Crow’s Reads
Cover of The Essence of the Thing

The Essence of the Thing

by Madeleine St John

First published 1997

About the book

The aftermath of a broken romance, set in England. Out of the blue, Jonathan announces to Nicola that he no longer loves her and that they should stop living together. The novel chronicles the way the two adjust to single life again.

Prizes

  1. 1997
    Booker Prize for Fiction
    Shortlist

About the author

Madeleine St John, 1941–2006, Australia.

Subjects

Catalogue record

Author
St John, Madeleine, 1941–2006
Statement
The Essence of the Thing / Madeleine St John.

Book facts

ISBN
978-0-7867-0679-2
4 more ISBNs
  • 978-0-00-729135-9
  • 978-0-9656989-9-3
  • 978-1-922079-72-5
  • 978-0-00-739102-8
Records
Open Library Wikidata

Catalogue data checked 3 October 2026

Booker Prize for Fiction 1997 shortlist

Same country and decade

Australia · 1990s