Language English Publication date 1988 Pages 125 Originally published 1988 Page count 125 | Publisher Collins Harvill Media type Print ISBN 0-00-271267-9 Country United Kingdom | |
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The Greenhouse is British author Susan Hillmore's first novel. It was first published in 1988 by Collins Harvill and was shortlisted for the Sunday Express Book of the Year. It was republished by Vintage Books in 2000 when it was praised as being one of the 'best books of 2000' according to critics at The Independent. and recommended as Summer reading the following year in The Guardian
Plot introduction
The story is told from the point of view of a greenhouse which tells of the family living in the house to which it belongs; most notably Vanessa a girl who grows up alone in the house and garden and is who spent much of her time in the greenhouse until their peace was shattered by a stranger who rapes her. Things can never be the same again for Vanessa as her son is born and inherits his character from his father.