Historical Fiction

A powerful retelling of Oedipus and Antigone from the perspectives of the women the myths overlooked, from Natalie Haynes, the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of A Thousand Ships and the Sunday Times bestseller Stone Blind.My siblings and I have grown up in a cursed house, children of cursed parents . . .Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband.Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change.With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.'Haynes balances a fresh take on the material . . . giving new voice to the often-overlooked but fascinating Jocasta and Ismene.' - Madeline Miller, author of Circe.

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Step into the world of Dilly Court and uncover her new, utterly captivating historical romance! Clinging tightly to the penny in her palm, Flora’s fortune was about to change… Flora is forever grateful for the day the Stewart family rescued her from her life of poverty on London’s streets. Adopted as one of their own, she shed her rags and was finally given a place to call home. When a twist of fate calls her back to the cobbles, Flora’s new life is torn apart. Flora must make her own way if she is ever to find where she truly belongs… From the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rockwood Chronicles comes an emotional and captivating fireside read about finding home in the most unlikely places. Readers LOVE Dilly Court! 'Another truly special book from Dilly. Warm and touching, with friendship and romance in the mix' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'There is a great selection of characters, so vividly depicted. It was lovely to see characters from the Rockwood series!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another brilliant family saga by this brilliant author. Read this book in one sitting' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'There were some characters that make an appearance from previous books…another fabulous read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant plot, fantastic characters and the best out there for books of this genre' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The Lucky Penny was just a lovely read and I read it in one day. Love the story of Flora' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Dilly Court is one of my go-to authors…no matter what the story is about, I know I won't be disappointed' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another superb historical saga which grabs you from the very first page. This is so good I just couldn’t put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I did not want this book to end… [Dilly] draws you into the lives of the characters so effortlessly' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another fantastic book from Dilly Court. An easy 5*' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'Exhilarating' GUARDIAN'Her writing has a timeless quality' THE TIMES'[Has] a visionary quality' OBSERVERA profound and explosive novel about a spirited girl alone in the wilderness, trying to surviveA servant girl escapes from a settlement. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief of everything that her own civilization has taught her.The Vaster Wilds is a work of raw and prophetic power that tells the story of America in miniature, through one girl at a hinge point in history, to ask how -and if - we can adapt quickly enough to save ourselves.Praise for MATRIX:'Lush, gripping and ferocious' MADELINE MILLER'Full of passion, wisdom and magic' SARAH WATERS'Gorgeous, sensual, addictive' SARA COLLINS'Brightly lit' NAOMI ALDERMAN'A propulsive, captivating read' BRIT BENNETT'Fascinating, beguiling, vivid' MARIAN KEYES

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From bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic, action-packed adventure set on Rome's Danubian frontier. AD 105: DACIA The Dacian kingdom and Rome are at peace, but no one thinks that it will last. Sent to command an isolated fort beyond the Danube, centurion Flavius Ferox can sense that war is coming, but also knows that enemies may be closer to home. Many of the Brigantes under his command are former rebels and convicts, as likely to kill him as obey an order. And then there is Hadrian, the emperor's cousin, and a man with plans of his own... Gritty, gripping and profoundly authentic, The Fort is the first book in a brand new trilogy set in the Roman empire from bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy. Reviews for the Vindolanda Trilogy: 'No one knows the Roman army better than Adrian Goldsworthy, and no one writes more convincing Roman fiction' Harry Sidebottom 'An authentic, enjoyable read' The Times 'Gritty and realistic... Goldsworthy’s characters are authentically ancient and his descriptions of Roman Briton ring true' Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

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From New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley1707 An ill-fated expedition for the New World left Sophia Paterson an orphan, cared for by her uncle. On his passing, a distant relative offers what Sophia longs for most: a home. Slains Castle, on the rugged Scottish coast, is much more comfortable than she is accustomed to. But danger is right around the corner, as rebels conspire to bring the exiled James Stewart to Scotland to reclaim his crown.Present day Enchanted by the ruins of the castle, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn this all-but-forgotten story into her next novel. Settling in the nearby village, she creates a heroine named after one of her ancestors and starts to write. Discovering her novel contains more than she researched, Carrie wonders if this is ancestral memory – making her the only living person to know what truly happened all those years ago. With each new chapter she uncovers the secrets of the past in a sweeping tale of love, loyalty and ultimate betrayal.Praise for Susanna Kearsley ‘Sometimes an author catches lightning in a bottle, and Susanna Kearsley has done just that’ New York Journal of Books ‘A deeply engaging romance and a compelling historical novel’ Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom ‘An epic romance for an epic season, by one of Canada’s best historical fiction writers’The Globe and Mail ‘Kearsley is nothing less than a magician weaving together the past and the present in yet another marvellous, genre-bending, romantic, mysterious and utterly unputdownable novel’M J Rose, author of Seduction ‘Fascinating, immersive and twisty – twists not only of plot, but of character and time’Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series ‘A terrific read, evocative and romantic’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Scandals of an Innocent ‘Will stay with you long after you put it down. Her deft touch with historical intrigue is matched only by her delivery of a contemporary heroine who is as unique as she is memorable’Deanna Raybourn, author of The Dark Enquiry

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Soon to be a major motion picture!'Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful' – Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' – Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry‘Powerful’ – Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight LibraryFrom the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix), The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love. It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .‘Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.Readers love The Women:'It honours ALL women: those who have fought for their rights and freedoms, those who have been overlooked and underappreciated, those who have been forgotten by families and society''I’ve been looking forward to this book’s release for months' 'Kristin Hannah has done it again'

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A richly-detailed and compelling historical saga for fans of Dilly Court, Sheila Newberry and Rosie Goodwin! Una Kelly has grown up to be a rough-and-tumble grifter, able to filch a pocketbook in five seconds flat. But when another con-woman pins her for a murder she didn’t commit, Una is forced to flee. Running from the police, Una lies her way into an unlikely refuge: the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital. Based on Florence Nightingale’s nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of its kind in the country. Where once nurses were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect, and moral character, and only young women of good breeding need apply. At first, Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors’ endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect. Just as she finds her footing, Una’s suspicions about a patient’s death put her at risk of exposure, and will force her to choose between her instinct for self-preservation, and exposing her identity in order to save others… Readers love this book: ‘Definitely a book worth reading…I loved the plot and got caught up in it’ Mary ‘Different to anything I've read recently…Great characters and a gripping story, this book had it all’ Wendy ‘So much more than your usual historical saga…Great storyline and I really enjoyed the character of Una and her fight to better herself from humble beginnings’ Angela ‘The cover says that lovers of Dilly Court would enjoy this book…I for one did…as well as enjoyable I also found myself learning a lot too!!!’ Liza

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If you love Bridgerton, you'll love Georgette Heyer!'The greatest writer who ever lived' Antonia Fraser'When it comes to Regency novels, Heyer was The Master' India Knight'One of the wittiest, most insightful and rewarding prose writers imaginable' Stephen Fry__________Sir Nicholas Beauvallet has never been known to resist a challenge.When he captures a galleon at sea, and the treasure turns out to be the lovely Dona Dominica de Rada y Silva, he vows to return her and her father to the shores of Spain.But, upon his immediate return, he proposes another venture; one more reckless than any of his exploits on the high seas which have made him the equal of Sir Francis Drake and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.He will take Dominica as his bride, even if it leads him into peril ...__________Reader's love Beauvallet. . .***** 'There was nothing I didn't love about this tale. Five stars all the way!'***** 'In a word, wonderful!'***** 'I loved this story so much!'***** 'A nail biter, this story is filled with interesting characters and humour.'***** 'This is one I reread and enjoy often.'

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If you love Bridgerton, you'll love Georgette Heyer! 'The greatest writer who ever lived' ANTONIA FRASER'A rollicking good read that will be of particular joy to Bridgerton viewer!' INDEPENDENT'Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's' JOANNE HARRIS_____________Returning home from the battle of Waterloo to claim his title as the new Seventh Earl of St Erth, Gervase Frant is met with surprising hostility from his family.Only Theo, a cousin even quieter than himself, is there to greet him - and when he meets his stepmother and young half-brother he detects open disappointment that he survived the wars.The tensions in the household only worsen as the beautiful Mariann, the intended bride of Gervase's half-brother, catches his eye - and his heart.Gervase may be off the battlefield, but his life is still threatened, as it becomes increasingly clear that someone wants him dead..._____________Readers love The Quiet Gentleman ...***** 'Absolutely nothing beats a Heyer Regency romance for the sheer enjoyment factor and witty, intelligent humor.'***** 'Love, love, love! Ahhh, Heyer does it again.'***** 'Excellent Heyer romance, with a bit of mystery thrown in.'***** 'There's lots to laugh at in this book and a mystery as well. Thoroughly enjoyable.'***** 'Loved it! One of my top three Heyers, in fact, my no. 1.'

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WINNER of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for FictionLonglisted for the Booker PrizeOne of Barack Obama's Favourite Books of the YearThe Sunday Times BestsellerTrust is a sweeping puzzle of a novel about power, greed, love and a search for the truth that begins in 1920s New York.Can one person change the course of history?A Wall Street tycoon takes a young woman as his wife. Together, they rise to the top in an age of excess and speculation. Now a novelist is threatening to reveal the secrets behind their marriage. Who will have the final word in their story of greed, love and betrayal?Composed of four competing versions of this deceptive tale, Trust by Hernan Diaz brings us on a quest for truth while confronting the lies that often live buried in the human heart.**Soon to be an HBO Limited Series starring Kate Winslet**'One of the great puzzle-box novels . . . a page-turner' – The Telegraph'Genius' – The Observer'I've never read anything quite like this' – Natalie Portman'Metafiction at its best, unpredictable, clever and massively enjoyable' – The Sunday Times'Enthralling' – Daily Mail

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Winston Graham was the author of more than forty novels, including The Walking Stick, Angell, Pearl and Little God, Stephanie and Tremor. His novels have been widely translated and his famous Poldark series has been developed into two television series shown in twenty-four countries. Many of Winston Graham's books have been filmed for the big screen, the most notable being Marnie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Winston Graham was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and in 1983 was awarded the OBE. He died in July 2003.

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The heartwarming follow on to Keep the Home Fires Burning, from the creator of ITV smash-hit Home Fires - perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Annie Groves.In the depths of war, the women of Great Paxford will need all their strength . . .As enemy planes continue to bombard the North West of England, the members of Great Paxford's WI fight harder than ever to persevere.Teresa Lucas has reshaped her life to become the perfect wife - but will the arrival of a new guest throw her world off kilter?Laura Campbell is grieving for her father, but in the midst of tragedy, a new future beckons.Pat Simms plans to escape her difficult life at the end of the war, but when things change at home, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew.And for Steph Farrow, it's not the threat of what's to come she fears, but whether she can live with what she has done . . .

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'Stylish and raw . . . seizes the reader's sympathy and does not let go'Anne Enright, Booker Prize-winning author of The GatheringEast Anglia, 1645. Martha Hallybread, a midwife, healer and servant, has lived for more than four decades in her beloved coastal village of Cleftwater. Everyone knows Martha, but no one has ever heard her speak.One Autumn morning, the peaceful atmosphere of Cleftwater is shattered by a sinister arrival and Martha becomes a silent witness to a witch-hunt. As a trusted member of the community, she is enlisted to search the bodies of the accused women. But whilst Martha wants to help her friends, she also harbours a dark secret that could cost her own freedom. In desperation, she revives a wax witching doll that she inherited from her mother, in the hope that it will bring protection. But the doll's true powers are unknowable, the tide is turning, and time is running out . . .An immersive and deeply moving novel inspired by true events, The Witching Tide breathes new life into history whilst holding up a mirror to the world we live in now. A story of loyalty and betrayal, fear and obsession, the impact of misogyny and the power of resistance, it is a magnificent debut from a striking new literary voice.'Utterly haunting and entirely riveting . . . sent shivers down my spine and brought me to tears'Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne'A superb writer . . . I loved it'Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

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Longlisted for the Women''s Prize for Fiction 2024Don't go Mammy please.' Stuttered words filled her ears, sent frissons of guilt through her as she bent over him; held him to her thumping chest. Tears sliding from her face to his.Raef is left behind in Grenada when his mother, Cilla, follows her husband to England in search of a better life. When they are finally reunited seven years later, they are strangers and the emotional impact of the separation leads to events that rip their family apart. As they try to move forward with their lives, his mother's secret will make Raef question all he's ever known of who he is.A Trace of Sun is, in part, inspired by the author's own family experiences.''It is heartbreaking, it is courageous, and it will leave you full of hope'' Laura Dockrill, author and 2024 Women''s Prize for Fiction Judge''An unflinching look at one family''s experience of immigration, exploring menta

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National BestsellerA Historical Novels Review Editors' Choice • A Jewish Book Award Finalist“An absolutely fascinating, beautifully rendered story of love, loss, and heroism in the dark days leading up to World War II. . . . A glowing portrait of women rising up against impossible odds to save children.” —Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Alone and The NightingaleThe New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe—and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to fifteen-year old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna’s streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents’ carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis’ take control.There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss—Hitler’s annexation of Austria—as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape.Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question,” in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.

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WINNER OF THE KERRY GROUP IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2018 SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION, THE WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING 2018 & FRANCE'S PRIX LITTÉRATURE MONDE (2019) Winter is closing in and Ireland is in the grip of famine. Early one October morning, Grace's mother snatches her from sleep, brutally cuts her hair and tells her: ‘You are the strong one now.’ Her mother fits her up in men's clothes and casts her out, as she is no longer safe at home. With her younger brother Colly in tow, she sets off on a remarkable journey against the looming shadow of her country's darkest hour.

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Gripping, authentic novel set in Roman Britain from bestselling historian, Adrian Goldsworthy. AD 98: VINDOLANDA. A FORT ON THE EDGE OF THE ROMAN WORLD. The bustling army base at Vindolanda lies on the northern frontier of Britannia and the entire Roman world. In just over twenty years time, the Emperor Hadrian will build his famous wall. But for now defences are weak as tribes rebel against Rome, and local druids preach the fiery destruction of the invaders. It falls to Flavius Ferox, Briton and Roman centurion, to keep the peace. But it will take more than just a soldier's courage to survive life in Roman Britain. This is a hugely authentic historical novel, written by one of Britain's leading historians. 'A thrilling and engrossing novel' HARRY SIDEBOTTOM.

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If you love Bridgerton, you'll love Georgette Heyer!'The greatest writer who ever lived' ANTONIA FRASER'[My] generation's Julia Quinn' ADJOA ANDOH, star of Bridgerton'One of my perennial comfort authors. Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's' JOANNE HARRIS_____________Adam Deveril returns from the Peninsula War a hero, only to find his family on the brink of ruin and his much-loved ancestral home mortgaged to the hilt. It is Lord Oversley, father of Adam's first love, who introduces him to Mr. Chaleigh, a City man of apparently unlimited wealth, with his eyes firmly fixed on a suitable match for his one and only beloved daughter.Though this civil contract may work on paper, saving one from ruin and bringing the other desired social status, there is only one way to find out if it can really work . . ._____________'Elegant, witty and rapturously romantic' KATIE FFORDE'Utterly delightful' GUARDIAN'Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes. . . Utter, immersive escapism' SOPHIE KINSELLA'Georgette Heyer's Regency romances brim with elegance, wit and historical accuracy, and this is one of her finest and most entertaining ... Escapism of the highest order' DAILY MAIL'If you haven't read Georgette Heyer yet, what a treat you have in store!' HARRIET EVANS_____________Readers love A Civil Contract ... ***** 'A wonderful tale - recommended for those who want some variation in the romances they read.'***** 'A Civil Contract is a departure from her usual formula, and it knocked my socks off.'***** 'Very touching, with a dose of humour.'***** 'One of my all-time favourites among her many brilliant and enduring books.'***** 'Amazingly good characters, lots of interior dialogue and character development, lots of humour.'

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THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERA RICHARD AND JUDY BOOKCLUB PICK'Utterly engrossing' GuardianIt is wash-day for the housemaids at Longbourn House, and Sarah's hands are chapped and raw. Domestic life below stairs, ruled with a tender heart and an iron will by Mrs Hill the housekeeper, is about to be disturbed by the arrival of a new footman, bearing secrets and the scent of the sea.What readers are saying:'A novel to be savoured''Highly recommended''Very enjoyable exploration of the background to Pride and Prejudice'

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A provocative, immersive medieval novel starring one of literature’s most unforgettable characters in her own words—Chaucer’s bold and libidinous Wife of Bath.“So damned readable and fun…This is the story of a woman fighting for her rights; it breaches the walls of history.”--The AustralianIn the middle ages, a famous poet told a story that mocked a strong woman. It became a literary classic. But what if the woman in question had a chance to tell her own version?England, 1364: When married off at aged twelve to an elderly farmer, brazen redheaded Eleanor quickly realizes it won’t matter what she says or does, God is not on her side—or any poor woman’s for that matter. But then again, Eleanor was born under the joint signs of Venus and Mars, making her both a lover and a fighter.Aided by a head for business (and a surprisingly kind husband), Eleanor manages to turn her first marriage into success, and she rises through society from a cast-off farm girl to a woman of fortune who becomes a trusted friend of the social-climbing poet Geoffrey Chaucer. But more marriages follow—some happy, some not—several pilgrimages, many lovers, murder, mayhem, and many turns of fortune’s wheel as Eleanor pursues the one thing that all women want: control of their own lives.

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'Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than Eloisa James' - Julia QuinnHow can she dare to imagine he loves her... when all London calls her The Ugly Duchess?Theodora Saxby is the last woman anyone expects the gorgeous James Ryburn, heir to the Duchy of Ashbrook, to marry. But after a romantic proposal before the prince himself, even practical Theo finds herself convinced of her soon-to-be duke's passion. Still, the tabloids give the marriage six months. Theo would have given it a lifetime . . . until she discovers that James desires not her heart, and certainly not her countenance, but her dowry.Society was shocked by their wedding, but it's scandalized by their separation. James heads to sea where he becomes a notorious pirate, and Theo builds their estate into a flourishing concern. Back from the seas, a scandalous tattoo of a poppy under one eye, James now faces the battle of his lifetime: convincing Theo that he loved the duckling who blossomed into the swan. Theo will quickly find that for a man with the soul of a pirate, all's fair in love - or war.'Eloisa James is extraordinary' - Lisa Kleypas'Romance writing does not get much better than this' - People

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**A NATIONAL BESTSELLER**“Readers will be on the edge of their seats…. A brilliant tale of resistance, courage and ultimately hope.” –Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw OrphanFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.“Uplifting, inspiring and suspenseful, this is one to savor!” –Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Riviera House “Madeline Martin is a fantastic author. The Librarian Spy is a stunning tour de force of historical fiction.” –Karen Robards, author of The Black Swan of ParisDon't miss Madeline Martin's newest historical novel, The Keeper of Hidden Books!Also by Madeline Martin: The Last Bookshop in London The Keeper of Hidden Books

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Shortlisted for the 2010 McKitterick PrizeAngel Tungazara runs a small business, baking cakes for the parties and celebrations of her neighbours. As her customers tell her their stories, Angel comes to realize how much each of them has to mourn as well as what they have to celebrate. And, finally, she comes to accept how much that is true of her too...This is a uniquely charming, gently moving, deliciously funny novel about life, love and cake. Ultimately, it shows how the human spirit - even when pushed to its limits - endures and unifies us all.

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Secrets of the Singer Girls is Kate Thompson's heartwarming and moving novel about the brave, hardworking women who kept the homefires burning in the East End of London during World War Two.1942. Sixteen-year-old Poppy Percival turns up at the gates of Trout's clothing factory in Bethnal Green with no idea what her new life might have in store. There to start work as a seamstress and struggling to get to grips with the noise, dirt and devastation of East London, Poppy can't help but miss the quiet countryside of home. But Poppy harbours a dark secret – one that wrenched her away from all she knew and from which she is still suffering . . .And Poppy's not the only one with a secret. Each of her new friends at the factory is hiding something painful. Vera Shadwell, the forelady, has had a hard life with scars both visible and concealed; her sister Daisy has romantic notions that could get her in trouble; and Sal Fowler, a hardworking mother who worries about her two evacuated boys for good reason. Bound by ties of friendship, loyalty and family, the devastating events of the war will throw each of their lives into turmoil but also bring these women closer to each other than they could ever have imagined.

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The new heartwarming wartime saga in the Home Fires series, perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Annie Groves.In the midst of World War II, the members of one village WI fight harder than ever to help the war effort . . .But behind closed doors, each is fighting a more personal battle.Pat Simms is reeling from her own role in her abusive husband's death, and the new freedom before her is daunting. Sarah Collingborne is struggling with the absence of her husband, who is stranded in a POW camp abroad, and trying her best to fill his treasured place in the village.Meanwhile, Teresa Lucas is anxious about her future as a parent, and her friend Alison Scotlock is on the verge of starting a new relationship. And Miriam Brindsley's good luck might be about to change . . .Grieving for men already lost and anxious for those still away fighting, the women of Great Paxford must rely on each other. Amidst the complexities of broken relationships, loss and friendship, this group of very different women must work together to find a way through.

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**PRE-ORDERDAWNLANDS, THE STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM PHILIPPA GREGORY, OUT NOVEMBER 2022** Number One bestselling author Philippa Gregory's new historical novel tracks the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice and New England. Midsummer Eve, 1670. A turbulent time to seek the truth . . . A wealthy man waits outside a poor London warehouse to meet with Alinor, the woman he failed twenty-one years before. He has everything to offer: money, land, status. He believes she has the only thing he cannot buy: his son and heir. Meanwhile in New England, Alinor’s brother Ned cannot find justice in the New World, as the King’s revenge stretches across the Atlantic and turns the pioneers against each other and against the American Indians. Then, a beautiful widow, Livia, arrives from Venice. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come with the news that Alinor’s son Rob has drowned in the dark tides of the lagoon. But is this true or could this woman be an imposter . . . ?From London to New England and Venice, the dark tides always rise, and with them come secrets and enemies . . .‘A gripping read spanning London, Venice and New England, all beautifully observed by Gregory’ Woman & HomePraise for Tidelands, the first in the Fairmile series: ‘A gripping and intelligent portrait of a woman fighting to survive in a hostile world’ The Times ‘The first in a planned series . . . The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre’ Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail ‘Vivid and beguiling – Philippa Gregory at her best’ Woman & Home‘A compelling novel that shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women’ Daily Mirror‘The novel's power lies in Gregory's evocative portrayal of the tidelands and the everyday lives of those who are bound to them’ Sunday Express ‘Philippa Gregory returns with an English Civil War novel that excels in everything she does best. Historical events are written with breathless immediacy, keeping the reader enthralled even if they know the outcome’ Alys Key, The i ‘If this novel is the first sign of what's to come then readers are in for a treat’ Emma Lee-Potter, Daily Express

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The Sunday Times bestseller – Now a major TV series with Paramount+Elizabeth Macneal's The Doll Factory is a gothic suspense story of art, obsession and delusion, set in Victorian London.'Astounding . . . I recommend it wholeheartedly' – Jo Whiley, BBC Radio 2 Book ClubLondon. 1850. On a crowded street, the dollmaker Iris Whittle meets the artist Louis Frost. Louis is a painter who is desperate for Iris to be his model. Iris agrees, on the condition that he teaches her to paint.Dreaming of freedom, Iris throws herself into a new life of art and love, unaware that she has caught the eye of a second man. Silas Reed is a curiosity collector, enchanted by the strange and beautiful. After seeing Iris at the site of the Great Exhibition he finds he cannot forget her.As Iris's world expands, Silas's obsession grows. And it is only a matter of time before they meet again . . .'A sharp, scary tale of love, art and obsession' – Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainBBC Radio 2 Book Club PickBBC Radio 4 Book At BedtimeFive Star Reader Reviews:'Breathtaking''I couldn't put it down''Spellbinding''I never wanted it to end''A plot to stop your heart'The Burial Plot, Elizabeth's latest cat-and-mouse thriller, is available to pre-order now!

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The third novel in the epic Masters of Rome series.Fortune's Favourites witnesses the power, mastery and cunning of two enigmatic rulers of Rome - Sulla, returning from exile, and the 22-year-old Pompey, who designates himself Magnus 'the Great'. And in the background is the young soldier, Caesar, who begins to show the expert qualities that will one day culminate in him becoming an unparalleled leader of ancient Rome. And at the heart of this sumptuous tale is the unforgettable story of Spartacus and his doomed slave revolt - the true story, as no modern reader has ever before encountered it.

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‘This was the original game of thrones’ George R.R. Martin The King is dead. Long live the King. Philip IV is dead and his great kingdom is in disarray. It seems the fatal curse of the Templars is plaguing the royal house of France. His son has been enthroned as Louis X; but with his disgraced wife Marguerite imprisoned in the Chateau Gaillard for her adultery, Louis can produce no heir with which to secure the succession. But neither can he marry again while she lives… The web of scandal, murder and intrigue that once wove itself around the court of the Iron King continues to draw in his descendants, as the destruction of his dynasty continues apace.

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The Sunday Times bestseller Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlisted for the Booker Prize ‘It is a book not read, but lived’ Telegraph ‘Her Cromwell novels are, for my money, the greatest English novels of this century’ Observer The long-awaited sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy. ‘If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it? England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith’s son from Putney emerges from the spring’s bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour. Cromwell is a man with only his wits to rely on; he has no great family to back him, no private army. Despite rebellion at home, traitors plotting abroad and the threat of invasion testing Henry’s regime to breaking point, Cromwell’s robust imagination sees a new country in the mirror of the future. But can a nation, or a person, shed the past like a skin? Do the dead continually unbury themselves? What will you do, the Spanish ambassador asks Cromwell, when the king turns on you, as sooner or later he turns on everyone close to him? With The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel brings to a triumphant close the trilogy she began with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. She traces the final years of Thomas Cromwell, the boy from nowhere who climbs to the heights of power, offering a defining portrait of predator and prey, of a ferocious contest between present and past, between royal will and a common man’s vision: of a modern nation making itself through conflict, passion and courage. A Guardian Book of the Year • A Times Book of the Year • A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year • A Telegraph Book of the Year • A Sunday Times Book of the Year • A New Statesman Book of the Year • A Spectator Book of the Year

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*Shortlist, Debut Fiction, 2023 Nero Book Awards * The Sunday Times Novel of the Year *London, 1894. John and Henry have a vision for a new way of life. But as the Oscar Wilde trial ignites public outcry, everything they long for could be under threat.'Beautifully written' Graham Norton'Subtle, sexy and beautifully crafted' Sarah Waters'Lavishly imagined' Sunday Times______________After a lifetime spent navigating his desires, John has finally found a man who returns his feelings. Meanwhile, Henry is convinced that his new unconventional marriage will bring freedom.United by a shared vision, they begin work on a revolutionary book arguing for the legalisation of homosexuality.Before it can be published however, Oscar Wilde is arrested and their daring book threatens to throw them, and all around them, into danger. How high a price are they willing to pay for a new way of living?______________'A very fine new writer' Kate Atkinson'I loved this book' Zadie Smith'Some of the best writing on desire I've read' Douglas Stuart'Extraordinary' Jonathan Bailey'Filled with nuance and tenderness . . . charting the lives of men and women who inspired not only political progress but an entire new way of living and loving' Colm Tóibín

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The first in a brand new historical family drama series, set at the turn of the twentieth century, by the author of the acclaimed Morland Dynasty novels.

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Fast-paced and intriguing, Mightier than the Sword is the fifth novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s the Clifton Chronicles. It moves towards the end of the 1960s as the Cliftons and the Barringtons come up against sworn enemies and new foes.Following the explosion of an IRA bomb on board the Barrington’s flagship MV Buckingham, Emma Clifton must deal with the repercussions on her family’s shipping business. Meanwhile her old adversary, Lady Virginia Fenwick, plots her downfall.Bestselling novelist Harry, Emma’s husband, is on a mission to free a fellow author imprisoned in Siberia, even if it costs him everything.Giles, his brother-in-law, a minister of the Crown, faces his own problems when a diplomatic disaster risks his bid for higher office.With its devastating twists and turns, Archer’s spellbinding the Clifton Chronicles continues to enthral readers and proves once again why Archer’s reign at the top of the charts is without parallel.Continue the bestselling series with Cometh the Hour and This Was a Man.

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Romance, intrigue, and dangerous ambitions combine to create the perfect escape: welcome back to the beautiful Hotel Portofino on the magical Italian Riviera. HOTEL PORTOFINO: LOVERS AND LIARS IS OUT NOW! ***NOW A MAJOR ITV DRAMA*** A heady historical drama about a British family who open an upper-class hotel on the magical Italian Riviera during the ‘Roaring 20s’. Hotel Portofino has been open for only a few weeks, but already the problems are mounting for its owner Bella Ainsworth. Her high-class guests are demanding and hard to please. And she’s being targeted by a scheming and corrupt local politician, who threatens to drag her into the red-hot cauldron of Mussolini’s Italy. To make matters worse, her marriage is in trouble, and her children are still struggling to recover from the repercussions of the Great War. All eyes are on the arrival of a potential love match for her son Lucian, but events don’t go to plan, which will have far reaching consequences for the whole family. Set in the breathtakingly beautiful Italian Riviera, Hotel Portofino is a story of personal awakening at a time of global upheaval and of the liberating influence of Italy’s enchanting culture, climate and cuisine on British ‘innocents abroad’, perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Crown.

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AD265 - In the shadow of Mount Etna, slaves are rising up. As the rebel leader declares Sicily the new land of the free, men and women are slaughtered, and cities across the island are sacked and burned.When a ship is wrecked off the island's west coast, all but two survivors are cut down in the surf by the rebel slaves. Ballista, an experienced Roman soldier, has always found a way to survive against the odds - but his son Marcus is still just a boy.With the burning road stretching out ahead of them, father and son must cross the war-ravaged island in a race against time to save the rest of his family, and somehow find a way to extinguish the brutal rebellion, before it all goes up in flames.

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Nothing can come between a mother and her child in this haunting sequel to Eden’s Children from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movie events.Faith Eden’s brief foray into motherhood is marked by tragedy. Distraught that her baby was ripped away from her, she is determined to get little Paula back from the wealthy family who adopted her. Her brother, Trevor, is also anxious to get the baby back and will do anything necessary to do so. But when the dark truth comes to light, this twisted family will stop at nothing to keep outsiders out and secrets in—no matter the cost.

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Sebastian Faulks’s Birdsong meets Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale in this moving and powerful novel about love, loss and the resilience of the human spirit. Scarred by his experiences in World War One, German doctor, Sebastian Braun lives a quiet life tending to his patients and his beloved garden. Until Sophie Hathaway bursts into his life and challenges his dearly-held beliefs. And just at the moment Sebastian discovers love for the first time war is on the horizon once again, threatening not just his peace of mind… As the Germans approach the Channel Islands, Sebastian has to make choices: be the peace-loving man he has become or stand up and fight for his principles? When he and Sophie are separated, Sebastian is left realising love may have eluded him forever. Until a chance meeting in Paris sets the wheels in motion for a dangerously devastating love affair. Readers are loving The Paris Affair: ‘A brilliant and very unique book…phenomenal’ Kayla ‘Thoughtful and unpredictable…it took me by surprise’ Christy ‘Riveting…suspensful, tense and emotional’ Karyn ‘A great read… highly recommended’ Lesley ‘Carefully plotted… I hated to put the book down’ Sheri ‘The plot is well paced and structured and it pulled me into the deception, suspense and tension…I hope to see this on the silver screen one day’ Norma ‘Quite simply epic! It should be made into a film, as the writing is so beautifully visual and presses all the emotional buttons’ Mandy ‘An absolutely enthralling read from beginning to end…The historical research that has gone into this book is incredible. A fantastic story. A definite must read’ Amy ‘I read this in a single sitting…Romance, history, and of course, the beautiful writing of Melanie Hudson make this an excellent addition to the WWII canon and one that you should not miss!!’ Tiffany

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On the Black Hill is an elegantly written tale of identical twin brothers who grow up on a farm in rural Wales and never leave home. They till the rough soil and sleep in the same bed, touched only occasionally by the advances of the twentieth century. In depicting the lives of Benjamin and Lewis and their interactions with their small local community Chatwin comments movingly on the larger questions of human experience.

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WINNER OF THE 1992 BOOKER PRIZE'Gripping . . . SACRED HUNGER covers a period between 1752 and 1765 . . . it concerns the entangled and conflicted fortunes of two cousins: Erasmus Kemp, the son of a Lancashire merchant, and Matthew Paris, a scholar and surgeon just released from prison for "denying Holy Writ" . . . the Liverpool Merchant is the vessel on which the whole of the novel hinges, and it carries the reader deep into the history of man's iniquitous greed . . . AS REGARDS ITS DRAMATIC BREADTH AND ENERGY, NO RECENT DOMESTIC NOVEL HAS COME WITHIN A MILE OF IT' - Anthony Quinn in the Independent

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The exquisitely-researched standalone prequel series to Dorothy Dunnett's revered Lymond Chronicles, following the ancestors of Francis Crawford of Lymond in Continental Europe.Spring of the Ram is Book Two in The House of Niccolo series.----------------------------- 'Catherine de Charetty, having chosen a lover just after the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross, was much put out to learn that, at nearly thirteen, she did not possess all the required qualifications . . .'Yet her secret suitor, Pagano Doria, claims he will wait and spirits her away from Bruges, first to Florence and then eastwards. On their trail is Nicholas vander Poele, her step-father, conducting his own journey to the fabled city of Trebizond, a Byzantine outpost on the Black Sea.Known as the treasure-house of the East, Trebizond in 1461 is the ideal location for Nicholas to open the House of Niccolo's new trading post. However, the city's riches are threated by a Turkish army while rival merchant families seek to thwart Nicholas' ambitions.Not least among them is Doria himself, harbouring a plan involving young Catherine to rain ruin on the head of House Niccolo. . .'A sorceress of the genre' Daily Mail

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‘Oh my word… fantastic… [The] stories intertwine so beautifully, it’s truly amazing. Such a lot of research must have to have been done but so worth it. I can’t recommend this book enough.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Could a rediscovered map show her the way? Present day: When thirty-six-year-old Robyn Willoughby discovers an exquisite yet blood-stained Tudor map in her father’s antique map shop, desperate for a distraction from her problems, she decides to investigate. But as Robyn delves into the mystery, she finds herself caught up in a centuries-old secret – one that will change her life forever. 1569: Forced to flee Holland to escape persecution, twenty-year-old Freida Ortelius uses her mapmaking skills to start anew in London. Soon her rare talent catches the eye of Queen Elizabeth, who demands Freida’s help in fighting the Spanish threat. Freida must now embark on a deadly mission, the consequences of which will echo down the ages… A sweeping and heartbreaking read, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Kathryn Hughes. Readers adore The Mapmaker’s Daughter: ‘Loved this… the characters were brilliant and the storyline was amazing, wonderfully written and descriptive, could not put it down.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book has it all: history, intrigue, suspense, mystery, and a gripping narrative that kept me engaged from beginning to end.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book!… Great characters and story that intertwined. Highly recommended.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A joy to read… I loved the characters and the way the plot of both times weaved and intwined… Excellent.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fascinating! I would recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction without hesitation.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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‘This was the original game of thrones’ George R.R. Martin Charles IV is now king of France and his sister is Edward II of England’s Queen. Having been imprisoned by Edward as leader of the rebellious English barons, Roger Mortimer escapes to France, where he joins the war against the English Aquitaine. But it is his love affair with Isabella, the ‘She-Wolf of France’, who has come seemingly to negotiate a treaty of peace that seals his fate…

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