Set just after the second world war, this is the story of a woman secretly assuming her dead husband's identity, and doing everything possible in a desperate attempt not to be discovered, and to build a new life for herself. I enjoyed the way the characters speak and the prose generally is rich. In parts, the author uses the book as a vehicle to philosophise on what it means to be a man or a woman in society and to be accepted. While the main character is far from likeable, and makes some very bad choices, I did have a certain sympathy for him and his desperation not to be uncovered. It is interesting to see the change in his character and actions as he gets deeper into his male identity. Although this is fiction, presumably similar life-stories do and did exist, and it is fascinating to get a glimpse into the possible ramifications of this. Not for the faint-hearted, but a well-written and interesting book.