Esther's marriage begins, and ends, in the shadow of Notre Dame cathedral. Now, time has flattened. Sifting through the ashes of their years together, Esther finds a litany of feelings and memories that no longer make sense, offer no comfort, and that she cannot trust. Esther seeks help - from generations of women, books, a philosopher, from her own mother - but mostly, she writes. Fragments, notes, letters. Esther writes, and rewrites, until time slowly takes shape again. Miriam Robinson's powerful debut is an excavation of betrayal, motherhood, guilt and consequence; of love coming to an end. Told with wit, empathy and startling ferocity, And Notre Dame is Burning is a novel of wounds and of healing. " A beautifully wrought, thought-provoking novel from a thrilling new voice in literary fiction." ( Charlotte Heathcote, Mail on Sunday ) " Stunning ." ( Nuala McGovern, Woman's Hour ) " Miriam Robinson is an incredible writer and this is an astounding debut. " ( Nina Pottell, Prima Magazine ) " This page-turning novel [is] a beacon of hope, as its heroine discovers new ways of living - and of becoming herself. " ( Erica Wagner, Harper's Bazaar ) " Robinson's debut is exceptional . . . In writing Esther, she has beautifully captured some of the universal aspects of womanhood. " ( Katie Fraser, The Bookseller )