Ali Smith has created a guiding light through dark times, combining the story of 21st-century artist Sandy Gray with events in plague-ridden England in the late Middle Ages. “In the hope that the medieval past will provide answers to understand our uncertain future,” Component ” presents a kaleidoscope of stories and experiences.” – The Guardian A day spent at border control in a locked room with no explanation. A riddle that seems to have no answer: curlew or curfew? Sandy receives an unexpected call from a former classmate asking for help deciphering mysterious words associated with a medieval artifact. After this opening, Ali Smith tells a broader story about loneliness, the inner fragility of each of us and freedom. “This book is a puzzle of the most important themes of our time.” – Esquire