Purposes of Love

A Virago Modern Classic

Mary Renault author Sarah Dunant editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group

Published:5th Jun '14

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Purposes of Love cover

* featured on Virago.co.uk

Mary Renault's powerful and tender first novel was written in the thirties and was, in many ways, far ahead of its time.

Vivian, a student nurse, chose her profession as a challenge, both to her spirit and to her permanently exhausted body; Mic immerses himself in his work at the hospital to ward off the emotional wounds of an unhappy childhood. Through Jan, Viv's beloved older brother, they meet, and their friendship turns into a secret romance. Secret because, if discovered, it would cost them their jobs.

Despite the discipline and rigid hierarchy imposed by the hospital, their passion takes root, but between them hangs the tantalising and enigmatic shadow of Jan.

ISBN: 9781844089512

Dimensions: 126mm x 196mm x 25mm

Weight: 308g

400 pages