A powerfully moving tale of small-town life, this stunning novel won both the Miles Franklin and Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 2008

'That exotic tribe was us. And the time we have taken, our moment.'

1970, Glenroy. One summer's morning Rita is awakened by a dream of her husband, only to look out onan empty bed.It's been years sinceVic moved north and left her life, but her house holds memories and part of her remains tied to a different time. As their son Michael enters the tender and challenging realm of first love, he too discovers that innocence can only be sustained for so long.

As they prepare to celebrate Glenroy's 100th anniversary, the residents of the Melbourne suburb look back on a time of radical change. The time has come for them to consider the real meaning of progress - both as a community and in their personal lives.

The Time We Have Taken is a powerful and poignant look at the extraordinary that lies within the ordinary, from a writer of breathtaking prose.