Simone in Pieces -- Janet Burroway, Paperback

Readers first meet Simone Lerrante, a Belgian war orphan, as a child refugee in Sussex, England, her memory damaged by trauma. This novel offers a kaleidoscopic vision of her fractured life and piecemeal understanding of self across multiple points of view. Following her from Cambridge to New York City and across the United States--through a disastrous marriage, thwarted desire, and the purgatory of academic backwaters--the novel charts Simone's unexpected reconnection with her past, which provides both autonomy and inspiration for her future. Janet Burroway slowly reveals a multifaceted, fascinating protagonist, who observes her own life without always allowing herself to be immersed in it. Spanning seven decades, this story is both epic and contained, rewarding readers at every turn.

Author: Janet Burroway
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
Published: 11/04/2025
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
ISBN: 9780299353841

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 08/01/2025 pg. 60
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2025

About the Author
Janet Burroway, the author of Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, has written eight previous novels, as well as a memoir, plays, short fiction, children's books, and more. Recipient of the Florida Humanities Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in Writing, she is Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Emerita at Florida State University at Tallahassee.