Grenville's "The Secret River" was one of the success stories of 2006, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. This follow-up to that bestselling novel tells the story of how she came to write it, beginning with her great-great-great grandfather. As Grenville pursued the story of her ancestor, William Thornhill, she realised she must write about him. This is a must for anyone who enjoyed the novel.