First World War fiction

Book SynopsisThe Orphanage Girls come back together in The Orphanage Girls Reunited, the second installment of a moving wartime saga set in London’s East End, from the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood.EllenAbandoned by her father for the second time, left scarred from the orphanage, Ellen finally finds happiness and hope – reunited with her long-lost gran. But it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. When a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.Ruth Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress and surrounded by new friends. But still she longs to be with Ellen and Amy, after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans – what hope have they of finding her?One wish comes true when Ruth’s acting career leads her to Ellen. No sooner than has the dust settled, war is on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other’s her hearts forever.Will they find Amy? Can the Orphanage Girls ever unite?Trade ReviewWood is a born storyteller * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisCentral Africa, 1914; Rose Sayer, a thirty-three year-old English woman, is left alone when her missionary brother dies. Her only route out is aboard The African Queen, a steam-powered launch captained by Cockney mechanic, Charlie Alnutt. Determined to do her bit for the war effort and to avenge her brother, Rose persuades Charlie that they should attack the German gunboat, the Königin Luise. And so begins a most unlikely alliance and love affair, as Charlie and Rose venture down the treacherous Ulanga river encountering danger and adventure at every turn.This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition of The African Queen by C. S. Forester features an introduction by the award-winning author and journalist, Giles Foden.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisGripping, compelling and beautiful.' Emma Cowell, author of The House in the Olive Grove A secret big enough to destroy the Führer's reputation. . .January 1939:When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor's clinic, she doesn't expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office a secret that could destroy the Führer's reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret

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Book SynopsisFrom the critically acclaimed author of The Library of Legends comes a vividly rendered novel set in WWI France about two young women—one Chinese, one French—whose lives intersect with unexpected, potentially dangerous consequences.“East meets West in World War I France. In The Porcelain Moon, Janie Chang exhibits her signature trademarks—lyrical prose, deftly drawn characters, and skillful excavation of little-known history—to give us a rare jewel in a sea of wartime fiction!”— Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling authorFrance, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But it’s not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom.

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Book SynopsisIn Greenmantle (1916) Richard Hannay, hero of The Thirty-Nine Steps, travels across war-torn Europe in search of a German plot and an Islamic Messiah. He is joined by three more of Buchan''s heroes: Peter Pienaar, the old Boer Scout; John S. Blenkiron, the American determined to fight the Kaiser; and Sandy Arbuthnot, Greenmantle himself, modelled on Lawrence of Arabia. The intrepid four move in disguise through Germany to Constantinople and the Russian border to face their enemies - the grotesque Stumm and the evil beauty of Hilda von Einem.In this classic espionage adventure Buchan shows his mastery of the thriller and the Stevensonian romance, and also his enormous knowledge of world politics before and during the First World War. This edition illuminates for the first time the many levels beneath the stirring plot and romantic characters. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'Readers who fancy another look at John Buchan's originals, with their matchless suspense and gormless opinions, can find new editions ... in Oxford World's Classics.' Boyd Tonkin, New Statesman & Society'An exciting First World War thriller.' Observer

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year 2015, Ben Fergusson''s critically acclaimed debut, The Spring of Kasper Meier, was the winner of the Betty Trask Prize 2015 and the HWA 2015 Debut Crown Award. The Other Hoffmann Sister is a gripping, evocative read about two sisters set in pre-WW1 Germany which will appeal to fans of The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry.For Ingrid Hoffmann the story of her sister''s disappearance began in their first weeks in Southwest Africa...Ingrid Hoffmann has always felt responsible for her sister Margarete and when their family moves to German Southwest Africa in 1902, her anxieties only increase. The casual racism that pervades the German community, the strange relationship between her parents and Baron von Ketz, from whom they bought their land, and the tension with the local tribes all culminate in tragedy when Baron von Ketz is savagely murdered. Baroness von Ketz Trade ReviewA fascinating look at racism and snobbery. Broken postwar Germany is superbly drawn and events in Africa are horrific * The Times *Shortlisted for the Sunday Times/Peters Fraser & Dunlop Young Writer of the Year Award in 2015, Ben Fergusson was much praised for his first novel, The Spring of Kasper Meier...The Other Hoffmann Sister confirms the talent for atmospheric, morally complex historical fiction that Fergusson showed in his first novel...An engrossing exploration of the ways that secrecy, racism and snobbery take their toll on its finely realised characters' * Sunday Times *In this intricately plotted novel, Ben Fergusson takes a little-known slice of history and fashions it into a gripping love story * Mail on Sunday *The evocative setting and the quick-paced plot takes the reader on a whirlwind tour through South Africa, to Berlin and back again, through war and its aftermath, through aristocracy and the von Ketz's crumbling estate. The novel, written by the award-winning author Ben Fergusson, would appeal to fans of Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent. * 10 Best Book Club Reads, independent.co.uk *[An] atmospheric, morally complex historical novel * Sunday Times Culture 'Must Read' *Taut, subtle, ambitious and engrossing. A gripping story of conflicting loyalties spanning a turbulent and changing world * Imogen Robertson, author of The Paris Winter *A beautiful, compelling read with exquisitely drawn characters. Wonderful * Jason Hewitt, author of Devastation Road *Elegantly crafted and engrossing - Fergusson's The Other Hoffmann Sister is excellent * William Ryan, author of The Constant Soldier *Beguiling, unsettling, and wonderfully atmospheric. A dark expedition across a nightmarish landscape of physical and emotional damage and moral decay * Sarah Waters, praise for The Spring of Kasper Meier *A richly accomplished work with a fascinating central character. And like the best historical novelists, Fergusson combines the ability both to bring the past to life with grippingly immediate vignettes, and use it to illustrate themes such as betrayal, prejudice and the deceptive nature of memory, which remain universal * i *[A] brilliant, unsettling novel . . . With echoes of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, it explores the darker, unpredictable side of human behaviour . . . this is a wonderfully atmospheric read that keeps you guessing. Highly recommended, and perfect for fans of Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisAs The Dream of the Celt opens, it is the summer of 1916 and Roger Casement awaits the hangman in London''s Pentonville Prison. Dublin lies in ruins after the disastrous Easter Rising led by his comrades of the Irish Volunteers. He has been caught after landing from a German submarine. For the past year he has attempted to raise an Irish brigade from prisoners of war to fight alongside the Germans against the British Empire that awarded him a knighthood only a few years before. And now his petition for clemency is threatened by the leaking of his private diary and his secret life as a gay man...Mario Vargas Llosa, with his incomparable gift for powerful historical narrative, takes the reader on a journey back through a remarkable life dedicated to the exposure of barbaric treatment of indigenous peoples by European predators in the Congo and Amazonia. Casement was feted as one of the greatest humanitarians of the age. Now he is about to die ignominiously as a traitor.Trade ReviewMario Vargas Llosa's semi-fictionalised account of Casement's life portrays a heroic, if ultimately tragic champion of oppressed peoples ... Absorbing. Sunday Telegraph A novel by the Nobel prizewinner Mario Vargas Llosa might seem ripe for cult status, when it's subject is the life of Roger Casement. The Times Extraordinary historical novel ... Ingenious ... Vargas Llosa's literary realism seems so natural, with no lyrical outbursts, no pointless cleverness. His research is meticulous, whether through travel or through libraries. But it is always embodied in polt and character ... This stimulating biographical novel, written with fiction's best freedoms. Independent Gripping ... Vargas Llosa tells is with panache ... There is much to enjoy in this novel. FT

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Book SynopsisPRAISE FOR NATASHA LESTER...''A fantastically engrossing story. I love it'' KELLY RIMMER''Intrigue, heartbreak... I cannot tell you how much I loved this book'' RACHEL BURTON''A gorgeously rich and romantic novel'' KATE FORSYTHHer Mother''s Secret is the story of a brave young woman chasing her dream against society''s disapproval, perfect for fans of Gill Paul, Kate Furnivall and Penny Vincenzi.*********1918, England. Armistice Day should bring peace into Leonora East''s life. Rather than making cosmetics secretly in her father''s chemist shop, Leo hopes to now display her wares openly. Instead, Spanish flu arrives in the village, claiming her father''s life. Determined to start over she boards a ship to New York City, where she meets debonair department store heir Everett Forsyth . . . 1939, New York City. Everett''s daughter, Alice, a promising ballerina, receives a mysterious letter inviting her to star in a series of advertisements for a cosmetics line. If she accepts she will be immortalized like dancers such as Zelda Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker and Ginger Rogers. Why, then, are her parents so quick to forbid it? MORE PRAISE FOR NATASHA LESTER...''If you enjoy historical fiction (and even if you don''t) you will love this book'' Sally Hepworth''Stunning . . . Will have you captivated'' Liz Byrski''This romance will have you enchanted'' Woman''s Day''Natasha Lester is our generation''s Louisa May Alcott'' Tess Woods''What a GEM!'' Sara Foster''Natasha Lester brings bold, brave women to life'' Courier Mail ''I love this book'' Rachael Johns''Exquisite!'' Vanessa Carnevale''Engaging'' Herald Sun''An essential addition to Australian fiction'' AusRomToday''Utterly compelling'' Good Reading ''Emotion that will touch your heart and soul deeply'' Jodi Gibson ''Fascinating, evocative and meticulously researched'' Annabel Abbs''Entertaining and provocative'' Perth Festival ''Lester has woven a fine, original story of everlasting quality.'' BetterReading ''A captivating tale'' Daily Examiner ''A delightful and multi-faceted romp through the jazz era'' Natalie Salvo ''Excellent historical fiction'' The Book Muse ''You will love this even if you''re not a regular reader of historical fiction'' Jess Just Reads ''Storytelling at its finest'' Great Reads & Tea Leaves Trade ReviewNatasha Lester's engaging writing style and ability to create characters that connect with readers make her a welcome addition to the historical fiction market. * Herald Sun *If you enjoy historical fiction (and even if you don't) you will love this book -- SALLY HEPWORTH * bestselling author of The Family Next Door *Had me at page one. This book should come with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign -- VANESSA CARNEVALE * author of The Memories of Us *Lester's storytelling is truly captivating * AUSROM TODAY *Vivid detail . . . Utterly compelling * Good Reading *A delightful and multi-faceted romp through the jazz era . . . Her Mother's Secret is a sweeping historical saga about an inspiring woman tackling society's expectations head on, war paint and all -- NATALIE SALVOA strong-willed, determined heroine whose journey is as interesting, as it is inspiring -- JODI GIBSON

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Book SynopsisThe stories of an American Indian sniper caught up in the Great War and of his aunt, one of the last Cree Indians to live off the land, are intertwined in a mesmerising journey as they travel home over three daysThis beautiful, haunting novel begins as Niska is reunited with her nephew, Xavier, after he returns from the horrors of the First World War. As she slowly paddles her canoe on the 3-day journey to take him home, travelling through the stark but stunning landscape of Northern Canada, their respective stories emerge. Niska is the last Cree Indian woman living off the land in Canada. She recalls her memories of growing up among her kinsfolk, of trying to remain true to her ancestors and traditions in a rapidly changing world.Xavier joined the war reluctantly at the urging of his only friend, Elijah - a Cree boy raised in the reservation schools. Elijah and Xavier honed their hunting skills as snipers in the horrors of the trenches and the wastes of No-man''s land. But as the war continues, they react in very different ways to the never-ending carnage around them.Niska realises that in the aftermath of war, Xavier''s very soul is dying - but will the three day journey home be enough to help him find hope again?Trade ReviewAn absorbing read, with chilling, exhaustive detail * Scotland on Sunday *It takes an exceptionally intense and clear vision for a writer to persuade us that there is anything new to be said about the Great War. Yet every now and then a book comes along that rescues from the mire and carnage a genuinely new perspective on the awful events of 1914-1918. Focusing on the rarely-told stories of indigenous people enlisted into the Canadian army, Joseph Boyden's first novel, is one such book * Glasgow Herald *There are also lyrical moments which posses an eerie power - especially where Boyden writes about the northern landscape and the human relationship to it. He has illuminated a forgotten corner of the Great War and that, in itself is a prodigious achievement * Independent *Perhaps the most startling success of this book is the way it combines a tale of racial and cultural displacement with a mystic saga... He guides us through immensely complex stories with subtlety and grace * Independent on Sunday *There have been so many fine novels inspired by the First World War that to read one that is not just harrowing, but fresh, comes as a pleasant surprise ... (it's) a fully rounded work of fiction which, after a quiet opening, develops into a real page-turner ... His portrait of an indigenous people who are, in their way, hunted to near-extinction is poignant and convincing * Sunday Telegraph *A first rate read * Canada Post *a rich and moving novel... a story that will be deeply felt by the reader. * THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book Synopsis ''The first in an effervescent new mystery series. . . a treat for historical mystery lovers looking for a new series to savour (or devour)'' NEW YORK TIMES''A gorgeous debut mystery with a charming and fearless sleuth . . . spellbinding'' SUJATA MASSEY''Told with real warmth and wit. . . A perfect read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Vaseem Khan'' - ABIR MUKHERJEEA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2022Murder and mayhem . . . monsoon season is coming._____________________________Solving crimes isn''t easy.Add a jealous mother-in-law and having to wear a flowing sari into the mix, and you''ve got a problem.When clever, headstrong Kaveri moves to Bangalore to marry doctor Ramu, she''s resigned herself to a quiet life.But that all changes the night of the party at the Century Club, Trade ReviewI absolutely adored The Bangalore Detectives Club, a beautifully painted picture of a woman's life in 1920s India. Kaveri is a compelling character, headstrong, clever and dogged, and not at all deterred by the constraints of her position and gender. A fantastic book. -- M. W. CRAVEN, bestselling and award-winning author of The CuratorThe Bangalore Detective Club is a gorgeous debut mystery that introduces Kaveri Murthy, a young wife living a conservative household who applies her prodigious intelligence to solve a murder that threatens to tear apart genteel 1920s colonial Bangalore. Kaveri is a charming and fearless sleuth, trooping from elite social clubs to humble districts to ensure the right culprit is charged with murder. Author Harini Nagendra brilliantly shares the landscape, social customs and history of South India in this spellbinding novel. I eagerly await the next Kaveri mystery. -- SUJATA MASSEY, bestselling author of The Widows of Malabar Hill and The Bombay PrinceFrom page one we plunge into the exuberant cacophony of 1920s Bangalore, right there beside Kaveri Murthy in her adopted city: the drawing-rooms and dirt lanes, the gardens and brothels, the temples and jails. Nagendra's depiction of an awkward but tender new marriage is a delight, and who could help cheering for Kaveri as she swims in her sari, studies in secret and commits herself to the pursuit of justice? More, please! -- CATRIONA MCPHERSON, multi-award-winning author of the Dandy McGilver series

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling, award-winning author of SKELLIG comes a vivid and moving story, beautifully illustrated, which commemorates the hundred-year anniversary of the end of the First World War. I am just a child, says John. How can I be at war?It''s 1918, and war is everywhere. John''s dad is fighting in the trenches far away in France. His mum works in the munitions factory just along the road. His teacher says that John is fighting, too, that he is at war with enemy children in Germany. One day, in the wild woods outside town, John has an impossible moment: a meeting with a German boy named Jan. John catches a glimpse of a better world, in which children like Jan and himself can come together, and scatter the seeds of peace. Gorgeously illustrated by David Litchfield, this is a book to treasure. Trade ReviewProlific and talented author - The Journal (Newcastle)Winner of the Carnegie Medal 1999 for Skellig - Times Educational SupplementWinner of the Whitbread Children's Prize for Skellig 1998 - The Daily TelegraphAble to combine emotional involvement with a real skill for storytelling in a manner rare in any writer - The Times

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Book Synopsis‘A page-turning literary gem’ THE TIMES, BEST BOOKS OF 2020 From the highly acclaimed author of The Photographer of the Lost, a BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick, comes a beautiful and compelling story based on true events, perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Helen Dunmore.One Great War soldier with no memory. Three women who claim him as their own. 1918. A soldier is arrested in Durham Cathedral in the last week of the First World War, but he has no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He is given the name Adam and transferred to a rehabilitation institution in the Lake District where Doctor James Haworth is determined to uncover his identity. But, unwilling to relive the trauma of war, Adam has locked his memory away, seemingly for good.   Then a newspaper publishes a feature about Adam, and three women come forward, each claiming that he is someoTrade Review‘A page-turning literary gem about grief, loss and the impact of war on those left behind’ * The Times, Best Books of 2020 *‘A superb and quietly devastating novel about grief, hope and the horrific aftershocks of war’ -- Antonia Senior * The Times, Book of the Month *‘When I Come Home Again is a heartbreaking read which reveals the far-reaching tragedies of war. My heart ached for the three women and for Adam… I highly recommend it – and I very much look forward to Caroline Scott’s next novel’ -- Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones‘Caroline Scott’s quietly devastating second novel insightfully explores the impact of the Great War on returning soldiers and their families… Scott skillfully unspools their heartbreaking stories while uncovering Adam’s secrets and the source of his fear’ * S Magazine *‘A powerful story that’s achingly moving and most beautifully written. Readers of Maggie O’Farrell and Helen Dunmore are likely to enjoy When I Come Home Again’ -- Rachel Hore, author of The Love Child'I absolutely loved it. It was page turning, mysterious, engrossing and compelling. I thought so many times I had it all figured out and I was wrong every time. I couldn’t get to the end fast enough and finished it at 1 am feeling bereft' -- Lorna Cook, author of The Forbidden Promise'Wonderful and evocative . . . it was immediately intriguing and had the ring of truth. But what I realised . . . is that it is so much more subtle and complex than being just the journey to discover who Adam really is. It is not only about memory and identity, it's about the repercussions and tragedy of war, reaching out across vast swathes of society' -- Suzanne Goldring, author of Burning Island'Captivating, heart-breaking and uplifting. This beautiful and moving book drew me in from the first line and held me enthralled until the very end' -- Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift‘A haunting novel with loss at its heart - the loss of self, loved ones and the lives that should have been. Caroline Scott evokes the damage and desolation of the Great War with aching authenticity, and her writing is exquisite' -- Iona Grey, author of The Glittering Hour‘When I Come Home Again is a compulsive, heart-wrenching read, beautifully and painfully evoking the toxic mix of grief and guilt suffered by survivors and the bereaved following WWI. When a man arrives who cannot remember who he is, three bereaved women genuinely believe him to be their own lost loved one, with devastating consequences’ -- Liz Trenow, author of Under a Wartime Sky‘When a WWI soldier with complete memory loss is discovered in Durham cathedral, more than one woman steps forward to claim him as her own. But the past is a place he has shut away, and in this powerful psychological novel, Scott explores the mental health of everyone involved in the soldier’s life. A carefully, nuanced, complex story’ * Woman & Home *‘A beautifully written novel – immersive, poignant, intricately woven’ -- Judith Kinghorn, author of The Echo of Twilight‘Scott litters her tale with clues and red herrings in the best mystery-writer way so we are kept guessing as to where the truth really lies’ * The BookBag *‘Atmospheric descriptions of the Lake District contrast with the horrors of war in this poignant and breathtaking exploration of loss, love and precious memories’ * My Weekly, Pick of the Month *‘An evocative read’ * heat *‘Outstanding… The story left me breathless. Powerful, heartrending, and oh so tender. A whirlwind of emotions that will not allow us to forget’ -- Kate Furnivall, author of The Guardian of Lies‘This beautiful book packs a huge emotional punch’ * Fabulous *‘Scott’s tense and compelling mystery – with so many broken lives at its centre – ­is a timely reminder that the repercussions of war are lasting, painful and tragic’ * Lancashire Post *‘Caroline Scott’s quietly devastating second novel insightfully explores the effect of the great war on returning soldiers and the families that waited, longingly, for their return’ * Daily Mail *‘A carefully nuanced, complex story’ * Woman’s Weekly *'A poignant story about love and loss’ * Best *‘Based on true events, this is a powerful story’ * Bella *'Scott unravels her haunting tale in unpretentious but persuasive prose' * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisEuphemia Martin''s seventeenth gripping mystery is a nail-biting adventure of espionage and suspense set at the beginning of the Great War.When Fitzroy saved his valet, Griffin, from the hangman''s noose after the death of his wife, the facts behind those events were known only to the two of them. Now, years later, the body of a dead woman has been discovered, mutilated in exactly the same way as Griffin''s wife, and troubling secrets from the past cast a deadly shadow over those involved.As the war intensifies, Fitzroy is sent on an overseas mission, Griffin is arrested, and a recovering Euphemia Martins is left to get to the bottom of the situation. With her brother-in-law Hans, and Fitzroy''s dog, Jack, in tow, she journeys to the University of Edinburgh''s medical school, where Griffin studied many years ago, to uncover the shocking truth behind his wife''s murder...Trade ReviewA sparkling and witty crime debut with a female protagonist to challenge Miss Marple -- Lin AndersonImpeccable historical detail with a light touch -- Lesley Cookman, The Libby Serjeant SeriesEuphemia Martins is feisty, funny and completely adorable -- Colette McCormick, Ribbons in Her HairA rattlingly good dose of Edwardian country house intrigue with plenty of twist and turns and clues to puzzle through along with the heroine of the book, Euphemia Martins * Booklore.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisTHE GUNS ARE SILENT. THE DEAD ARE NOT 'The world has been waiting for a worthy successor to Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong - now Philip Gray has delivered it' David Young, author of Stasi Child. 1919. On the battlefields of northern France, the guns of the Great War are silent. Special battalions now face the task of gathering up the dead for mass burial. Amy Vanneck's fiancé is one soldier lost amongst many. She heads to France, determined to discover what became of the man she loved. Meanwhile, Captain Mackenzie cannot bring himself to go home until his fallen comrades are laid to rest. His task is upended when a gruesome discovery is made beneath the ruins of a German strongpoint. It soon becomes clear that what Mackenzie has uncovered is a war crime of inhuman savagery. As the dark truth leaches out, both he and Amy are drawn into the hunt for a psychopath, one for whom the atrocity at Two Storm Wood is not an end, but a beginning.*Longlisted for the 2023 CWA Historical Dagger Award* 'An atmospheric portrayal of the pity of the war' The Times, Books of the YearTrade ReviewAlthough the novel is deftly plotted and the atmosphere all distorting fog and claustrophobic dugouts, its achievement lies in Gray's finely worked portraits of the pity of war - those damaged by conflict and those who have to deal with its mind-altering consequences. * The Times *Through a clever series of plot twists...Gray leads...his readers to the unexpected truth -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *Two Storm Wood is an impressive achievement. It sheds a powerful light on a neglected aspect of World War One history. I can't recommend it enough. * Alan Parks, author of Bloody January *I couldn't put this down. A thriller and romance set amidst the post-Armistice battlefields and the damaged people trying to do right by the dead. Extraordinary setting, great characters, bursting with ideas. * Dominick Donald, author of Breathe *Two Storm Wood has the literary class, intellectual depth, and thriller pacing of Robert Harris at his best--with an added spine-tingling aura of menace worthy of Stephen King. It's the most chilling portrayal of a historical period since Philip Kerr's novels of Nazi Berlin, yet at its core Gray's masterpiece is a heart-rending story of sacrifice, love and loyalty overcoming the psychological tortures of the World War I battlefields. * Matt Rees, author of Mozart's Last Aria *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PRIX LANDERNEAU DES LECTEURS 2018 Described as 'eerie and sensual' by The Guardian, Wild Dog tells the story of a young couple who discover dark secrets in the remote French countryside. 'Reads like a modern fairy tale' New York Journal of Books Franck and Lise, a French couple in the film industry, rent a cottage in the quiet hills of the French Lot to get away from the stresses of modern life. In this remote corner of the world, there is no phone signal. A mysterious dog emerges, looking for a new master. Ghosts of a dark past run wild in these hills, where a German lion tamer took refuge in the First World War … Franck and Lise are confronted with nature at its most brutal. And they are about to discover that man and beast have more in common than they think. A literary sensation in France, Wild Dog is a dark, menacing tale of isolation, human nature and the infinite savagery of the wild.

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, heartbreaking novel of war and loss and the resilience of the human spirit' Rosemary, Netgalley ReaderThe USA Today bestseller!Young nurse, Gemma, is struggling with the traumas she has witnessed through her job. Needing to escape from it all, Gemma agrees to help renovate a rundown farmhouse in Doullens, France, a town near the Somme. There, in a boarded-up cupboard, wrapped in old newspapers, is a tin that reveals the secret letters and heartache of Alice Le Breton, a young volunteer nurse who worked in a casualty clearing station near the front line.Set in the present day and during the horrifying years of the war, both women discover deep down the strength and courage to carry on in even the most difficult of times. Through Alice's words and her unfailing love for her sweetheart at the front, Gemma learns to truly live again.This epic historical novel will take your breath away.Readers are falling in love with The Poppy Field:Both heartbreaking and full of hope and hap

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Book Synopsis_______________________________________A sweeping love story told through letters, spanning two continents and two world wars. For fans of My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You, The Postmistress and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.UNITED BY LETTERS. SEPARATED BY AN OCEAN. DEVASTATED BY WAR.A letter isn''t always just a letter. Words on the page can drench the soul.Elspeth Dunn, a published poet living on the Isle of Skye, answers her first fan letter from Davey Graham, an impetuous young man in Illinois. Without having to worry about appearances or expectations, Elspeth and Davey confess their hopes, dreams and fears, things they''ve never told another soul. Even without meeting, they know one another.But as World War I engulfs Europe and Davey volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait on Skye, anxious for his return; wondering if thTrade ReviewThis is an enchanting love story, told in a series of letters … It’s beautifully imagined and blissfully romantic. * The Times *This is a gentle love story. Telling it through letters makes the characters more real … given depth and richness by letters that speak straight from the heart. * The Scotsman *A captivating love story that celebrates the power of hope to triumph over time and circumstance. -- Vanessa Diffenbaugh, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of FlowersA poignant tale of a stubborn love that bridges the lives and wars of two generations, Letters From Skye gives the reader a story to inhale as well as read, unfolding amid the gripping panorama of a changing world—an absorbing and rewarding saga of loss and discovery. -- Kate Alcott, New York Times bestselling author of The DressmakerA touching story of forbidden wartime romance, spanning two generations and two separate continents. * The Reading Room *

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Book SynopsisA classic family saga from Sunday Times Bestseller Dilly CourtDespite her privileged upbringing, Daisy Lennox has always longed to make something of her life.She is drawn to the suffragette movement, but when her father faces ruin they are forced to move to the country and Daisy''s first duty is to her family.Here she becomes engaged to her childhood friend - a union both families have dreamed of.But, on the eve of their wedding, war is declared, and Daisy knows her life will never be the same again...Dilly Court, Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, February 2024Trade ReviewIf she’d still been around, I’m sure Catherine Cookson would have taken her hat off to this First World War romance. Like Cookson, Court creates great characters and saga fans will love spirited Daisy Lennox who’s drawn to the suffragette cause. * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *Compelling vivid drama. * My Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe Booker Prize-winning modern classic of contemporary war fiction from the Women''s Prize-shortlisted author of The Silence of the GirlsRecommended by Richard Osman ''One of the few real masterpieces of late twentieth-century British fiction'' Jonathan Coe ''Original, delicate and unforgettable'' Independent''A new vision of what the First World War did to human beings, male and female, soldiers and civilians. Constantly surprising and formally superb'' A. S. Byatt, Daily Telegraph1917, Scotland. At Craiglockhart War Hospital in Scotland, army psychiatrist William Rivers treats shell-shocked soldiers before sending them back to the front. In his care are poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and Billy Prior, who is only able to communicate by means of pencil and paper. . .Regeneration, The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road follow the stories of these men until thTrade ReviewHarrowing, original, delicate and unforgettable * Independent *A masterpiece . . . fiction of the highest order * Sunday Express *A new vision of what the First World War did to human beings, male and female, soldiers and civilians. Constantly surprising and formally superb -- A. S. Byatt * Daily Telegraph *One of the few real masterpieces of late twentieth-century British fiction -- Jonathan CoeOne of the most distinguished works of contemporary fiction -- Barry Unsworth

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Book Synopsis''Haunting, vivid and urgent'' Stacey Halls''Absorbing, beautifully written'' Rosie Andrews''An ingenious page turner'' The Times--------------Inside lies a secret that won''t stay hidden . . . The Great War is ending, but it has taken Ivy''s son. Ivy is consumed by discovering what happened to her boy out there in the trenches, while her husband only wants to forget.Then a man comes back into Ivy''s life who can help her find out. A man who once stole Ivy''s heart. A man who also lost his son to a tragedy. A man whose name she hasn''t spoken in thirty years.As Ivy questions her part in the fire at Polneath House, she unlocks a secret that''s been burning ever since. But will the truth destroy her - or set her free?--------------''It will recruit fans of Du Maurier and Waters'' Patrick Gale''A story of smouldering secrets, lingering guilt and hidden love'' DailTrade ReviewAn intriguing, elegantly constructed gothic mystery * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisANNA HOPE was born in Manchester, and educated at Oxford University and RADA. The idea behind Wake came to her when she visited the Somme, where she was struck by the sight of so many rows of identical crosses, and wondered at the grief of the women they left behind. WAKE is her first novel.Follow her on Twitter @Anna_HopeTrade ReviewA compelling and emotionally charged debut about the painful aftermath of war and the ways - small, brave or commonplace - that keep us going. It touches feelings we know, and settings - dance halls, war front, queues outside the grocer - that we don't. I loved it. -- Rachel Joyce, author of THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRYA tender and timely novel, full of compassion and quiet insight. The author gives us a moving and original glimpse into the haunted peace after the Great War, her characters drawn by the gravity of the unmarked, the unknown and perhaps, finally, the unhoped for. -- Chris Cleave, author of THE OTHER HANDWake is powerful and humane; a novel that charms and beguiles. Anna Hope's characters are so real; flawed and searching, and her prose so natural, one almost forgets how very great a story she is telling. -- Sadie Jones, author of THE OUTCASTSuperb ... beautifully crafted * Irish Times *A moving novel about the aftershock of the 1914-1918 conflict. ... unlikely many will prove better than Anna Hope's Wake * Sunday Times *Absorbing and timely * Daily Mail *Wise and insightful * Sunday Express *A hit, we think! * Simon Mayo Bookclub *Impressive and poignant ... moving and rewarding * Woman and Home *Poignant ... stays long in the memory * Choice *I wouldn't be surprised if this was the biggest hardback debut of the year * Alexandra Hemingsley, Radio Two Arts Show *This centenary year, so many more female writers have chosen The Great War as their central theme ...there is WAKE by Anna Hope, chronicling the lives of women battling with postwar loss ...I welcome these, and more, for their stories and the history lessons they incorporate * Arifa Akbar, The Independent *Poignant and powerful, it's a must-read. * Fabulous Magazine *Anna Hope reveals a tragic connection between three women living i 1920s London in her impressive debut * Good Housekeeping Magazine *Hope weaves her three characters’ workaday narratives together, building scenes that wear their research lightly …The women’s lives come at us in a present-tense narration that keeps the book easy to read, letting the characters’ thoughts bob to the surface of the text in italics, as if in a nod towards the modernism that was brewing in that very period. * Independent *A very simple book which elicits very complicated emotions ...luscious, impressive, moving. * Julia Kingsford *It's an unusual story, told well and written delicately. The women and the world they inhabit are beautifully drawn. It tells us that life can continue to be lived even after terrible loss. -- RONAN BENNETT, Whitbread award-winning author and creator of Channel Four’s ‘Top Boy’Hope’s unblinking prose is reminiscent of Vera Brittain’s classic memoir “Testament of Youth” in its depiction of the social and emotional fallout, particularly on women, of the Great War. * New York Times *Wake is a staggeringly good first novel, packed with soulful insight, universal emotions and those intimate small details which add more depth and meaning to a picture than the brutal sweep of a broad brush. * Lancashire Evening Post *It’s hard for me to believe that this amazing, touching book is a debut novel. Absolutely recommend and already on the run for a spot in my top 10. * www.thebooksmugglers.com *It is a powerful read; you can almost see the endless mud of the trenches, and sense the fear of those young men. * pagesandteablog.wordpress.com *Anna Hope wove her spell and managed to conjure up an intriguing tale, quite rich with emotion that held me entranced until the last page. I can’t wait to see what she does next. * lynnsbooks.wordpress.com *Wake is a brilliant debut novel, deeply moving, well-plotted and engrossing. * http://ourbookreviewsonline.blogspot.co.uk *This is such a brilliant book; one that is both beautifully written and emotionally involving, with a fascinating plot and wonderful characters who pluck at your heartstrings on every page. * http://bookssnob.wordpress.com *I have no doubt that Wake is going to be included in my Top Ten books of 2014, I know that it's only January, but this is a book that has had a huge effect on me. * randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.co.uk *The only regret I have is that I didn’t read this book sooner. WAKE is luxury. Pure luxury. * http://missmoretalks.wordpress.com *She manages to capture every single detail, every emotion and every sound. * http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk *Wake is that rare and beautiful thing: a first novel that sings with such power and grace that it lifts itself effortlessly from the pack. Powerful, passionate, compassionate, it marks the rising of a new star in the literary firmament. Anna Hope is here to stay. * M.C. Scott - Author of Rome and chair of the Historical Writers Association *Intricately researched and beautifully written, with the kind of restrained yet emotional prose one expects from a seasoned author. Its characters, too, have a depth and quiet tragedy one rarely finds in debut fiction. In this centenary year commemorating the outbreak of war, there've been many novels about the conflict:Wake is without doubt one of the best. * Hannah Beckerman - Huffington Post *A masterclass in historical fiction * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe unputdownable historical novel by the acclaimed and bestselling author of WAKE and EXPECTATION: a devastating story of love and madness at the brink of the Great War. ''Absolutely heart-breaking. One of the best books I've ever read'' DINAH JEFFERIES, author of The Tea-Planter''s Wife''Compelling, elegant, insightful'' OBSERVER1911: Inside an asylum at the edge of the Yorkshire moors, where men and women are kept apart by high walls and barred windows, there is a ballroom vast and beautiful. For one bright evening every week they come together and dance. When John and Ella meet it is a dance that will change two lives forever.Set over the heatwave summer of 1911, the end of the Edwardian era, THE BALLROOM tells a rivetting tale of dangerous obsession, of madness and sanity, and of who gets to decide which is which. It is a love story like no other.************************************Trade ReviewAbsolutely heart-breaking. One of the best books I’ve ever read * Dinah Jefferies, author of THE TEA-PLANTER'S WIFE *A British version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Moving. Fascinating * Times *An unsentimental and affecting story * Sunday Times *Compelling, elegant and insightful. * Observer *In this deeply moving book, Hope reminds us that behind everyone’s facade lies something waiting to be rent free * Irish Times *An original, brilliant, evocative novel * Chris Cleave *A heartbreaking story of how love can flourish in the darkest of times * Cathy Rentzenbrink, The Bookseller *Part social commentary, part mystery and part dangerous liaison, this poignant story casts an unflinching gaze at the historic treatment of mental health disorders. * Financial Times *Such a magnificent setting definitely demands a story that delivers, all guns blazing. It does, and then some . . . Fiction at it’s finest. * Irish Independent *Beautiful * Stylist *An exquisite love story * Good Housekeeping *A terrifying, moving and uplifting story -- February Hot Read * Woman and Home *A poignant against-the-odds love story * Glamour *Tender . . . Hope is the emotion that unspools the delicate connections between these brilliantly drawn characters * Psychologies Magazine *The Ballroom is a beautifully wrought novel, a tender, heartbreaking and insightful exploration of the longings that survive in the most inhospitable environments. * Sunday Express 5/5 stars *Magnificent…a luminary of historical fiction…writing history from the margins, the personal stories behind the era, she delivers profound, poignant stories that stir the emotions. * Press Association *All the intensity and lyricism of Hope’s debut, Wake * Daily Mail *The Ballroom confirms her as a novelist of immense power...Exquisitely good. Sensitive, engrossing and highly recommended * Metro *The Ballroom is a beautiful, gripping, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking book. I was so enthralled, I read it in an evening, unwilling to put it down. * thewritesofwoman.wordpress.com *An atmospheric and thought provoking love story * bookslifeandeverything.blogspot.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of the The Paris Library returns with a powerful, moving new novel based on the extraordinary true story of Jessie Carson, the American librarian determined to bring books to the children of war-torn France.''This is hands down my book of 2024. A rich, glorious life-affirming ode to the power of books and female solidarity. Simply unforgettable!'' Kate Thompson''A wonderful story about the power books have not only to inspire, but also to rescue and restore. The characters are so richly drawn... I absolutely loved it'' Ruth Hogan''If you''re a fan of historical fiction with strong, inspirational women at its core, do yourself a favor and pick up this book.'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real Reader------------------------Under what was left of the roof of the ruined cottage, a girl with pigtails perched on a pile of rubble, hunched over a

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Book Synopsis‘Just the right mixture of doomed fun, melancholy and faintly lascivious despair’ Observer ‘I am afraid I have something to tell you. It is that we are all about to be destroyed.’ 1914. The old standards are going. There is bitterness in politics, talk of civil war in Ireland. But all this means little to Cynthia Weston, attractive wife of cabinet member Aylmer Weston, and her nephew by marriage Philip. They are caught up in the charmed, perilous toils of a mutual passion that will destroy all they hold most dear – while the shadow of war lengthens and darkens, ready to swallow their world whole. A captivating portrait of a lost world, Statues in a Garden is a rediscovered masterpiece by one of the most important and neglected British female writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.Trade ReviewColegate’s novels offer readers clear-eyed, illuminating windows onto this now bygone world ... Colegate has no equal ... In shining a light on the past, Colegate also illuminates the present * Paris Review *She should be a household name -- Eleanor CattonAn extraordinary achievement -- Frances Wilson * Times Literary Supplement, Summer Reading Picks 2020 *Stylish, funny, as vivid and brilliant as a painting on glass * Daily Telegraph *Combine the slightly offbeat sensibility of Muriel Spark with the milieu of an Iris Murdoch novel and you’ll have something of an idea about this witty tale * BBC Culture *She writes so gracefully and with such skill that her “private fable” acquires a truly fabulous quality * Times Literary Supplement *Threads of romance, social comment, country lore and intrigue both above and below stairs are cunningly worked together to create a brilliant tapestry * Sunday Telegraph *Remarkable … I can think of no work of fiction that brings [this period] to life so fully and subtly * Washington Post *‘Isabel Colegate is not afraid of ideas nor of using fiction to express them … In this rich and fascinating book, someone is hiding something - possibly everyone is. Time itself obscures the truth. Can the past be known? Or is what we call history the best of recollection, not absolute but consensual, and always subject to interpretation? * Los Angeles Times *

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Book SynopsisWith the Great War raging, can they keep Britain going?1915. On Beth Healey's eighteenth birthday, she hopes that she will be able to forget the ghastly war and celebrate. But that evening, her twin brother Ned announces that he has signed up to fight. No longer able to stand working in her parents' village shop while others are doing their bit, Beth applies to join the Army Post Office's new Home Depot on the Regent's Park, and is astounded to be accepted. She will be responsible for making sure that letters and parcels get through to the troops on the front line. Beth is thrilled to be a crucial part of the war effort and soon makes friends with fellow post girls Milly and Nora, and meets the handsome James. But just as she begins to feel that her life has finally begun, everything starts falling apart, with devastating consequences for Beth and perhaps even the outcome of the war itself. Can Beth and her new friends keep it all together and find happiness at last?The Post Office Girls is perfect for fans of Johanna Bell, Daisy Styles and Nancy Revell.READERS LOVE THE POST OFFICE GIRLS!'A superb debut novel' - 5 STARS'Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable' - 5 STARS'I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting book two in the series' - 5 STARS'The book gave a wonderful in sight into postal-service life during the war. Well done, Poppy' - 5 STARS'An excellent WW1 book' - 5 STARSTrade ReviewI loved The Post Office Girls! It really captured what it was like for women at home during the war. And the ending had me on the edge of my seat! * Johanna Bell *A wonderful coming-of-age story, full of humour against such an emotional backdrop * Jessica Ryn *Brimming over with period detail, this coming-of-age story has an endearing heroine and an absorbing plot. A sparkling debut saga * Maisie Thomas *

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Book SynopsisCurl up with the perfect festive saga read! Can they deliver hope and friendship this Christmas? 1915. After the recent dramatic events at the Home Depot, Milly Woods is looking forward to spending as much time as possible with her Post Office girls, Nora and Beth - known as Liza to her friends. With Christmas fast approaching, their job of getting millions of letters and parcels to the troops on the front line is more important than ever.But when Milly is moved to a different department, she and the girls struggle to find time to spend together. Feeling more and more lonely, Milly finds company and common ground at her local suffragette group - as well as catching the eye of a wounded ex-soldier at the Home Depot.But soon, Milly discovers that her new friends might not be what they seem. As she is drawn into a deadly plan that could affect the outcome of the war, can her Post Office girls help her get back on track, and scupper the plan in time for Christmas?READERS LOVE THE POST OFFICE GIRLS!'A superb debut novel' - 5 STARS'Entertaining, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable' - 5 STARS'I absolutely loved this book and I am already eagerly awaiting book two in the series' - 5 STARS'The book gave a wonderful in sight into postal-service life during the war. Well done, Poppy' - 5 STARS'An excellent WW1 book' - 5 STARS

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Book SynopsisA moving and heartwarming World War I saga. For readers of Catherine Cookson and Dilly Court. 'When I'm the farmer,' began Mairi, and then she stopped, for she would never be the farmer. She was a girl.Ever since she was nine years old, Mairi McGloughlin has known she wants to be a farmer, but by the law of the land it's her scholarly brother Ian who will someday inherit. The next best thing might be to marry a farmer, and charming, confident Jack could be the perfect answer. But then there's Robin, her brother's best friend, more a man of books than of the land - and yet there's something about him. . .But with the outbreak of the Great War, their choices change completely and neither Mairi, Ian or Robin can hope to escape unscathed.As the world around them changes, only the land and love remain constant. But can it be enough to see them through?Previously published as Harvest of Courage.Trade ReviewA beautiful story . . . Ramsay's love of this stunning corner of Scotland shines through in an emotional story that explores a small farming community caught up in the rigours of war . . . Full of Ramsay's natural warmth, superbly drawn characters and wonderful storytelling, this is t he ideal curl-up-and-relax book for long winter nights * Lancashire Post *This wonderful panoramic novel sweeps you up and carries you along to the end. Lovely! * Katie Fforde, on the previous work of Eileen Ramsay *An unpredictable ending, a few surprises along the way and several tear jerkers - I enjoyed every minute of it. * Historical Novel Review, on the previous work of Eileen Ramsay *Good old-fashioned storytelling, wonderfully satisfying...This is a curl up and enjoy book * The Bookseller, on the previous work of Eileen Ramsay *Captivating romance . . .The beautiful Scottish setting only adds to this poignant and poetic journey . . . This book is as unique as it is exquisite. * Daily Record, on the previous work of Eileen Ramsay *As always, Ramsay's prose is vivid and flowing, and the pages just fly by * Choice, on the previous work of Eileen Ramsay *

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Book SynopsisMan against man. Face to face. One machine against another.It was shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. Martin Falconer and his friend, Frank, were anxious to ‘get into the scrap’ as soon as possible, their youth blinding them to the real danger of it all.Geoffrey, Martin’s elder brother, knew that it wasn’t a game. He had fought in the trenches, been wounded and had seen friends die.For Geoffrey the R.F.C. offered an opportunity to escape the mud and horror of the Front, while for Martin and Frank it was the chance to be in at the start of a totally different kind of fighting. They were to be pioneers.A scintillating, full-throttle thriller of the First World War, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Derek Robinson and Geoffrey Wellum.

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Book Synopsis'Heart-wrenching, highly emotional and hard to put down...saga writing at its mesmerizing best.' Reader ReviewWill Elizabeth choose love over duty?It’s August 1917 and WW1 continues to take a toll. The villagers of Dorcalon, a mining village in the Rhymney Valley, try to keep hope alive; but every day brings fresh tragedy as more of their sons and fathers are killed on foreign battlefields. Elizabeth Meredith, daughter of mine manager Herbert, enjoys a privileged position in the village, but she longs to break free of society’s expectations. Falling in love with miner, Gwilym Owen, brings more joy to her life than she’s ever known… until she’s forced to choose between her love and her disapproving family. Seeking an escape, Elizabeth signs up as a VAD nurse and is swiftly sent to help the troops in France, even as her heart breaks at leaving Gwilym behind. Separated by society and the Great War, can Elizabeth and Gwilym find their way back together again? Or will their love become another casualty of war?A romantic, emotional saga set in WW1 - fans of Katie Flynn and Sheila Newberry will adore this captivating read.Readers are loving Hope in the Valleys:‘Another great instalment in the Valleys series…Really enjoyed this book and I’m already looking forward to reading the fourth one.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Absolutely loved this book…Lovely characters and a beautifully written storyline. Highly recommend this book and the author’. ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The book tells of the lives of some who fought and some who stayed behind to work in the mines. I do recommend that you read this book.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘It was like visiting old friends and family…It is just like coming home reading this book.’ ☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘A story of friends, love, hate and forgiveness…A story of the war and those lost. I did enjoy reading this book and I would recommend it.’ ☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I was so excited to start this book…It was like visiting family. I recommend this book and hope there will be another.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘It was lovely to return to the village and meet these characters again…Pleased to see there is another instalment of the series on the way.’ ☆☆☆☆ Reader ReviewPraise for Francesca Capaldi's beautiful WW1 Welsh saga series:'Rich with well-drawn characters, twists and turns, sense of history and place...it was hard to put down. I loved it!’ Rosie Hendry, author of the East End Angels series‘I loved this book… I would heartily recommend it for anyone who enjoys family saga or historical fiction.’ Reader Review‘This is such a warm-hearted book… I would ask all readers to read this book. I loved it’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘This is a really emotional book…I really enjoyed this book and fully recommend it. Worth all the stars’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘An all-engrossing story that swept me along with it. It is a wonderful historical saga with a hint of romance' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisMarch 1911: Betty Dean needs a job and somewhere to live, and eventually, a husband – according to her mother. Sent into service at Stowford House in Cheshire, where the days are long and the work is gruelling, Betty’s dreams of making something of herself seem even further away.But soon she is forced to return to The Potteries, carrying with her a dreadful secret which could leave her reputation in tatters.Could WW1 bring new opportunities or will Betty run out of options?A new job on the trams throws her a lifeline. Meeting fellow tram girls Connie and Jean brings the joy of friendship, even if Betty struggles with having to keep secrets from her new pals.When Duncan Kennedy, a shy but charming soldier, enters Betty’s life, it seems that she may finally find love. But opening herself up isn’t easy, and when he leaves for the front, she finds herself alone once again.As the Great War rumbles on, Betty’s life in The Potteries is full of its own battles…A heart-breaking WW1 saga that fans of Pam Howes and Nancy Revell will love.Readers are loving The Potteries Girls on the Home Front'Well written, with a lovely storyline and lovely characters...couldn't put it down.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'Family saga at its best. Brilliant book – can't wait to read more by this author.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘A good cosy read, but not without a little heartbreak and some feel good moments as well to delight the reader.’ Reader ReviewPraise for Lynn Johnson’s Potteries Girls series: ‘A poignant, emotional and heart-wrenching read…best read with a box of tissues handy’ Bookish Jottings‘This truly was a fabulous story from beginning to end and I struggled to put it down!… richly detailed, beautifully written and the storyline along with the characters was enthralling’ Rose is Reading‘I highly recommend reading this and being transported back in time. An excellent historical fiction that had me compulsively turning the pages.’ Books and Bookends‘Overall, I loved it. There were lots of moments that made me gasp and others that almost made me cry, and then there were those that made me smile and sigh.’ Jess Bookish Life‘heartwarming and emotional. I absolutely love the story line…I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is definitely a book to read!’ Jessica Belmont Book Reviews‘I’m quite astonished this is a debut novel… The characters came alive on the page, and it’s a fully rounded story… A fabulous read’ Grace J Reviewerlady‘an emotional, captivating read which is perfect for anyone who loves a good saga!… a fantastic read that quickly drew me into the story and kept my interest throughout with its fabulous plot.’ Over The Rainbow Book Blog‘the author winds her story around your person and snares your heart… Though filled with much darkness and despair, there is also hope and love’ Insatiable Readers‘Johnson has a Cookson flair…she does capture the heart and soul of her characters.’ Cheryl M-M Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe Great War rages in Europe. Will two Cornish women overcome tragedy and scandal to expose the truth?Verity Tregorran is one of the local blacksmith’s nine daughters, and madly in love with the boy next door, Ned Chegwidden, who is now serving in the trenches of World War I. She must withhold her true feelings for Ned from her parents, who would be horrified to learn of her attachment to someone outside the family’s strict Christian sect.On the coastal path one evening, Verity witnesses something suspicious on the cliffs which causes her to fear the involvement of German spies. There’s only one person she can turn to: Effie Dawes, wife of the local police constable. Effie faces tragedy as her husband fights overseas, while scandal threatens to rock Verity’s family, but the two friends remain determined in their efforts to discover what really happened on the cliffs…An enthralling wartime saga perfect for fans of Lynn Johnson and Francesca Capaldi.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1923, Exile and Other Poems is an important, poignant collection from one of the foremost Imagist war poets. Penned after witnessing the horrors of the frontline during the First World War, Aldington’s brutal, honest verse lays bare unimaginable experiences. The first part of the collection, ‘Exile’, explores the poet’s survivor’s guilt, post-traumatic stress and sense of alienation. The collection continues with a ‘Songs for Puritans’ and ‘Songs for Sensualists’, pastiches of seventeenth and eighteenth-century love poetry, and a series of more personal poems exploring the natural world, from which Aldington drew reassurance. Enriched with a fascinating introduction and explanatory notes by leading Aldington scholars Elizabeth Vandiver and Vivien Whelpton, this centenary edition seeks to place Exile firmly back on the map of war poetry, from which it has been missing for too long.

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Book SynopsisGerman World War One flying ace Baron Maximilien Von Klorr returns and this time he isn't on his own! Evil scientific genius, Doctor Gratz has formed an unholy alliance with the giant bat-controlling Baron and together the two sinister fiends have formulated a plan to destroy Paris! Featuring the stunning artwork of Alfonso Font, this third instalment marks the final adventures of the original Black Max comic strip run.Table of Contents Lion episodes 1st January 1972 - 21st October 1972 Writers Ken Mennell, Frank Pepper, Artist Alfonso Font Thunder Annual 1974 text story Thunder Annual 1974 strip artist Alfonso Font

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Book SynopsisIn the Great War, every act of courage counted… Angelina Green never knew her mother, who left her in a cardboard box by the East London docks on a freezing November night when she was a tiny baby. Saved by a local orphanage, she knows she owes her life to the kindness of others. And she’s determined to repay her debt by working as a nurse. Strong, kind and patient, Angelina is a natural on the ward. But when war breaks out in 1914 and she is sent to The Front, her courage is tested like never before… As war rages around her, a chance meeting with a familiar soldier sends Angelina’s whole world into turmoil. Can she hold her nerve, save the men around her – and protect her heart? Don’t miss this emotional story of one woman’s remarkable courage in the face of the Great War. Praise for Rosie James: ‘Front Line Nurse is a wonderful book that gives insight to what nurses went through during the war’ ‘The characters were enjoyable from beginning to the end!’ ‘Fantastic war saga very enthralling and feel good factor. Rosie James doesn’t disappoint and this book was no different she writes with such warmth…Highly recommended’ ‘This was a great piece of historical fiction!’ ‘A delightful story to read’Trade Review‘Front Line Nurse is a wonderful book that gives insight to what nurses went through during the war’ ‘The characters were enjoyable from beginning to the end!’ ‘Fantastic war saga very enthralling and feel good factor. Rosie James doesn’t disappoint and this book was no different she writes with such warmth…Highly recommended’ ‘This was a great piece of historical fiction!’ ‘A delightful story to read’

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Book SynopsisOn the first day of the Somme enlisted railwayman Jim Stringer lies trapped in a shell hole, smoking cigarette after cigarette under the bullets and the blazing sun. He calculates his chances of survival - even before they departed for France, a member of Jim''s unit had been found dead. During the stand-off that follows, Jim and his comrades must operate by night the vitally important trains carrying munitions to the Front, through a ghostly landscape of shattered trees where high explosive and shrapnel shells rain down. Close co-operation and trust are vital. Yet proof piles up of an enemy within, and as a ferocious military policeman pursues his investigation into the original killing, the finger of accusation begins to point towards Jim himself . . .

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Book Synopsis'An enjoyable page-turning saga with characters that leap off the page!' AnneMarie BrearCan Edie find the courage to choose her own future?June 1914. Edie Moore is a Governess for Lord and Lady Moreland, living in comfort at the grand Downland House in Sussex. But, wanting more from life, she flees in secret to Littlehampton, the place where she spent many idyllic childhood holidays.Desperate for work, Edie begins working as a chambermaid at the prestigious Beach Hotel, even if the menial tasks are a far cry from her previous job.While the days are long and gruelling, Edie works hard and soon is in favour with Helen Bygrove, the manager’s wife, who sees that Edie is destined for bigger things – which leads to tension with some of the other chambermaids.But as she navigates her new life and finds friendship with fellow maid Lili Probert, she also grows closer to charming, cheerful porter, Charlie Cobbett, and finally finds the happiness she has been searching for. However, what none of her new friends know is that Edie is hiding a secret from her past, one that would change the way they view her, forever. When the truth comes out, will Edie be able to keep her new life and remain in the place she loves so much?A captivating, romantic and moving World War 1 saga that fans of Elaine Roberts and Pam Howes won’t be able to put down. Readers are falling in love with A New Start at the Beach Hotel:‘Brilliant storyline, brilliant book. Couldn’t put it down. Family saga at its best’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Well, what a start to a new series! Full of intrigue and subterfuge, no one is who they at first appear. There are many secrets to be uncovered…I loved this book, even when I got to the end as I felt safe in the knowledge that there would be another to follow’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Charming … I was very invested in the story … and this book felt like an escape …The story was heartwarming, and I would like to read the sequel…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved this enchanting read … could not put it down…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Having enjoyed this author's previous series, I was looking forward to this new one … the mystery … slowly unravelled to satisfying conclusions. … I look forward to book two.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m pleased to learn that there will be another book later this year… There are some great characters… I’m glad there is more to come from the Beach Hotel…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisFirst published privately in 1929 as The Middle Parts of Fortune, Her Privates We is the novel of the Battle of the Somme told from the perspective of Bourne, an ordinary private. A raw and shockingly honest portrait of men engaged in war, 'that peculiarly human activity', the original edition was subject to 'prunings and excisions' because the bluntness of language was thought to make the book unfit for public distribution. This edition restores them. An undisputed classic of war writing and a lasting tribute to all who participated in the war, Her Privates We was originally published as written by 'Private 19022'. Championed by Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, TS Eliot and TE Lawrence, it has become recognised as a classic in the seventy years since its first publication. Now republished, with an introduction by William Boyd, it will again amaze a new generation of readers with its depiction of the horror, the ordinariness and the humanity of war.Trade Review[I read Her Privates We] every year to remember how things really were so that I will never lie to myself or anyone else about them -- Ernest HemingwayOne of the very best writers we have -- T. S. EliotThe book of books as far as the British army is concerned -- TE LawrenceThe best of our war novels -- E. M. ForsterManning's masterpiece ... incredibly moving and revelatory -- Gabriel Byrne * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Booker-shortlisted Royal Flying Corps classic, reissued for the 50th Anniversary of its first publicationWith an Introduction by James Holland and an Afterword by Mike Petty"Robinson is probably the best novelist ever to write about fighter combat: surprising, hyper-realistic and very, very dark" Spectator World War One pilots were the knights of the sky, and the press and public idolised them as gallant young heroes. At just twenty-three, Major Stanley Woolley is the old man and commanding officer of Goshawk Squadron. He abhors any notion of chivalry in the clouds and is determined to obliterate the decent, gentlemanly outlook of his young, public school-educated pilots - for their own good. But as the war goes on he is forced to throw greener and greener pilots into the meat grinder. Goshawk Squadron finds its gallows humour and black camaraderie no defence against a Spandau bullet to the back of the head.Trade ReviewFit to sit on the same shelf as Waugh and Heller... Robinson's recreation of the exhausted savagery of 1918 is truly shocking... the descriptions of flying are brilliantly vertiginous; nobody puts you in the cockpit like Robinson. -- Mike Petty * Slightly Foxed. *The most readable novel of the year . . . I laughed aloud, several times. And was, in the end, reduced to tears. -- Nina BawdenGoshawk Squadron has the authoritative ring of a little classic on the subject of war. -- Claire TomalinA bleak and savage book, full of the terror of warfare and shot through with grim humour; a sort of First-World-War Catch-22. -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian. *Robinson has a narrative gift that sets up the hackles of involvement. A rare quality. -- Paul Scott

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Book SynopsisDon't miss this gripping historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl From Bletchley Park.A country rebellingIt's 1916 and, as war rages in Europe, Gráinne leaves her job in a department store to join Countess Markiewicz's revolutionary efforts. It is a decision which will change her life forever. A rebellion is brewing, and as Dublin's streets become a battleground, Gráinne soon discovers the personal cost of fighting for what you believe inA forgotten sacrificeDecades on, student Nicky is recovering from a break-up when a research project leads her to her great-grandmother's experiences in revolutionary Ireland. When Nicky finds a long-forgotten handkerchief amongst her great-grandmother's things, it leads to the revelation of a heartbreaking story of tragedy and courage, and those who sacrificed everything for their country.Inspired by a heartbreaking true story, this emotional historical novel will sweep you away to the Emerald Isle. Perfect for fans of Jean GTrade ReviewReaders LOVE The Girl with the Emerald Flag! ‘I LOVED this book!… I was totally engrossed… I'd highly recommend it!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolute page turner, it had me gripped and in its spell… From the first page I was absolutely hooked on this book.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A brilliant book.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An inspiring coming-of-age story, combined with a fascinating Irish history lesson… Five stars from me.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Outstanding… I loved this from start to finish.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Riveting… I loved it.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautifully written… A fabulous read with a teary ending.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a great novel!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisAdrienne Chinn is at the height of her storytelling powersan immersive, emotional and highly enjoyable historical novel that takes readers all over the world and keeps them turning the pages' Bookish JottingsThree sisters separated by distance but bound by loveThe Fry sisters enter the Roaring Twenties forever changed by their experiences during the Great War. Now, as each of their lives unfold in different corners of the globe, they come to realise that the most important bond is that of family.Desperate to save the man she loves, Etta leaves behind the life she has made for herself in Capri and enters the decadent world of Parisian society with all its secrets and scandals.Celie's new life on the Canadian prairies brings mixed blessings a daughter to adore, but a husband who isn't the man who holds her heart.In Egypt, Jessie's world is forever changed by a devastating loss.And back in London where each of their adventures began their mother Christina watches as the pieces of her cTrade Review“Just stunning, a sublime tale of secrets, strong women and turbulent times. I absolutely adored it” Clare Marchant, author of The Secrets of Saffron Hall “An emotive and engaging read” Rosanna Ley, author of From Venice with Love “Rich, evocative and utterly immersive, this beautifully written book swept me away” Jenny Ashcroft, author of Meet Me in Bombay “An epic tale of family, tragedy & love… I highly recommend this book!!” Books, Wine, Cats 5* “This story is so sensual and so touching… The sense of suspense makes this story a page turner! Highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a WWII era book without all of the historical stuff” To Read is to Breathe, 5* “I couldn’t put it down. It was not your typical historical novel & I think that’s what I loved about it. Great book!” Dabbookclub, 4* “A book that drew me in from the first pages! The characters come alive, they’re so well written. Fans of historic fiction will love this story. An author to follow” Consumer review, 4*

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Book SynopsisThis engrossing and edge-of-your-seat saga from multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman is perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. The third novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family, this captivating naval adventure at its very best! ''One of our foremost writers of naval fiction'' -- Sunday Times''Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it'' --The Times''Another romping good yarn by my favourite author'' -- ***** Reader review''A real page-turner'' -- ***** Reader review''Magnificent!'' -- ***** Reader review''I was engrossed from start to finish'' -- ***** Reader review''Had me hooked'' -- ***** Reader review ******************************************************************************1914-1918:Trade Review'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' Sunday TimesMastery storytelling. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisNominated for the Folio Prize and shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historial Fiction, and the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.Set during and just after the First World War, The Lie is an enthralling, heart-wrenching novel of love, memory and devastating loss by one of the UK's most acclaimed storytellers.Cornwall, 1920, early spring.A young man stands on a headland, looking out to sea. He is back from the war, homeless and without family.Behind him lie the mud, barbed-wire entanglements and terror of the trenches. Behind him is also the most intense relationship of his life. Daniel has survived, but the horror and passion of the past seem more real than the quiet fields around him. He is about to step into the unknown. But will he ever be able to escape the terrible, unforeseen consequences of a lie?Trade Review[A] superb, timely novel of the First World War -- John Sutherland * The Times *Helen Dunmore ... is a poet as well as a novelist, who is celebrated for her delicate language and acute observations. The Lie is no exception. This really is an expert novel. * Sunday Times *The bar for book of the year is set sky high by this heart wrenching tale. Daniel has survived the WWI trenches, but returns to Cornwall to find his family gone and home lost. He moves in with a childhood friend, but gets caught up in a lie that has terrible consequences. Tender, touching and totally absorbing. * Sunday Mirror *Never striking a false note, The Lie is one of those rare and arresting novels that make you think and feel with greater lucidity. * Daily Telegraph *The Lie is a tale of memory and loss delivered with quiet aplomb by one of our classiest writers ... Dunmore captures the emotional torment of her hero with tenderness and skill. * Mail on Sunday *Dunmore has brilliantly served up this past to us in a way that does not allow us to forget it * Spectator *With a shocking twist in its tail, The Lie is a novel to re-read. Written with imagination, intelligence and integrity, it is both quiet and memorable. I predict it will outshine, and outlive, many another new rendition of the war to end all wars. * Country Life *An enthralling novel of love and devastating loss … Powerful storytelling. * Good Housekeeping, Book of the Month *Helen Dunmore, an author who has taken time to build up a following and gradually accumulated those much-required prize nominations, knows what she needs to make a story, and how to go about finding it. The result is a moving account of a young man's emotional life, and what brutality and death can do to it ... Dunmore has done her research and expertly so. * Scotland on Sunday *Dunmore writes with disarming simplicity and clarity. Read her novel in a single sitting in a quiet place. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAleksandr Solzhenitsyn was born in 1918 and grew up in Rostov-on-Don. He graduated in physics and mathematics from Rostov University and studied literature by correspondence course at Moscow University. In World War Two he fought as an artillery officer, attaining the rank of captain. In 1945, however, after making derogatory remarks about Stalin in a letter, he was arrested and summarily sentenced to eight years in forced labour camps, followed by internal exile. In 1957 he was formally rehabilitated, and settled down to teaching and writing, in Ryazan and Moscow. The publication of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in Novy Mir in 1962 was followed by the publication, in the West, of his novels Cancer Ward and The First Circle. In 1970 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and in 1974 his citizenship was revoked and he was expelled from the Soviet Union. He settled in Vermont, USA, and worked on his great historical cycle The Red Wheel' of whiTrade ReviewOne of the greatest and most influential writers of the 20th century * Washington Post *It is written in anger yet with understanding, in scorn yet with compassion. Its characters are universal and timeless. A great book. Read it for an understanding of the human condition in time of war and defeat -- James Callaghan * Guardian *There is a magnificence about it; not in the writing…but in the determination to make the reader understand that here was a nation careening into a century more tragic for it than any has been for any nation ever * Scotland on Sunday *Solzhenitsyn's life…spanned all the decades of Soviet history, and his moral authority is unique among his generation * Independent *The great dissident's massive historical novel * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAn anthology of Great War short stories by British writers, both famous and lesser-known authors, men and women, during the war and after its endThese stories are able to illustrate the impact of the Great War on British society and culture and the many modes in which short fiction contributed to the war's literature. The selection covers different periods: the war years themselves, the famous boom years of the late 1920s to the more recent past in which the First World War has received new cultural interest.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations Table of ContentsThe Penguin Book of First World War StoriesIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the Texts1. FrontArthur Machen, 'The Bowmen''Sapper' (Herman Cyril McNeile), 'Private Meyrick—Company Idiot'C. E. Montague, 'A Trade Report Only'Richard Aldington, 'Victory'Anne Perry, 'Heroes'Mary Borden, 'Blind'Katherine Mansfield, 'An Indiscreet Journey'Joseph Conrad, 'The Tale'A. W. Wells, 'Chanson Triste'2. Spies and IntelligenceArthur Conan Doyle, 'His Last Bow'W. Somerset Maugham, 'Giulia Lazzari'John Buchan, 'The Loathly Opposite'3. At HomeRudyard Kipling, 'Mary Postgate'Stacy Aumonier, 'Them Others'John Galsworthy, 'Told by the Schoolmaster'D. H. Lawrence, 'Tickets, Please'Radclyffe Hall, 'Miss Ogilvy Finds Herself'Hugh Walpole, 'Nobody'4. In RetrospectHarold Brighouse, 'Once a Hero'Katherine Mansfield, 'The Fly'Winifred Holtby, 'The Casualty List'Robert Graves, 'Christmas Truce'Muriel Spark, 'The First Year of My Life'Robert Grossmith, 'Company'Julian Barnes, 'Evermore'MapsPlaces of the Western FrontGlossaryMilitary AbbreviationsNotesBiographiesAcknowledgements

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