which will have lasting consequences for all their futures. Rich, comic, alive and subtly devastating, Here We Are is a masterly piece of literary magicianship which pulls back the curtain on the human condition.

With a wizardry of his own, Swift conjures up an about-to-disappear little world and turns it into something of wider resonance

Sunday Times

There’s nothing extravagant or showy about Here We Are . . . The book’s power comes precisely from the fact that it performs its magic in front of your eyes, leaving nowhere to hide . . . you wonder how he does it.

Financial Times

As with all his books, it’s the moments of quiet, undramatic poignancy that stay with you

Sunday Express

He tells simple, truthful stories about what feel like real people.

Here We Are

is a welcome addition to a proud legacy.

The Big Issue

The variety of voices and its historical and emotional reach are so finely entwined, it is as perfect and smooth as an egg. Passages leap out all the time, demanding to be reread, or committed to memor.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781471188961