The House at the Edge of Night

'Ten years ago, my top holiday read was Victoria Hislop's The Island; this summer's great escape belongs to Catherine Banner.' The Pool

'Delightful ... A captivating tale of love ... and loyalty peopled by wonderfully vivid characters.' Sunday Express

'Readers, prepare to be captivated.' Irish Independent

On a tiny island off the coast of Italy, surrounded by the sound of the sea and the scent of bougainvillea, the Esposito family have been running the bar, the House at the Edge of Night, for generations.

Over the course of a century, as the town is transformed by war, fascism, tourism and recession, the spirited Esposito women are determined to keep the doors to the bar open. It is, after all, the place where unexpected friendships are forged, betrayals are discovered and great love affairs begin.

"Sensual attention to detail builds a world of bougainvillea terraces serving limoncello – to say it’s atmospheric would be an understatement. Ten years ago, my top holiday read was Victoria Hislop’s The Island; this summer’s great escape belongs to Catherine Banner – utterly mesmerising from start to finish, even if you’re nowhere near a sun lounger." (The Pool)

"Readers, prepare to be captivated. This is an evocatively written, enchanting tale filled with richly depicted characters. The House at the End of Night has been compared to Joanne Harris's Chocolat and Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres and Banner's tale can confidently take its place on the bookshelves alongside those novels as it, too, transports us to a magical, enthralling world" (Irish Independent)

"A luminous homage to the Italian tradition of storytelling … a lusty page-turner that weaves romance, rivalry and the intricacies of family expectations into one glorious tale. There are echoes of Italo Calvino in Banner's writing―echoes of admiration and love. Reading The House at the Edge of Night is like falling into a fantastical world where time stands still, yet change happens at an unimaginable pace." (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

"A masterpiece in its own right" (Kuoni Magazine)

"Superb storytelling" (Irish Examiner)

REAL READER REVIEWS

"I was looking for a novel in which I could totally lose myself, and this one did it for me. I cared about the characters, I liked the descriptions of the little Italian town, and all the idiosyncrasies of the people, especially the local flavor. The tie-ins with local legends made it seem very down-to-earth, and yet somewhat magical at the same time.I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I highly recommend it." - Real Reader

"This book captivated me like a book of modern day fables. Maybe because I have never been to Italy, maybe because I long for a simpler time when families all stayed in one place under one roof for generations, maybe it's just plain well written! This book was so soothing, and painted such a clear picture of this enchanted island - I want to go there even though it's imaginary!" - Real Reader Review

"A very refreshing escape from the pressures of our present time. A family saga set on a mythical Mediterranean island. Prepare to be enthralled." - Real Reader Review 

"This story spans 4 generations on an Italian island. I fell in love with the characters especially the strong female members of the family. The descriptions of the island swept me into their world. I would highly recommend this book to readers who love to be transported to other times and places." - Real Reader Review 

"Banner weaves together many different characters and narrative strands to create an enchanting read in a wonderful setting. This will make you want to pack your bags and head to Italy, for sure!" - Real Reader Review

"It reminded me of Louis de Bernieres or Victoria Hislop both of whose books I have devoured and enjoyed." - Real Reader Review