The Book
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| Amazon |
Sarah Moss’s Ghost Wall is a haunting and compact novel that explores the intersection of past and present, power and oppression. The story follows seventeen-year-old Silvie, who joins her father, a history enthusiast obsessed with Iron Age Britain, on an experimental archaeology trip in the North of England. Alongside university students and their professor, the group attempts to live as ancient Britons once did. What begins as a curious exercise in historical recreation slowly turns into something darker as Silvie’s father’s fanaticism and brutality come to light. Moss deftly weaves themes of patriarchy, class, and control into a tense and atmospheric narrative. With its lyrical prose and unsettling emotional depth, Ghost Wall examines how the ghosts of history linger in modern life and how violence—both domestic and cultural—continues to shape identity and belonging.
The Author
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| Royal Society of Literature Image credit: Sophie Davidson |
Sarah Moss is a British novelist and academic known for her precise prose, historical awareness, and exploration of everyday anxieties. Born in Glasgow in 1975, she studied English at Oxford University, where she later taught literature and creative writing. Her fiction often blurs the boundaries between the domestic and the political, delving into themes such as family, gender, and societal constraint. Moss’s works include Cold Earth (2009), Night Waking (2011), Bodies of Light (2014), The Tidal Zone (2016), Ghost Wall (2018), and Summerwater (2020). She has received widespread critical acclaim for her ability to combine lyrical storytelling with psychological and social insight. In addition to her novels, Moss has written nonfiction, such as Names for the Sea, recounting her experiences living in Iceland. She currently teaches creative writing and continues to be one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British fiction.
Supporting documentation for preparing the meeting
External Interesting Video Links
YouTube - History Hit - What Was Life Like in Iron Age Britain?
