Crimson Light Polished Wood by Monica Raszewski

Leonora, a British teacher, has relocated to Melbourne and falls in love with Margaret, a fellow female teacher who three years later dies of cancer. While still grieving for Margaret, Leonora meets and befriends Anna, the Polish woman who lives next door.

As Leonora becomes increasingly involved with Anna and her family the novel illuminates with subtle ease the influence Leonora has on Anna’s daughter, Lydia, introducing her to the wonderful world of literature and art.

This is a novel about the ways we all long for acceptance and the ways in which those we might feel most in touch with including parents, siblings and mentors can often have different values and views about us. As such it is a beautiful work about art, gender, disappointment, understanding and celebration.

About the Author:

Monica Raszewski is Melbourne-based novelist and playwright. Her first novel, The Archaeology of a Dream City, was published in 2021 by Balestier Press (U.K.). It was shortlisted in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (New Writing) in 2022. Monica has had short stories published in literary journals including Overland, Meanjin and Southerly and several plays produced in Melbourne and in Sydney. Her radio plays, Forest and Ghost Words, were produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and broadcast nationally.

01 Aug 2025
 

Crimson Light Polished Wood by Monica Raszewski ISBN 9781923023451