You have seen them in parks, in supermarkets, at airports. They are the happy ones, and you notice them because they are happy. They smile at strangers, when you look at them their response is to smile. They were born that way, you say, as you go thoughtfully on your way.

The Pure Gold Baby will raise your spirits and break your heart. Anna is the smiling child with special, unknowable qualities, who also presents profound challenges. And Jess is her charismatic single mother. Over the course of decades, we observe how much Jess loves her surprising daughter, who touches the lives of those around her. With characteristic intelligence, sympathy and wit, Drabble writes about parenthood, about friendship and ultimately about the way we care for one another in today’s society. A captivating novel from one of the world’s most respected and admired literary figures.