An astonishing new masterpiece from the Nobel and twice Booker Prize-winning author of Disgrace and SummertimeAfter crossing oceans, a man and a boy both strangers to each other arrive in a new land. David, the boy, has lost his mother and Sim n vows to look after him. In this strange new country they are assigned a new name, a new birthday, a new life.Knowing nothing of their surroundings, nor the language or customs, they are determined to find David s mother. Though the boy has no memory of her, Sim n is certain he will recognize her at first sight. But after we find her, David asks, what are we here for? The Childhood of Jesus is a profound, beautiful and continually surprising novel from a very great writer.