Seahorses are Real is a haunting tale of love and tragedy, which revolves around the frequently avoided subject of domestic violence against men.
Marly is a young woman struggling to deal with her emotions and depression in a small, grey town. She longs to be anywhere else, retreating into daytime tv and her idyllic childhood dream-world of horses and white cottages by the sea. For her devoted fiancée David, this means a life of hard work, supporting the love of his life financially and emotionally. But as Marly begins to find her feet in reality and hope for a brighter future, time may be running out for David.
This intense, beautifully-written novel is a moving human tale of how lovers can create and destroy each other's happiness.
“Bethell's insightful representation of depression and abuse refutes the cliché of male aggression and offers a bleak and nuanced portrayal of an imploding relationship [...] we should all look forward to more from Bethell."
New Welsh Review
Zillah Bethell is a graduate of Wadham College, Oxford and now lives in Tondu with her husband and two young children.
Marly is a young woman struggling to deal with her emotions and depression in a small, grey town. She longs to be anywhere else, retreating into daytime tv and her idyllic childhood dream-world of horses and white cottages by the sea. For her devoted fiancée David, this means a life of hard work, supporting the love of his life financially and emotionally. But as Marly begins to find her feet in reality and hope for a brighter future, time may be running out for David.
This intense, beautifully-written novel is a moving human tale of how lovers can create and destroy each other's happiness.
“Bethell's insightful representation of depression and abuse refutes the cliché of male aggression and offers a bleak and nuanced portrayal of an imploding relationship [...] we should all look forward to more from Bethell."
New Welsh Review
Zillah Bethell is a graduate of Wadham College, Oxford and now lives in Tondu with her husband and two young children.