Sweet Caress: The Many Lives of Amory Clay - Couverture souple

From the internationally bestselling author of Any Human Heart, Restless, and Waiting for Sunrise, a compelling story of one woman’s extraordinary life, and a heart-wrenching tale of love and war in the twentieth century.

Amory Clay’s first memory is of her father standing on his head. But his absences, both actual and emotional, are what she chiefly remembers. It is her photographer uncle, Greville, who supplies the emotional bond she needs, and who, when he gives her a camera and some photography lessons, unleashes a passion that will irrevocably shape her future.

She begins an apprenticeship with Greville in London, photographing socialites for the magazine Beau Monde. But Amory is hungry for more, and her search for life, love and artistic expression takes her to the demi-monde of Berlin in the late ’20s, to New York in the ’30s, to the blackshirt riots in London and to France in the Second World War, where she becomes one of the first female war photographers. Her desire for experience leads Amory to further wars and to lovers, husbands and children as she continues to pursue her dreams and battle her demons.

In this enthralling story of a life fully lived, William Boyd has created a sweeping panorama of some of the most defining moments of modern history, told through the camera lens of one unforgettable woman, Amory Clay.

Born into Edwardian England, Amory Clay’s first memory is of her father standing on his head. She has memories of him returning on leave during the First World War. But his absences, both actual and emotional, are what she chiefly remembers. It is her photographer uncle Greville who supplies the emotional bond she needs, who, when he gives her a camera and some rudimentary lessons in photography, unleashes a passion that will irrevocably shape her future. A spell at boarding school ends abruptly and Amory begins an apprenticeship with Greville in London, photographing socialites for the magazine Beau Monde. But Amory is hungry for more and her search for life, love and artistic expression will take her to the demi monde of Berlin of the late ’20s, to New York of the ’30s, to the blackshirt riots in London, and to France in the Second World War, where she becomes one of the first women war photographers. Her desire for experience will lead Amory to further wars, to lovers, husbands and children as she continues to pursue her dreams and battle her demons.

In this enthralling story of a life fully lived, illustrated with “found” period photographs, William Boyd has created a sweeping panorama of some of the most defining moments of modern history, told through the camera lens of one unforgettable woman, Amory Clay. It is his greatest achievement to date.