We are in rural England in 1830. Time passes by at the pace of the seasons and the chores of the poor family farm where Mary was born and raised – a literary character no less than wonderful. Mary is a fifteen-year-old girl, the youngest of four unwanted sisters who live with a father who does not spare his tribe, a mother, and a disabled grandfather. Between milking the cows, the times of sowing and harvesting, and a menu of bread, tea, and a little cheese – Mary's soul sings, blossoms, and rises thanks to her joy of life. "You have a sharp tongue," "You will get into trouble," those around her tell Mary. But she admits that she cannot help herself and does not want to change, and instead of adapting herself, she forces those around her to see the world from her perspective. One day, Mary's life changes completely: her father dies of a daughter who has a slight limp, and she is sent to live in the house of the village vicar and take care of his sick wife. And here begins another book. With the priest's help, Mary learns to read and write – and gradually, the letters cease to be just "a pile of black lines". During this period, another life drama begins, told in the first person, in a personal voice, a unique, painful and lyrical voice of youth. Mary writes the book with her heart's blood, she must write, her story must see the light in order to have an existence in a world that tries to erase her. Before us is a pure and unforgettable read. "A wonderful read – a beautiful little novel with a heart the size of a huge novel inside" San Francisco Chronicle "In the Color of Milk Nell Layshon conjures up the ghosts of the Bronte sisters" Vanity Fair "A captivating, rustic poetic prose that penetrates deeply. The result is brilliant and unforgettable" Easy Living