Biographical fiction / autobiographical fiction

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Book SynopsisOne of the most famous ghost stories that no one has actually read (New York Times), The Phantom of the Opera is the first in the Haunted Library Horror Classics series presented by the Horror Writers Association. An unabridged edition of the novel that inspired the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Deep beneath the Paris Opera House, a masked man lives in silenceEvery night at the Palais Garnier, hundreds of guests sit on the edge of velvet-covered seats, waiting for prima donna La Carlotta to take the stage. But when her voice fails her, La Carlotta is replaced with unknown understudy Christine Daaé, a young soprano whose vibrant singing fills every corner of the house and wins her a slew of admirers, including an old childhood friend who soon professes his love for her. But unknown to Christine is another man, who lurks out of sight behind the heavy curtains of the opera, who can move about the building undetected, who will do anything to make sure Christine will keep sTrade Review"One of the most powerful Gothic romances ever written." - The New York Times"Horror Writers Association Haunted Library of Horror Classics series will be a revelation...Fans of literate horror, whatever their opinion of Andrew Lloyd Weber, will be gratified." - Publishers Weekly"I found the story to be so compelling, and the characters so powerfully drawn... Is it a classic? Yes. It should be on your shelves." - Classic Mysteries

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Book SynopsisIn The Burglar's Christmas, William, caught mid-burglary, must come to terms with the choices that led him to that moment. Willa Cather provides a heartwarming short story of redemption and love at Christmas, a timely reminder that kindness is in everyone, just waiting to be uncovered.

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Book SynopsisBefore there was Frankenstein, a young Mary Shelley, her stepsister Jane “Claire” Clairmont, and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley are drawn into a shocking murder investigation in this deliciously captivating new historical mystery revolving around the real-life trio who would later scandalize 19th century England even as they transformed the literary world.London, 1814: Mary Godwin and her stepsister Jane Clairmont, both sixteen, possess quick minds bolstered by an unconventional upbringing, and have little regard for the rules that other young ladies follow. Mary, whose mother famously advocated for women’s rights, rejects the two paths that seem open to her—that of an assistant in her father’s bookshop, or an ordinary wife. Though quieter and more reserved than the boisterous Jane, Mary’s imagination is keen, and she longs for real-world adventures.One evening, an opportunity arrives in the form of a dinner guest, Per

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Book SynopsisKyokutei Bakin''s Nanso Satomi hakkenden is one of the monuments of Japanese literature. This multigenerational samurai saga was one of the most popular and influential books of the nineteenth century and has been adapted many times into film, television, fiction, and comics. An Ill-Considered Jest, the first part of Hakkenden, tells the story of the Satomi clan patriarch Yoshizane and his daughter Princess Fuse. An ill-advised comment forces Yoshizane to betroth his daughter to the family dog, creating a supernatural union that ultimately produces the Eight Dog Warriors. Princess Fuse''s heroic and tragic sacrifice, and her strength, intelligence, and self-determination throughout, render her an immortal character within Japanese fiction.Eight Dogs is the culmination of centuries of premodern Japanese tale-telling, combining aspects of historical romance, fantasy, Tokugawa-era popular fiction, and Chinese vernacular stories. Glynne Walley''Trade ReviewThe presentation here is excellent, beginning with the faithful reproduction and translation of seemingly every last detail. * The Complete Review *It's an excellent introduction to Bakin's semi-fictional world. Hakkenden has all the hallmarks of a wonderful addition to the stock of Japanese literature available in English. * Tony's Reading List *Glynne Walley's lively translation [of] Eight Dogs, or 'Hakkenden': Part One—An Ill-Considered Jest conveys the witty and colorful prose of the original, producing a faithful and entertaining edition of this important literary classic. * New Books Network *The fantastical elements of "Hakkenden" give it a kinship to those endlessly unspooling fantasy sagas by Robert Jordan or George R.R. Martin. * The Wall Street Journal *An Ill-Considered Jest is, in addition to being an excellent translation and a first-rate work of scholarship, a beautifully illustrated and compulsively readable tome. Walley's translation of Hakkenden will be a game changer for scholars and teachers of premodern Japanese literature, and even this first installment opens exciting possibilities for researchers and students. * Monumenta Nipponica *Table of ContentsInaugural Volume Covers and Endpaper Chinese Preface Japanese Preface Table of Contents Frontispieces Advertisement Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Colophon Volume II Covers and Endpaper Chinese Preface Japanese Preface Table of Contents Frontispieces Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV

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Book Synopsis“[A] stirring song of freedom.” —Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa From a renowned prize-winning Argentinian author comes a historical novel based on the true story of one man’s faith, spirit, and resistance during the Spanish Inquisition in Latin America. Born in sixteenth-century Argentina, Francisco Maldonado da Silva is nine years old when he sees his father, Don Diego, arrested one harrowing afternoon because of his beliefs. Raised in a family practicing its Jewish faith in secret under the condemning eyes of the Spanish Inquisition, Francisco embarks on a personal quest that will challenge, enlighten, and forever change him. He completes his education in a monastery; he reads the Bible; he dreams of reparation; he dedicates his life to science, developing a humanistic approach and becoming one of the first accredited medical doctors in Latin America; and most of all, he longs to reconnect with his father in Lima, Perú, the City of Kings. So begins Francisco’s epic journey to fight for his true faith, to embrace his past, and to draw from his father’s indomitable strength in the face of unimaginable persecution. But the arm of the Holy Inquisition is an intractable one. As it reaches for Francisco, he sheds his mask to defend his freedom. Against seemingly insurmountable odds, he will prove that while the body can be broken, the spirit fights back, endures, and survives.Trade Review“Veteran Argentine author Aguinis, the first non-Spaniard to win the coveted Planeta Prize, writes the book of a lifetime, a big, booming, open-hearted saga on a deadly serious topic—the Spanish Inquisition in Latin America…Both strong historical chronicle and spirited defense of the right to believe, presented in straightforward language appropriate for the widest range of readers.” —Library Journal (starred review) “These issues, of religious persecution and forced suppression of cultural identity, are as relevant in parts of the world today as they were in da Silva’s time, and for that reason, along with the inherently interesting story of Francisco’s life, this book is worth reading.” —Beyond the Lamp Post “Against the Inquisition is both a personal reflection and a universal indictment of intolerance masquerading as the quest for purity of faith…told with sensitivity and understanding…willing to delve into the ugliness of the past to illuminate the human spirit that, in the end, transcends.” —Historical Novel Review “An utterly engrossing story that will enrich…understanding of the past while inspiring reflection on the present…” —Moment Magazine

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Book SynopsisInspired by real life stories of the Windrush Generation and her mother’s own experiences as a nurse coming to Britain from the Caribbean, Sarah Lee’s debut novel An Ocean Apart is a must for fans of Call the Midwife.'A love letter to the women who left behind everything to help heal our country and establish the NHS. I could not have loved this more and thought about it long after I turned the last page.' - Kate Thompson, author of The Little Wartime LibraryIt’s 1954 and, in Barbados, Ruby Haynes spots an advertisement for young women to train as nurses for the new National Health Service in Great Britain. Her sister, Connie, takes some persuading, but soon the sisters are on their way to a new country – and a whole new world of experiences.As they start their training in Hertfordshire, they discover England isn’t quite the promised land; for every door that’s opened to them, the sisters find many slammed in their faces. And though the girls find friendships with their fellow nurses, Connie struggles with being so far from home, and keeping secret the daughter she has left behind in search of a better life for the both of them . . .'A glorious triumph of a book full of characters that feel like real friends, so atmospheric, compelling and nostalgic, I adored it.' - Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from ItalyTrade ReviewA beautiful story of friendship, new beginnings and love. A love letter to the women who left behind everything to help heal our country and establish the NHS. At its heart, it's a story of courage! I could not have loved this more and thought about it long after I turned the last page. -- Kate Thompson, author of The Little Wartime LibraryA glorious triumph of a book full of characters that feel like real friends, so atmospheric, compelling and nostalgic, I adored it. -- Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from ItalyWith romance, realism and just a touch of humour, An Ocean Apart is billed as a must for fans of Call the Midwife. * My Weekly *An uplifting yet thought-provoking story of friendship, loyalty and care for others and a wonderful tribute to a group of people who brought so much to the UK. * WI Life *This topical book is beautifully written and has a gentle pace to it, which keeps the reader enthralled and eager to keep turning the page and is a wonderful debut novel. * Our Man On the Ground *An evocative tale of post-War London * History Revealed *an easy, enjoyable read that celebrates women working hard to succeed together. * Historical Novel Society *An Ocean Apart is a warm hug of a book - the charming story of the joys and struggles of a trio of young women in a foreign land. -- Kirstie Pelling, author of The Happiness Project

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Book SynopsisBy the author of Schindler's Ark and master storyteller, Thomas Keneally, a vibrant novel about Charles Dickens' son and his adventures in the Australian Outback.In 1868, Charles Dickens dispatches his youngest child to Australia. Like his brother Alfred before him, sixteen-year-old Edward is expected to learn to apply himself in what his father considers to be the new land of opportunity. Posted to a remote sheep station in New South Wales, Edward discovers that Charles Dickens' fame has reached even there, as has the gossip about his father's scandalous liaison with an actress. Amid colonists, ex-convicts, local tribespeople and a handful of eligible young women, Edward strives to be his own man - and keep secret the fact that he's read none of his father's novels.Conjuring up a life of sheep-droving, horse-racing and cricket tournaments in a community riven with tensions and prejudice, the story of Edward's adventures also affords an intimate portrait of Dickens' himself. This vivacious novel is classic Keneally: historical figures and events re-imagined with verve, humour and compassion.Trade ReviewAn engrossing and transporting read -- Nathan Brooker * Financial Times *[A] genial, wry recreation of [Edward Dickens'] time in remote New South Wales * Daily Mail *A bustling picaresque tale . . . there are some unforgettably vivid scenes in this rompy but emotive story of bruised youth. -- Anthony Cummins * Mail on Sunday *[An] absorbing novel . . . Plorn himself is a joy -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Keneally has brought off a notable double: a delightful and continuously interesting portrayal of mid-19th century life in the rolling sheep pastures of New South Wales and an acute and persuasive examination of the mystery that Charles Dickens still presents, and of the enduring fascination he exerts over us today. -- Alan Massie * Scotsman *The Dickens Boy . . . is energetic, even exuberant. It is in love with the abundance of life it negotiates. * The Sydney Morning Herald *An ingenious, hilarious novel . . . Keneally does what he does so well: he plucks people from the pages of history and gives them emotional lives * The Australian *A dashing, crisply written book * Saturday Paper *Keneally is a master at weaving historical figures and events into compelling works of fiction and so he does with his new book * Brisbane News *Rewarding terrain for a much-loved novelist * Gleaner *Tender and wry as the novel is, it has a tough-minded postcolonial core . . . Keneally's other life as a historian informs every page; his is an antique footnote swelled up to life-size * Australian Book Review *A vibrant novel * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Room brings a slice of his own family history to life through extensive research and rich storytelling.Beginning with his great-great-grandfather Abraham Block, acclaimed novelist Simon Mawer sifts through evidence like an archaeologist, piecing together the stories of his ancestors. Illiterate and lacking opportunity in the bleak Suffolk village where his parents worked as agricultural laborers, Abraham leaves home at fifteen, in 1847. He signs away the next five years in an indenture aboard a ship, which will circuitously lead him to London and well beyond, to far-flung ports on the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. In London he crosses paths with Naomi Lulham, a young seamstress likewise seeking a better life in the city, with all its prospects and temptations.    Another branch of the family tree comes together in 1847, in Manchester, as soldier George Mawer weds his Irish bride Ann Scanlon—Annie—before embarking with his regiment. When he is called to fight in the Crimean War, Annie must fend for herself and her children on a meager income, navigating an often hostile world as a woman alone.    With a keen eye and a nuanced consideration of the limits of what we can know about the past, Mawer paints a compelling, intimate portrait of life in the nineteenth century.

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Book SynopsisAs a former president of Russia loses his marbles, those around him get down to losing their morals.Former Russian president, Vladimir P, is going senile, marooned in a world of memories from his years in power. To get him out of the way, he has been exiled to his luxury dacha, where he is served by a coterie of bickering house staff. Only Sheremetev, the guileless nurse charged with Vladimir's round-the-clock care, is unaware that everyone else is busily using every means at their disposal to skim money from their employer's inexhaustible riches. But when the nurse suddenly needs to find cash for a bribe or see his nephew rot in jail, the dacha's chef lets him in on the secret world of 'commissions' going on all around him. Yet surely Sheremetev wouldn't think to steal from his ailing patient? And surely, in the upstanding modern Russia that Vladimir P created, no one would actually let him...Trade ReviewAmid its screwball rage this very funny book is also an unexpectedly touching one -- AD Miller * Spectator *Sharp, spare, entertaining... Savour the quips and enjoy the show -- Mary Dejevsky * Independent *Starts at 100mph and only gets faster... Copious, creative and full of brio * Big Issue *Refreshing... Essential... Page-turning * New York Times *A scathing satire... The Senility of Vladimir P is a clear attack on the corruption and greed of Putin's Russia and a sharp reminder of how authoritarian rule can infect a generation -- Lucy Popescu * Independent *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Anne O'Brien and Elizabeth Chadwick, Deborah Swift brings a unique period in history to vivid, fascinating life in her acclaimed Pepys trilogy.'A remarkably beguiling read. It transported me to the glitter and filth of seventeenth century London' Martine Bailey, author of The Almanack'The fusion of historical facts and fiction is so flawless that it is hard to know where reality ends and fiction begins' Readers' FavoriteLondon, 1666. Elizabeth 'Bird' Carpenter has a wonderful singing voice, and music is her chief passion. When her father persuades her to marry horse-dealer Christopher Knepp, she suspects she is marrying beneath her station, but nothing prepares her for the reality of life with Knepp. Her father has betrayed her trust, for Knepp cares only for his horses; he is a tyrant and a bully, and will allow Bird no life of her own.When Knepp goes away, she grasps her chance and, encouraged by her maidservant Livvy, makes a secret visit to the theatre. Entranced by the music, the glitter and glamour of the surroundings, and the free and outspoken manner of the women on the stage, she falls in love with the theatre and is determined to forge a path of her own as an actress.But life in the theatre was never going to be straightforward - for a jealous rival wants to spoil her plans, and worse, Knepp forbids it, and Bird must use all her wit and intelligence to change his mind.Based on events depicted in the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys, Entertaining Mr Pepys brings London in the 17th Century to life. It includes the vibrant characters of the day such as the diarist himself and actress Nell Gwynne, and features a dazzling and gripping finale during the Great Fire Of London.The third in Deborah Swift's atmospheric trilogy, bringing to life the women in Pepys' Diary. Each novel features a different character and can be read as a standalone book.PRAISE FOR THE PEPYS TRILOGY:'Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines' The Visitor'A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail' Readers' Favorite 5*'Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life... Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined' Lancashire Evening PostTrade ReviewA remarkably beguiling read. It transported me to the glitter and filth of seventeenth century London -- Martine Bailey, author of The AlmanackThe fusion of historical facts and fiction is so flawless that it is hard to know where reality ends and fiction begins * Readers Favourite Review *

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Anne O'Brien and Elizabeth Chadwick, Deborah Swift brings a unique period in history to vivid, fascinating life in her acclaimed Pepys trilogy.'Laced with emotional intensity and drama, Pleasing Mr Pepys...(has) an intricate plot that features red herrings, unexpected twists, and surprises that will take readers on a very delightful ride' Readers' Favorite 'Deb Willet, Elizabeth Pepys's maid and the object of Samuel Pepys's attentions, is finally given centre-stage after 350 years, and her tale was worth waiting for. This is exceptional story-telling' L. C. Tyler From acclaimed historical novelist Deborah Swift, Pleasing Mr Pepys is the story of diarist Samuel Pepys' London, vibrantly told through the eyes of his maid. Deb Willet is desperate to escape her domineering aunt and takes a position as companion to Elisabeth Pepys, Samuel's wife. Deb believes it will give her the respectability and freedom she craves - but it proves far more complicated than she could ever have imagined.London is still in ruins from the Great Fire. Although Charles II has been restored to the throne, there is the prospect of war with the Dutch - the world's great sea power of the era. In the midst of this tumult strides Samuel Pepys, diarist and man of note. Pepys' influence in Restoration London means that the Dutch are keen to get their hands on his secrets - even if that means murder, espionage and blackmail to get them. Deb is soon caught up in a web of deception and double-dealing. And with Mr Pepys' attentions turned towards her, there's a lot more than treason at stake... Selling other people's secrets is a dangerous game...Praise for Pleasing Mr Pepys: 'Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines' The Visitor 'Laced with emotional intensity and drama' Readers' Favorite 'Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life...Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined, Pleasing Mr Pepys is guaranteed to please' Lancashire Evening PostDon't miss Deborah Swift's other enthralling tales of Samuel Pepys - A Plague of Mr Pepys and Entertaining Mr Pepys - out now!

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Book SynopsisA memoir like no other, A Single Headstrong Heart passionately and intelligently reveals both the era and the individual. Funny, quirky and touching, this latest offering from Kevin Myers describes in a first-person narrative his childhood up to the early years of his career as a journalist and his departure from University College Dublin in the late 1960s. Related with a Rabelaisian verve, A Single Headstrong Heart is a prequel to Myers’ bestselling Watching the Door, set in Belfast at the height of the Troubles during the 1970s, and it has all the panache and particularity of that masterly book. As they grow up in Leicestershire, England, with regular holiday visits to Ireland, Kevin and his twin sister Maggie are sheltered by a mother’s domestic diligence and survive a father’s eccentricity and gradual disintegration. Being Irish and Catholic in an English provincial town brings fascinating tensions and analysis to bear on boarding school experiences, social status, sport and a burgeoning sexuality. The travails of puberty have rarely been so candidly depicted. Pop music, political awareness and modernity break in with the advent of the Sixties and modernity as this rare, ebullient personality undergoes social and political transformation. With a sometimes grotesque humour reminiscent of Roald Dahl, these recollections retain an authentic childlike sense of galloping self-importance in an adult re-casting. Broadly chronological, the main narrative arc is sustained by the author’s relationship with his father, with a startling denouement revealed after his father’s death that lends context to these vivid memories.Trade Review"The book, finally, is remarkable because of the surprise the author pulls off at the end – and it really is a surprise.” -The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisStendhal wrote in ? Life of Rossini? : ? It is necessary to have loved as implacably as the Portuguese Nun, and with all the unquenchable ardour of which she has left us so vivid an echo in her immortal Letters? First published in 1668 by then small Parisian bookseller Claude Barbin, the Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun (known in French as ? Portuguese Letters translated into French? or ? Portuguese Letters? ) witnessed immediate success.It is one of the first fictional epistolary novels that inspired many to come in French literature, such as Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and Julie by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.The Love Letters comprise of five love letters written by a Portuguese nun cloistered in the Franciscan convent of Beja to the French officer who went to Portugal to support the Portuguese in their war of independence against the Spanish and had loved her and left her.The letters showcase a remarkable depth of psychological insight into the inner workings of a woman in love, bearing witness to a gradual yet pivotal development of self-awareness and an elegantly controlled depiction of passion.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Light on Farallon Island comes a haunting novel about the power of science, the nature of love, and the enigma of the supernatural.Convention-flouting Nora Harris is a determined young medical student in Gilded Age Manhattan. A surgeon’s daughter, she always leads with her head—until her father’s latest protégé, Euan Colquhoun, steals her heart. Love and logic bind the newly betrothed couple together, but a tragic accident cuts their bright future short.Grief-stricken, Nora finds surprising comfort in corresponding with Euan’s older brother, Malcolm. She decides to forsake her ambitions to retreat to the Colquhoun family farm deep in the tangled woods of upstate New York.There, her longed-for peace is threatened by a suspicion that the whole family harbors haunting secrets. When she starts to see things that science can’t explain, Nora fears for her sanity—and when she gives in to

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Book Synopsis Who put Ellen in the blackgum tree? Decades after trespassing children spotted the desiccated corpse wedged in the treetop, no one knows the answer. Kate Thrush and her former college professor, Dr. Judith Kane, travel to Cinderwich, Tennessee in hopes that maybe it was their Ellen: Katie's lost aunt, Judith's long-gone lover. But they're not the only ones to have come here looking for closure. The people of Cinderwich, a town hardly more than a skeleton itself, are staunchly resistant to the outsiders' questions about Ellen and her killer. And the deeper the two women dig, the more rot they unearth the closer they come to exhuming the evil that lies, hungering, at the roots of Cinderwich.

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Book SynopsisIn 1880 Dostoevsky completed The Brothers Karamazov, the literary effort for which he had been preparing all his life. Compelling, profound, complex, it is the story of a patricide and of the four sons who each had a motive for murder: Dmitry, the sensualist, Ivan, the intellectual; Alyosha, the mystic; and twisted, cunning Smerdyakov, the bastard child. Frequently lurid, nightmarish, always brilliant, the novel plunges the reader into a sordid love triangle, a pathological obsession, and a gripping courtroom drama. But throughout the whole, Dostoevsky searhes for the truth--about man, about life, about the existence of God. A terrifying answer to man's eternal questions, this monumental work remains the crowning achievement of perhaps the finest novelist of all time.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Historical Writers Association debut novel award 2016.Every time I see the King and the Queen, I am reminded of what it is I have done, and then I am afraid, I am beyond all expression afraid. The wicked, bawdy Restoration court is no place for a child princess. Ten-year-old Anne cuts an odd figure: a sickly child, she is drawn towards improper pursuits. Cards, sweetmeats, scandal and gossip with her Ladies of the Bedchamber figure large in her life. But as King Charles's niece, Anne is also a political pawn, who will be forced to play her part in the troubled Stuart dynasty. As Anne grows to maturity, she is transformed from overlooked Princess to the heiress of England. Forced to overcome grief for her lost children, the political manoeuvrings of her sister and her closest friends and her own betrayal of her father, she becomes one of the most complex and fascinating figures of English history.Trade ReviewSucceeds in creating a touching and convincing portrait * The Sunday Times *A deft, absorbing book about a fascinating period. * The Times *It felt like looking in through the windows of Anne's life and I can't imagine the work it must have taken to create this effect yet make it also feel so seamless. Overall, an immensely enjoyable read. * Cambridge Magazine *Recreating the wit and extravagance of the times, this elegant, clever novel features an unusual heroine since Anne, who faces enormous personal tragedy, is gout-stricken, obsessed by food, a little dull and yet surrounded by the brightest sparks of the age. Joanne Limburg places us in the heart of this pageant of glorious individuals with Anne at its centre. * Sunday Express *A dazzling tour de force. * The Jewish Chronicle *Joanne Limburg makes up for many years of neglect in her exceptionally well-researched historical novel. -- Matilda Bathurst * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Historical Writers Association debut novel award 2016.Hendrickje, a young girl from a strict Calvinist family, leaves home to find work as a maid. Entering Rembrandt's flourishing and busy household after the death of the great artist's wife, she finds a world filled with secrets and desire.Shocked to the core after discovering the intense relationship between Rembrandt and Geertje, his housekeeper, Hendrickje is nevertheless slowly drawn to Rembrandt by his freshness, by his freedom, by his intensity.Rembrandt's Mirror explores the three women of Rembrandt's life, and the towering passions of the artist, seen through the eyes of his last, great love, Hendrickje.Trade ReviewThis commendable debut does for Rembrandt what Girl With A Pearl Earring did for Vermeer. * Mail on Sunday *Laced with painterly description and art theory ... a powerful and compelling story. * Sunday Telegraph *The relationship between the painter and the young servant develops into a moving affirmation of the importance of love in the face of the mortality that Rembrandt reflects in his art. * Sunday Times *An impressively detailed and emotional read. * Daily Mail *Rembrandt's Mirror provides a powerful portrait of a genius * BBC History Magazine *Characters are fully drawn and empathetic and Devereux uses words like watercolours - her descriptions are vital and give the book an authenticity that transports the reader back to the 1600s. * Buzz Magazine *If you liked Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring, I don't see how you can help liking this delightful novel about the Rembrandt household; fiction is a lovely way to imbibe the history of great art... A brilliant portrait of Rembrandt, and his women. * Saga Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'Touching and distinctive . . . getting beneath the fairytale pomp and glamour' - Rachel Hore 'Fabulous behind-the-scenes royal drama . . . Riveting, revealing, an absolute must-read' - Imogen Edwards-Jones 'This delicate, sometimes wistful story will delight fans of historical fiction and British royalty' - Booklist 'A fresh perspective on a woman whom many people feel they already know' - Library Journal 'Diana is depicted as warm, empathetic and mischievous' - Mail on Sunday, Best New Fiction 'Fascinating' - Woman's Weekly 'Fictionalises Diana's life in riveting and tender detail' - Platinum 'Perfect for fans of The Crown' - Bella 'A compelling read' - Prima 'Scurrilous, funny, sharp, shot through with pathos' - Saga magazine, Pick of the Month 'A super-romantic royal wedding that was nothing like it seemed. Wendy delves beneath the glamour and public persona. Fascinating' - Woman magazine ___________The moving new novel about the young Diana.Diana believes in love. Growing up amid the fallout of her parents' bitter divorce, she takes refuge in romantic novels. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince.Prince Charles loves his freedom. He's in no rush to wed, but his family have other ideas. Charles must marry for the future of the Crown.The right girl needs to be found, and fast. She must be young, aristocratic and free of past liaisons.The teenage Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her desperation to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride.But the route to the altar is full of hidden obstacles and people with their own agendas.When she steps from the golden carriage on her wedding day, has Diana's romantic dream come true?Or is it already over?Trade ReviewPraise for Wendy Holden's Sunday Times Bestseller, The Governess: 'A beautifully woven and exquisitely detailed story' HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz 'Brilliantly researched . . . I was completely absorbed and transported' ADELE PARKS, author of Just My Luck 'Compelling characters and a wonderful blend of historical accuracy and real narrative drive . . . A heart-breaking study of loyalty and love' SALLY MORRIS, Daily Mail '[A] beautifully researched and captivating novel . . . Wendy Holden's tender and intimate portrait of Lilibet, the future Queen Elizabeth II, is masterly' RACHEL HORE 'A great book for escaping into . . . I loved this!' KATIE FFORDE 'Sensitive, funny and fascinating – this masterful novel gives the reader fly-on-the-wall privileges into the early life of the Queen' FREYA NORTH 'A brilliantly imagined and poignant novel [...] of sacrifice, deep affection, strained loyalties and divided English society in the post-Downton Abbey era' ELIZABETH BUCHAN 'An intimate view of the royal family at a time of great uncertainty and change . . . Marion Crawford's dedication to her charges, as well as her passion for education and reform, shines through the pages' CHANEL CLEETON 'Wendy Holden absolutely delivers in this perfect blend of story and history . . . Lovers of The Crown series on Netflix will adore this!' SUSAN MEISSNER 'I loved, loved, LOVED this book and if it isn't adapted for the screen, I'll eat my crown!' -- ERICA JAMES

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Book Synopsis'The beautiful illusion, when reading Tolstoy, is that one is looking directly at the world, as opposed to a depiction' Andrew O'Hagan from his preface to Childhood, Boyhood and YouthPublished in 1852, when he was just twenty-four, Childhood was Tolstoy's first published work, and the first of a trilogy of stories that evoke the upbringing and traditional education of a Russian aristocrat in a world that vanished with the revolution. In this self-portrait, narrated by its protagonist Nikólya, the young Tolstoy captured the textures of adolescence with a psychological insight and subtlety of analysis that look forward to his mature achievements; while his matchless objectivity - summoning the smells, sights and sounds of early childhood - is already fully present in these pages. The riverrun edition reissues the translation of Louise and Aylmer Maude, whose influential versions of Tolstoy first brought his work to a wide readership in English.

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Book Synopsis30th July, 1763. Two striking figures part the heaving crowd at London Bridge. Peddlers cease their haggling, ferrymen grow quiet, beggars stop and stare. Even the stink of the Thames seems to fade in the presence of Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell - history's most famous friends. Boswell, as charismatic and meticulously coiffed as Johnson is bullish and badly dressed, is eager to advance himself in literary society. Today he is to accompany the great Dr Johnson on an excursion up the Thames - and he is determined that nothing will go wrong. But another Boswell is watching from the shadows, insanely jealous of his elder brother's meteoric rise through London's coffeehouses and whorehouses, tenements and theatres, soirees and salons. He has two golden pistols in his pocket, a ferryboat at his disposal... and murder in his heart.Trade ReviewFascinating... expect zestful writing and brilliant sketches of Georgian London * Sunday Times *One of the novel's several wonders is that the mad brother is just as compelling a character as his soon-to-be-immortal sibling. If you're interested in Boswell and Johnson, or in 18th-century England, or in brilliant storytelling, The Brothers Boswell is not to be missed * Washington Post *A chilling literary thriller... The subtle way the author examines his character's twisted mind draws the reader in, as does the evocative prose * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisGriffins, wizards, dryads and fairies; banished kings, misguided queens and mysterious bee-men: the curious characters who populated Frank Stockton's fanciful fairy tale worlds once delighted generations of readers on both sides of the Atlantic. When he died in 1902 the New York Times lamented, It is not easy to imagine any greater loss to American letters. Yet despite his profound significance for the development of the fairy tale, and his direct influence on American fantasy classics like The Wizard of Oz, Frank Stockton's trailblazing stories have fallen out of print. Now, readers young and old can once again enjoy his beloved stories in this new edition of his most celebrated collection, The Bee-Man of Orn and Other Fanciful Tales, first published in 1887 complete with a biographical introduction which explains Stockton's profound importance to the story of fantasy literature.

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Book SynopsisIn 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald was a troubled, uncertain man whose literary success was long behind him. In poor health, with his wife consigned to a mental asylum and his finances in ruin, he struggled to make a new start as a screenwriter in Hollywood. The last three years of Fitzgerald's life, often obscured by the legend of his earlier Jazz Age glamour, are the focus of Stewart O'Nan's heartfelt new novel. With flashbacks to key moments from Fitzgerald's past, the story follows him as he arrives on the MGM lot, falls in love with brassy gossip columnist Sheilah Graham, begins work on The Last Tycoon, and tries to maintain a semblance of family life with the absent Zelda and their daughter, Scottie. Fitzgerald's orbit of literary fame and the Golden Age of Hollywood is brought vividly to life through the novel's romantic cast of characters, from Dorothy Parker and Ernest Hemingway to Humphrey Bogart. Written with striking grace and subtlety, this wise and intimate portrait of a man trying his best to hold together a world that's flying apart, if not gone already, is an American masterpiece.Trade ReviewThe heart of the novel is his penetrating description of Fitzgerald's troubled self. * The Sunday Times *Some of O'Nan's most suggestive passages conjure the feeling of freefall that can accompany uncontrollable change. * Guardian *Mesmerising and haunting...The strings O'Nan pulls so deftly are really the mark of a consummate pro, along the lines of Fitzgerald himself. * Boston Globe *[A] gorgeous new novel... O'Nan is a writer alert to the courage and beauty inherent in the stories of people who simply have to keep on keeping on... "The Love of the Last Tycoon," even though unfinished, is a pretty fine Hollywood novel. "West of Sunset" is a pretty fine Hollywood novel, too, but it's an even finer novel about a great writer's determination to keep trying to do his best work, to keep reaching for "the silver pepper of the stars," even at a time when he was universally dismissed as a has-been. * Washington Post *O'Nan's adroitness with atmosphere and period detail makes Fitzgerald's dreams of creating worthy work, even with his best days behind him, absorbing and poignant. * The New Yorker *O'Nan is serious in his attempt to dig deep into Fitzgerald and his genius. And he does it rather affectingly... Scott's pain is palpable but O'Nan's prose glitters in response. * The Big Issue *O'Nan... skilfully pulls us into Fitzgerald's gilded and yet familiar world. He brings the Hollywood legends to life. By the end, they feel like friends. * Chicago Tribune *With West of Sunset, one brilliant American novelist has taken on another... big-hearted and fascinating. * Seattle Times *The beautifully realised Zelda sections strike a minor, elegiac chord...they let us imagine what it might have been like inside Fitzgerald's brilliant, tortured mind. * New York Times *A stunning account of F. Scott Fitzgerald's final years... With tremendous artistry, O'Nan shows in West of Sunset how one of the finest and most tragic American writers discovered not only a late creative lease on life but also a new love. * The Australian *A wonderfully intimate and gently absorbing book. It inhabits an era and a fine mind with great care, folding in details of Fitzgerald's life with subtle unhurried sympathy. * Wales on Sunday *O'Nan has written a wonderfully intimate and gently absorbing book. * Gloucestershire Echo *[He] brings depth and tenderness to the awkward love affair between Fitzgerald and the gossip columnist Sheilah Graham. * Mail on Sunday *Atmospheric West of Sunset re-imagines the last three troubled years of Fitzgerald's life... Stunning. * The Herald *The last three years of American writer F Scott Fitzgerald's life, often obscured by the legend of his earlier Jazz Age glamour, are the focus of Stewart O'Nan's heartfelt new novel. * Lincolnshire Echo *West of Sunset focuses on these last, darkly difficult years, folding in details of Fitzgerald's life with subtle, unhurried sympathy. The result is a fine portrait of grace under pressure and moral courage. * Burnley Express *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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