Review
'Mills' first novel is an assured study of Ghanaian life . . . She vividly portrays both the black and white communities and mines considerable humour from those Africans who have their feet in both camps . . . Above all, in the character of Matilda . . . she creates a richly sympathetic portrait of a young woman whose warmth and integrity win the reader's heart along with the hearts of all those around her' Daily Express 'Heward Mills deftly captures the ironic pity each feels for the other's situation. Written with fluency and confidence, this is an impressive debut' New Statesman 'this is a debut novel of substance that movingly captures the meaning of loss and the cost of gain' Scotland on Sunday 'I loved it, I enjoyed Cloth Girl with its huge sense of place and character . . . I particularly loved Audrey and the contrast between the two' Alex Hemsley, BBC 5 Live Book Club 'The story rattles along and is beautifully told . . . Fantastic . . . I liked its crisp, spare, romantic but steely prose. It's a hot book for a hot day!' Noel Morris, BBC 5 Live Book Club 'What I liked best were the characterisations'. Of Matilda, 'I thought she was beautifully drawn . . . you caught the tragedy of ignorance and willfullness . . . beautifully carried through' Will Self 'a charming, optimistic tale' The Historical Novels Review 'utterly engrossing . . . a delightfully insightful and entertaining novel' The Works 'a cast of vibrant characters' Big Issue 'In this vivid and assured first novel, two women meet across a yawning social divide . . . Warm, moving, delightful' The Times 'Mills offers, through Matilda's eyes, a rich celebration of the country . . . This unusual tale of the colonial experience hits the spot' Guardian 'Heward Mills deftly captures the ironic pity each feels for the other's situation. Written with fluency and confidence, this is an impressive debut' New Statesman 'Sensitively dramatised by Mills' simple prose, this is a warmly feminine novel, an honest witnessing of an African movement' Observer 'Totally engrossing and beautifully written' Woman & Home 'An engrossing and at times heartbreaking story . . . A wonderful first novel, as thought-provoking as it is enjoyable' Telegraph
Scotland on Sunday
`This is a debut novel of substance that movingly captures the
meaning of loss and the cost of gain'
meaning of loss and the cost of gain'
