The stunning Booker shortlisted novel from bestselling author Zoë Heller, now a Penguin Essential
When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...
Zoë Heller was born in London. She was educated at Oxford University and Columbia University in New York. Her first novel, Everything You Know, was published by Viking in 1999, her second, Notes on a Scandal (also published by Viking) was recently made into a feature film starring Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench. Zoë Heller writes a column for the Daily Telegraph and was Columnist of the Year for 2002. She lives in New York.