The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher

A massive, character driven novel that follows two families who lived their lives in neighboring homes. Forgiveness is a theme that subtly shows itself regarding couples, parents, and people's relationships with themselves. Epic in scale, Hensher's novel spans decades and follows the intricate weave of lives in a small community. The characters are fully realized and immaculately written, and the characters' actions--some seeming small, some seeming large at the time--have overwhelming effects on daughters, sons, husbands, wives, etc. Timothy, who grows from a snake-obsessed child to a radical politics-obsessed professor, first takes and then gives cold, cruel, irrational treatment, and proves to be particularly fascinating. Each character has his or her own arc throug life, and Hensher writes each life with such care and precision, and never ceases to surprise.