[3][4] Ancient Light is narrated by Alexander Cleave, a 60-something year-old retired actor, and takes place 10 years after the death of his daughter Cass in Eclipse.

Critical reception for Ancient Light was primarily positive,[6][7] with a reviewer for UK newspaper The Independent calling it a "luminous, breathtaking work.

[10][11] UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph gave the book three out of five stars, writing that it is "notably, though for the most part seamlessly, light-fingered – strings of Yeses from Ulysses, bits of Eliot, a hazel wood from Yeats, a lovely quote from Leopardi".

[15] The cover photograph of a man and a woman dancing in a kitchen was taken by Elliott Erwitt and is titled "Spain, Valencia, 1952, Robert and Mary Frank".

[16] Andrew Winer also used the photograph for the book cover of The Marriage Artist (2010, Henry Holt & Company) and Mark Knopfler used it for the album The Ragpicker's Dream.