'Human, astonishing, superb; and sublime.' Guardian
'A formidable voice . . . the bastard son of Philip Roth and A. S. Byatt.' New Statesman
'A remarkable achievement.' Observer

Taking place over the course of one year, shifting between uptown Manhattan and a private high-school campus in Riverdale, Either Side of Winter moves season by season through that richest of cityscapes, offering a deeply moving picture of people whose lives are linked by circumstance, community - and the need to be loved.

"'There is a deeply flowing harmony between his characters' emotional states and their surroundings... Markovits' most remarkable achievement is to give them rich, darkly shaded inner lives.' Jonathan Beckman, Observer 'It is difficult to overstress the depth and intelligence, the achievement of this book... It is very human, astonishing, superb; and, what is more important, sublime.' Todd McEwen, Guardian"

Benjamin Markovits is twenty-nine, and The Syme Papers is his first novel. Originally from Texas, he now lives in London and writes for the London Review of Books and the Times Literary Supplement.