The Trick Is To Keep Breathing

The Trick Is To Keep Breathing

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By Janice Galloway

ISBN: 9781628976458

Publication Date: 5/26/2026

The widely-celebrated debut from one of Scotland’s most important authors, which tells the stark and honest story of a woman struggling to cope with the loss of her lover, that is often compared to The Bell Jar. 

Now available again after its initial Dalkey Archive publication in 1994, Janice Galloway's inventive first novel is about the grief and breakdown of Joy Stone, who is pushed to the limits of loneliness. The 27-year-old drama teacher spirals into anguish and self-blame after the accidental drowning of her married lover. While the novel paints a portrait of a woman enduring great emotional suffering, it is also a story of warmth and humanity; it's the wit and irony found in moments of despair that prove to be Joy's salvation. First published by Polygon, an independent Scottish press, in 1989, the re-release of The Trick Is To Keep Breathing is a gift to today’s readers.

Biographical note

Janice Galloway was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1955. Her first novel, The Trick Is To Keep Breathing, was initially published by Polygon in 1989. This novel, now regarded as a Scottish classic,  was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel, Scottish First Book, Italia Premio Acerbi and Aer Lingus Awards. In 2023, Galloway was prestigiously elected A Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature.