Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud, nostalgic and heart-warming novel about the ups and downs of life at a fictional Yorkshire university, perfect for fans of James Herriot and Tom Sharpe. York, 1989. Beginning his second year as a tutor at the University of Eboracum, Dr Tom Frith is surprised to be paired as a buddy tutor' for a new member of staff. At first, Dr Rosie Tremaine appears staunchly independent, and even standoffish. But as Rosie and Tom navigate the trials and tribulations of life on campus, they soon become firm friends. Whether they're investigating the shady practices of the new bursar or chasing down a rogue student suspected of being a Peeping Tom, university life is always full of surprises. Off campus, the whole faculty must rally together to support a colleague through a difficult time, while Tom has an important question for his girlfriend, Inger . . . *Readers love Jack Sheffield!'It's like a big comfort blanket . . . I could read Jack's books all day every day!' *****'

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Book SynopsisThe brand new novel from Britain's best-loved saga authorWhitby, 1845Amber Ainsley works as a laundry maid for the wealthy Greenwood family, but when she falls pregnant with her employer's illegitimate child, she is cast out, left homeless and destitute. She flees to Whitby, but Barnaby Greenwood follows, offering to find a family to raise their daughter, to save her being sent to the workhouse. Broken-hearted but wanting the best for her child, Amber hands her daughter over. Meanwhile, Barnaby's wife, Louisa, is overjoyed when she gives birth to twins - but the babies are weak, and she is terrified they won't survive. Poverty-stricken, Amber soon has no choice but to return to work for the Greenwoods. There, one twin is flourishing while the other sickens. And when Amber notices a familiar birth mark on the infant girl's leg, her world is turned upside-down . . .Will Amber ever be able to have the family life she hopes for?

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Book Synopsis'Atkinson on her finest form. A marvel of plate-spinning narrative knowhow, a peak performance of consummate control.' OBSERVER'This is the perfect novel for uncertain times.' THE TIMES'I can think of few writers other than Dickens who can match it' SUNDAY TIMES'Brilliant' RICHARD OSMAN'Kate Atkinson is simply one of the best writers working today, anywhere in the world' GILLIAN FLYNN____1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.At the heart of this glittering world is notorious Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie's empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho's gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson brings together a glittering cast of characters in a truly mesmeric novel that captures the uncertainty and mutability of life; of a world in which nothing is quite as it seems._____'Seduction, betrayal, and larger-than-life characters that will have you hooked until the last page' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'This book is one to savour, for the energy, for the wit, for the tenderness of characterisation that make Atkinson enduringly popular' GUARDIAN'As vividly filthy, populous, dangerous as anything described by Dickens, but writing is closer to Thackeray's...Atkinson is a novelist of unrivalled immediacy, authority, and skill.' FINANCIAL TIMESTrade ReviewBrilliant. * Richard Osman *A heady brew of crime, romance and satire set amid the sordid glitz of London nightlife in the 1920s . . . Shrines of Gaiety sees Atkinson on her finest form . . . A marvel of plate-spinning narrative knowhow . . . a peak performance of consummate control. -- Anthony Cummins * OBSERVER *Sharp, witty and fiendishly plotted ... you don't so much as read it as surrender to it * FINANCIAL TIMES, 'Best books of 2022' *Seduction, betrayal and larger-than-life characters that will have you hooked until the last page. * THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Kate Atkinson is on deliciously acerbic form in Shrines of Gaiety ... exposing the underbelly of London nightlife in the roaring 20s * GUARDIAN, 'Books of the Year' *

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Book SynopsisBorn in Dublin in 1969, and now living in Canada, Emma Donoghue writes fiction (novels and short stories, contemporary and historical), as well as drama for screen and stage. Room was a New York Times Best Book of 2010 and a finalist for the Man Booker, Commonwealth and Orange Prizes, selling between two and three million copies in forty languages. Donoghue was nominated for an Academy Award for her 2015 adaptation starring Brie Larson. She co-wrote the screenplay for the film of her novel The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh.

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Book SynopsisCan her courage lead her to a life of happiness?Annie Swinburn is harbouring a terrible secret. She has killed a man. The man was evil in every possible way, but she knows that her only fate if she stays in the slums of Hull is a hanging.And so she runs. As fast as she can, and as far as she can up the river, along hidden paths of the Humber and into a new and familiar territory where she can start a new life.There she meets Toby Linton a man born into a good life but now estranged from his family. He and his brother Matt earn a dangerous living as smugglers, but Annie soon realises they have more in common than she thought. And this new way of life might just offer her the chance of love, in spite of all the tragedy that has gone beforeIf you enjoy books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you''ll love Val''s heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.

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Book Synopsis?Beautiful, emotional and hopeful, but have tissues to hand.? Liz FenwickWhen Stephanie is told she?s pregnant and that she is sick on the same day, she faces an impossible choice?After trying for a baby for so long, finding out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But in the same breath as the news I had been waiting years to hear, the doctor told me I was seriously ill.If I carry my baby to term, I will almost certainly die.If I proceed with treatment, my baby will not live.My husband ? the father of this child ? is telling me to save myself. But with all the secrets I know he is keeping from me, I can?t trust him anymore.What would you do?An emotional yet uplifting tear-jerker that will have you reaching for the tissues ? perfect for fans of EMMA ROBINSON and JODI PICOULT. This Child of Mine is breaking reader?s hearts!?The ultimate decision! What a heartbreaking story.? Real Reader Review, ?????WOW. What a heartbreaking, but beautifully written story, I absolutely loved every minute of this book ? and what an ending!? Real Reader Review, ??????This book certainly proves that when you want to be a mother, you will do everything possible to get it. Beautifully written.? Real Reader Review, ?????This Child of Mine will give you all of the feels. This beautifully written story will have you reaching for the tissues.? Real Reader Review, ????Trade Review‘Beautiful, emotional and hopeful, but have tissues to hand.’ Liz Fenwick ‘Tragic but ultimately uplifting.’ Katie Fforde ‘A heartfelt and suspenseful tale of an agonising life-and-death dilemma…this is a family drama that doesn’t shy away from sadness and conflict but powers towards an ultimately hopeful conclusion.’ Ali Mercer ‘An emotional story which broke my heart but was beautifully uplifting and filled with hope.’ Emma Cowell ‘This Child of Mine is an emotionally-charged, beautiful, and poignant story that will stay with me for a very long time. Wilson had me sobbing from the very first page, and I couldn't put the book down. An absolute triumph of a debut.’ Natali Simmonds ‘Right from the first pages, the reader is plunged into and emotional and heartrending story… wondering what they might do in a similar situation. This book cannot fail to move the reader.’ Janet Gover ‘A highly emotional read. Both harrowing and hopeful. Wilson offers a subtle, raw and tender exploration of what family means and how grief can ultimately open up new strength and unknown paths to happiness.’ Sarah Jost ‘I spent my Sunday devouring this heartfelt, emotional, charming and gorgeously-written debut. With many unexpected moments, great characters, and a satisfying conclusion, I was lost in the story. Highly recommended.’ Louise Beech 'Gripping, timely and important, This Child of Mine tackles something that is all too often swept into the shadows: the heartbreak that can come with starting a family.’ Katie Allen ‘Heartbreaking, unexpected and necessary. This book is just stunning.’ Emma Cooper ‘A beautifully written story of love and hope that will capture readers' hearts and minds. Emma-Claire is the real deal – a writer to fall in love with.’ Alison May ‘A strong debut that takes the reader on a heartbreaking rollercoaster of emotions. Thoroughly recommend.’ Jenni Keer

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Tiffany Girls is a richly detailed and impeccably researched story of art and friendship. Shelley Noble has crafted an intimate view of the professional and personal lives of the incredible women who brought Tiffany glass to life. A beautiful novel!” — Chanel Cleeton, New York Times Bestselling author of The Cuban Heiress A historical fiction of bold new beginnings and the creative courage of three women artists who forged their careers at Tiffany’s glassworks. — Tessa Arlen, USA Today bestselling author of In Royal Service to the Queen Rich with finely-wrought detail, The Tiffany Girls is the moving, little-known story of the women who worked as artists making glorious glassworks for Tiffany, their struggles, heartaches, and triumphs. Not to be missed! — Christine Wells, author of One Woman’s War The Tiffany Girls sparkles with as much light, hope, and wonder as Mr. Tiffany’s stained-glass creations. — Kaia Alderson, author of SISTERS IN ARMS Under Noble's deft hand, Grace, Clara, and Emilie come vividly to life in turn of the century New York City in her new novel, THE TIFFANY GIRLS. I couldn’t help but root for the trio of heroines as they strived to become artists in their own right through their work for Louis Comfort Tiffany, renowned master of stained glass. Readers will revel in the fascinating and lavish details, and never look at a Tiffany lamp the same way again. An immersive, wonderful read! — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Strangers in the Night A fascinating look into the art world, and the working conditions of women, at the dawn of the 20th century. A sweeping cast of characters, comprised of both historical figures and fictional ones alike, brings the high-stakes word of the Tiffany Glass Works to life in vivid detail. Through tragedy and triumph, readers will find themselves rooting for these women as they face their personal challenges and the mounting pressure as Tiffany Glass Works prepares for a major display at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Richly researched, and utterly captivating, a must-read for fans of turn-of-the-century historical fiction. — Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The School for German Brides and A Bakery in Paris TIFFANY GIRLS is an engaging story filled with unforgettable characters as incandescent as the iconic Tiffany stained-glass designs they helped create. Brimming with passion and reverence for the artistic mastery of the Tiffany style, Shelley Noble’s excellent storytelling presents a portrait of turn-of-the-century New York City and Paris that illustrates the dedication and determination of women to gain recognition for their contributions within the art world and take control of their lives. A must read! — Monica Chenault Kilgore, Author of Long Gone, Come Home A fascinating look into the lives of the women employed at the Tiffany Glass Company studio in New York City, as they work toward the final showing of their projects at the exposition in Paris. Noble brings the late 19th century alive in her story of these young women from various walks of life who work and live together as they forge their own artistic paths while supporting each other through the ups and downs. An inspiring friendship tale of talented female artists, and their search for independence in a world that wasn’t too keen on female autonomy — Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of STARRING ADELE ASTAIRE "This story is beautifully written, and as rich, colourful, and breathtaking as Tiffany glass” — Lecia Cornwall, Author of That Summer in Berlin "Best-selling Noble... transforms the mundane lives of a group of working women into an engrossing and fascinating story that brings the magic of Tiffany Glass to life." — Booklist "I honestly cannot think of anything the author could have done to improve this novel. Highly recommended." — Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisA gothic, historical tale of found family and friendship, loss and redemption, Once a Monster is a dazzling reimagining of the myth of the Minotaur set in 19th century London.‘Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache . . . Richly textured and with an appropriately labyrinthine plot . . . Book of the Month’ - Book of the Month, The Sunday TimesSome villains are meant to be heroes . . .London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers, she spends her days searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.But one day, Nell discovers a strange body on the shore. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head is the suggestion of horns.

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Book SynopsisWill its words uncover a dark family secret?Readers love Josephine Cox!'Loved the story and the characters''Family secrets hidden away for years. I really loved this story''I was hooked from start to finish''This one goes to the top of my list a five star read'Another gripping and dramatic family drama from the Sunday Times bestsellerBella can't wait to be married to her fiancée Sidney, and dreams of the day she will walk up the aisle to be given away by her widowed father, with her bookish sister Alice as her bridesmaid.Their lives are disturbed when they receive a letter from their fifteen-year-old cousin Millie. Taken in by her austere aunt and uncle when her parents were killed in an accident, Millie says she is being badly treated and pleads to be rescued.When the two sisters take a trip to find out the truth, things take a troubling turn. Millie is brought home to live with them, her only possessions her ill-fitting clothes and a tatty suitcase.But soon they are questioning thisTrade ReviewReader reviews for The Letter: ‘Loved the story and the characters’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘It's so well written and the story line was addictive.’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘What a brilliant book – so many rollercoasters, emotional, funny and sad’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘A definite read again book on my shelf’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars Praise for Josephine Cox: 'Thanks to her near faultless writing … readers will find it impossible to tear themselves away.' News of the World 'Another hit for Josephine Cox' Sunday Express ‘Cox's talent as storyteller never lets you escape the spell' Daily Mail 'Another masterpiece' Best ‘Another beautifully spun family epic' Scottish Daily Echo 'A born storyteller' Bedfordshire Times ‘A surefire winner' Woman's Weekly

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023.In Stone Blind, the instant Sunday Times bestseller, Natalie Haynes brings the infamous Medusa to life as you have never seen her before.'Witty, gripping, ruthless' – Margaret Atwood via Twitter'Beautiful and moving' – Neil Gaiman‘So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters’Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt.When Poseidon commits an unforgiveable act against Medusa in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can: on his victim. Medusa is changed forever – writhing snakes for hair and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. She can look at nothing without destroying it.Desperate to protect her beloved sisters, Medusa condemns herself to a life of shadows. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .‘A fierce feminist exploration of female rage, written with wit and empathy’ – GlamourTrade ReviewWitty, gripping, ruthless -- Margaret Atwood via TwitterBeautiful and moving -- Neil Gaiman via TwitterThe rollicking narrative voice that energises Stone Blind . . . is a voice that feels at once bitingly (post)modern and filled with old wisdom * Observer *Stone Blind is an exceptionally powerful retelling of Medusa's story, an emotional gut punch of a novel. Haynes brilliantly pulls off the feat of seamlessly alternating humour and heartbreak, creating characters that stay with you long after the novel's end. It is a dazzling achievement -- Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den trilogyWith this, her third novel based on ancient myth, [Haynes] has found a way of using all her classical erudition and her vivid sense of the ambiguous potency of the ancient stories, while being simultaneously very, very funny * Guardian *A fierce feminist exploration of female rage, written with wit and empathy. Haynes makes the classics brutally relevant, and we reckon this one is going to be huge * Glamour *It is no exaggeration to say that Haynes is the modern embodiment of the best of Homer. She is a proper, classic storyteller, whose linguistic skills and wit will have you hanging on every word * Radio Times *Stone Blind is inventive and playful . . . [and] very funny -- Antonia Senior * The Times *Natalie Haynes’s genius is to not just focus on the female experience of Greek myth but also to add zest, humour and more than a little mischief. * Metro *What makes a monster is the central question in Natalie Haynes’ wry, spry feminist take on the Medusa myth . . . an earthy, playful yet rage-filled upending of the Greek hero trope * Mail Online *Natalie Haynes has made a contemporary classic out of a classic . . . and it should win prizes -- Monique Roffey, author of The Mermaid of Black ConchWith wit, humanity and extraordinary imagination, Haynes breathes life and meaning into myths as she has done so brilliantly before (most famously with A Thousand Ships). She also shows that monsters can be divine or mortal. Not all heroes wear capes – and not all villains have snakes * The i *Haynes’ clever, empathetic writing transforms Medusa from Gorgon into a girl, who’s a victim of the cruel machinations of the gods and of circumstance -- Sarra Manning * Red Magazine *There’s real tenderness in Haynes’s portrait of Medusa, a mortal abomination born into a family of divinities, and the efforts of her immortal Gorgon sisters to protect her from herself -- Daisy Dunn * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisTHERE IS NO LAND WITHOUT BLOOD, AND I WATER THIS LAND WITH THE BLOOD OF MY MEN. Ruth’s family were in Budapest when the Nazis came. Now Ruth is in Palestine, amid the bare hills inland from Haifa, breaking the rocky soil of an unyielding land before it breaks her. With her comrades, her fellow kibbutzniks, she will build a better world. There will be green grass, orange trees and pomegranates, a land that is their own and no one else’s. So they till their fields, dig their wells, build their homes and forge a new way of living, fiercely proud of their shared pursuit of a dream. But as one generation begets another, the dream unravels, twisted into a dark tapestry of secrets and lies; sacrificed for revenge, forbidden love and murder. A sweeping historical epic following four generations of a single family as they struggle to hold on to their land and each other. 'Tidhar [is] fast emerging as the leader of a new wave of Israeli literature' Daily Mail 'Adama is an unstoppable masterpiece... If history is a nightmare we’re all trying to wake up from, then Adama is a trumpet blast that rings out the past and into the future' Junot Díaz 'As a study of biblical comeuppance, the land and the blood have the last say. I recommend Adama as an instructive primer for today's generation of Israeli politicians. There are, indeed, lessons to be learned' Jewish Chronicle 'Word by word I was drawn deeper and deeper into this incredible book – a story of inheritance, loss, longing and what could have been. Lavie Tidhar's prose is beautiful, his characters lacerating and heartbreaking by turns. I loved it.' Catriona WardTrade ReviewADAMA is an unstoppable masterpiece ... Tidhar is a magician, a time-traveler, a historian, a comedian, a raconteur, a subversive, a truth teller and also one of the finest writers around. If history is a nightmare we’re all trying to wake up from, then ADAMA is a trumpet blast that rings out the past and into the future. -- Junot DíazWord by word I was drawn deeper and deeper into this incredible book – a story of inheritance, loss, longing and what could have been. Lavie Tidhar's prose is beautiful, his characters lacerating and heartbreaking by turns. I loved it. -- Catriona WardA brutal but compassionate and compelling view of the compromises required to sustain a nation -- Maxim JakubowskiThis violent, shadowy history of a kibbutz family makes for a propulsive, decades-spanning noir saga. I couldn’t put it down. -- Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe prolific Tidhar [is] fast emerging as the leader of a new wave of Israeli literature, thanks to his risky, exhilarating experiments with tone and genre... Tidhar's imagination is both Old Testament through and through, and sick with a 21st-century disenchantment * Daily Mail *A brilliantly unsentimental portrayal, full of moral murkiness and tarnished hopes, with small, half-glimpsed bursts of joy -- Antonia Senior * The Times *As a study of biblical comeuppance, the land and the blood have the last say. I recommend Adama as an instructive primer for today's generation of Israeli politicians. There are, indeed, lessons to be learned * Jewish Chronicle *PRAISE FOR MAROR: 'A sprawling epic set across four decades, and an audacious account of the underbelly of nation-building... Spectacular... Fascinating... Astonishing... Maror is a masterpiece of the sacred and the profane... Tidhar has achieved a literary triumph' Jake Arnott, Guardian. 'Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire... Maror is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating' Junot Díaz. 'Maror blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement' Kevin Jared Hosein. 'Radiant with [...] the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James' A Brief History of Seven Killings... Will catch your breath as it presents the history of Israel from unique points of view, with dazzling multi-generational scope' * LoveReading *A Times 'best historical fiction novel' for 2023': A novel of immense power * The Times *A brilliant follow-up to Maror ... Extraordinary storytelling * Tim Pears *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLERA GUARDIAN BOOK TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024A NEW STATESMAN FICTION HIGLIGHT OF 2024AN OBSERVER FICTION TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024AN IRISH TIMES FICTION TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024What if we ride out tonight?What if we ride out and never once look back?October, 1891. Butte, Montana. A hard winter approaches across the Rocky Mountains. The city is rich on copper mines and rampant with vice and debauchery among a hard-living crowd of immigrant Irish workers. Here we find Tom Rourke, a young poet and balladmaker, but also a doper, a drinker and a fearsome degenerate. Just as he feels his life is heading nowhere fast, Polly Gillespie arrives in town as the new bride of the devout mine captain Long Anthony Harrington.A thunderbolt love affair takes spark between Tom and Polly and they strike out west on a stolen

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the gripping and heartwarming new Jubilee Lake series, from multi-million-copy bestselling author Anna JacobsLancashire, 1895. Lillian Hesketh has taken a new name, and a brave step towards a happier life. Suddenly widowed after an unhappy marriage, and pursued by her unscrupulous in-laws, Lillian finds a fresh start in the beautiful Ollindale valley. Thanks to the kindness of her new neighbours, Walter Crossley and his family, she finally has a home to call her own - but the threat of discovery by her husband's family still casts a shadow over her new life.Meanwhile, Edward Ollerton has returned to the valley to rebuild his ancestral home. Hoping to one day to marry and start a family, Edward finds himself drawn to the shy, attractive widow - but not everyone is happy to see him reclaim his estate . . .Will their dreams fade to dust, or can a golden future blossom on the shores of Jubilee Lake?Readers love Anna Jacobs! 'Amazing' - 5 STARS'Thank you, Anna, for the pleasure you give in all your books' - 5 STARS'Another brilliant, hard-to-put-down book' - 5 STARS'Can't wait for the next instalment' - 5 STARS'A real page turner, I can't wait to read the next one' - 5 STARS'Another triumph for Anna Jacobs' - 5 STARS'BRILLIANT READ' - 5 STARSBook 1 in the Jubilee Lake Saga, SILVER WISHES, is out now in hardback, eBook and audio ***Have you discovered all of Anna Jacobs' wonderful series? For a story of romance, drama and family ties on Daisy Street, try the BACKSHAW MOSS series:A VALLEY DREAMA VALLEY SECRETA VALLEY WEDDINGFor a heartwarming and emotional saga set in a Lancashire valley, try the BIRCH END series:A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEYA WIDOW'S COURAGEA WOMAN'S PROMISE

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Book SynopsisSummer, 1660. Cromwell is dead and Charles Stuart has been restored to the throne. Men who supported the Protectorate are being hunted down as traitors. 'S. G. MacLean can make any historical period sing with life' Antonia HodgsonBy the summer of 1660 the last remnants of the Republic have been swept away and the Stuarts have been restored under their king, Charles II. A list of regicides believed to be involved in the death of Charles I is drawn up. Gruesome executions begin to take place and the hunt intensifies for those who have gone into hiding at home or abroad.Although not a regicide, staunch Republican Damian Seeker is on a list of traitors to the king. Royalist spy, Lady Anne Winter, is employed to find evidence of guilt or innocence among the names on this Winter List. Seeker has fled England but his beloved daughter Manon remains, married to Seeker's friend, the lawyer Lawrence Ingolby, and living in York.As the conduit to her father and to others on the Winter List and surrounded by spies and watchers, Manon lives in constant danger and fear of discovery. One of those spies is closer than even she could have imagined.Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Andrew Taylor.******************************Praise for The Winter List 'A wonderful storyteller' The Times 'Vividly imaginative, this builds the world of 1660 from the ground up, with all its romance and tragedy' Sun 'A propulsive plot . . . well-researched and fascinating' Guardian'Gripping fiction with historical fact' Sunday Times'What a fabulous book . . . there is murder, there is intrigue, there is revenge' 5* Reader Review'Kept me hooked right up to the end' 5* Reader Review'A glorious tale of revenge and retribution . . . Highly recommended' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewWith a propulsive plot, this is a well-researched and fascinating portrait of a febrile, still divided nation, where long-held grudges fester in an atmosphere of broken trust * Guardian *Vividly imaginative, this builds the world of 1660 from the ground up, with all its romance and tragedy * Sun *Manon faces daily danger in a novel that shows MacLean's ability to invest gripping fiction with historical fact * Sunday Times *A wonderful storyteller * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTomorrow the World is a breathtaking family drama of of heartache, friendship and longing. Bridget Mulligan loves her husband. He is caring, loyal and dependable - everything a woman could ask for. But she can''t quite forget Harry - the one that got away - and when a snowstorm drives her into his arms, the inevitable happens. Nine months later a child is born.Overcome with remorse, Bridget is determined that her husband should know the truth, but her confession can lead only to heartbreak. Although he allows his wife and her child to continue living in his home, Tom Mulligan makes it clear that their marriage is over. Lonely and afraid, Bridget finds comfort in the friendship of Fanny, a feisty young mother who knows what it is to be alone. But Bridget''s life can never be complete until she has the love of the only man she ever really wanted . . .

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Book SynopsisNo.1 bestselling writer Josephine Cox''s Love Me or Leave Me is a heartrending story of love and friendship and the obstacles that may come between. Beautiful Eva Bereton has just three close friends: Patsy, whom she looks upon as a sister; Bill, once her childhood sweetheart, now married and living in Canada; and her mother, to whom she is devoted. When a tragic accident turns Eva''s world upside down, Patsy is the only one she can turn to.A hated figure from the past comes to reclaim the farm and business that Eva had always believed were her parents''. Not even Bill, still in love with Eva, can stop Eva being thrown out on the streets. Together with Patsy, Eva starts a new life far away.Luckily, they find work and lodgings wherever they settle. But when Eva arrives in Blackburn her past mistakes rise up to haunt her. Yet even when threatened from all sides Eva will never accept that her chances of happiness have been destroyed. Determined and optimistic, she fights on to change her life for the better.

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Book Synopsis***LONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN 2022******'Excellent writing, intricate plotting and masterful senses of place and time make Harvey's books compulsive reads.' - Historia******'Superb storytelling. [...] Readers everywhere are in for a treat!' - Tracy Chevalier******'Multi-layered, compelling and intriguing, The Silver Wolf draws us into the murky underbelly of Europe's Thirty Years' War.' - Minette Walters******'[A] marvellous [...] intelligently written romp through history' - NB Magazine******With a huge cast of characters and great storytelling, this is epic, action-packed historical fiction.' - Choice***The extraordinarily rich, dark, panoramic tale of an orphaned boy's quest for truth and then for vengeance as war rages across 17th-century Europe.Amidst the chaos of the Thirty Years' War, Jack Fiskardo embarks upon a quest that will carry him inexorably from France to Amsterdam and then onto the battlefields of Germany. As he grows to manhood will he be able to unravel the mystery of his father's death? Or will his father's killers find him first?The Silver Wolf is a tale of secrets and treachery and the relentlessness of fate - but it is also a story of courage and compassion, of love and loyalty and ultimately of salvation too.Book One of Fiskardo's War marks the start of a series of unforgettable, epic historical fiction for readers of Ken Follett and Kate Mosse.'Harvey handles a huge cast of characters and a mountain of research with enviable confidence, and gives us a gift of a hero. I am completely invested in Jack Fiskardo now, and will eagerly follow him through many more battles and beds, murders and mayhem, to reach his nemesis.' - Tracy Chevalier'A powerfully impressive debut.' - Minette WaltersTrade ReviewThis is superb storytelling. Harvey handles a huge cast of characters and a mountain of research with enviable confidence, and gives us a gift of a hero. I am completely invested in Jack Fiskardo now, and will eagerly follow him through many more battles and beds, murders and mayhem, to reach his nemesis. Readers everywhere are in for a treat! -- Tracy ChevalierA powerfully impressive debut. Multi-layered, compelling and intriguing, The Silver Wolf draws us into the murky underbelly of Europe's Thirty Years' War. Gripping stuff! -- Minette Waltersmarvellous [...] intelligently written romp through history -- Sara Boorman * NB Magazine *With a huge cast of characters and great storytelling, this is epic, action-packed historical fiction. -- Choice * Choice *Outstanding -- S. W. PerryA feast of a read . . . I defy anyone not to pick up this book and not be carried away into another world and another time. -- NetGalley * NetGalley *

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Book SynopsisBOOK 2 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorA RUTHLESS ENEMY. A CIVILIZATION IN RUINS. A QUEST FOR SALVATION. For over fifty years Egypt has known nothing but war and devastation at the hands of the Hyksos, a bloodthirsty barbarian people from the distant east who continue to advance, crushing armies in their wake. Times are desperate, but throughout the conflict, a brave resistance fights on under the great Taita, a slave who has risen far beyond his ranks.Piay, entrusted into Taita's care by his parents at the age of just five, has been trained to become a great spy, unmatched by any other. Determined to prove his worth, he embarks on a dangerous mission to the north - to Mycenae and through the heart of Hyksos land and across the great sea - to find allies to help defend Egypt. As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, and the fate of the kingdom is hanging in the balance, can Piay succeed in his quest or will this mean the end of the glory that is Egypt once and for all?Book 2 in the New Kingdom sequence and Book 8 in the Ancient Egyptian series from international sensation Wilbur Smith. Don't miss the next in the series, Testament, coming soon.'Titans of War' was a Sunday Times bestseller for w/e 04/09/2022.Trade ReviewBest historical novelist - I say Wilbur Smith * Stephen King *A master storyteller * Sunday Times *Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared * The Times *No one does adventure quite like Smith * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisLong-listed for the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2018. Summer 1941. Four violent deaths, French double agents, daring fraud - DCI Frank Merlin sets out on his most complex case yet.

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Book SynopsisA daughter pulled between two worlds and a mother willing to destroy both to protect her...Demeter: a goddess of life, living half of one.Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, she loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. But after an act of devastating violence, she hides herself away among the grasses and wildflowers. Her only solace is her daughterBefore she was Persephone, she was Core.Core is as bright as summer and devoted to her mother, even during their millennia in exile from Olympus. But she craves freedom. Naïve and determined, she secretly builds a life of her own?and as she does so, she catches the eye of a powerful godThe daughters of Olympus will have the last wordHades kidnaps Core and renames her as Queen of the Underworld. In the land without sun, she realises she may have a chance to regain what she thought she'd lost forever. But Demeter will destroy anything?even the humans s

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Book Synopsis''A book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside'' THE LADYThis winter, escape to a warm and wonderful clifftop hotel with the world''s favourite storyteller. Now with brand new introduction by Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of Merrily Ever After.''Sometimes she would go and walk the cliffs at night and look out over the ocean...''Set high on the cliffs on the west coast of Ireland, Stone House was falling into disrepair until one woman, with a past she needed to forget, breathed new life into the place. Now a hotel with a big warm kitchen and log fires, it provides a welcome few can resist. And so gather the guests: some with secrets, some longing to leave their old lives behind, and some hoping the break at Stone House will help them find a way to face the future...''A book to treasure'' HELLO''Full Trade ReviewA book to treasure. It's classic Maeve Binchy territory, filled with characteristic warmth and captivating storytelling * HELLO *Set in a country house hotel on the West coast of Ireland it's full of her trademark warmth, humour and lovable characters * WOMAN *Binchy's compassion and warmth are undimmed ... Over her long career as a novelist she tackled many serious issues with the compassion, intelligence and wit that anyone who ever read her wonderful journalism would expect. ... All the characters in A Week in Winter are struggling - with traumatic memories, with isolation, with regret. Yet Binchy guides her creations through their troubles with a firm and kind hand, leaving them ready for a happier future. Maybe that's why so many readers loved her so much. That and the fact that she always knew how to tell a very good story * IRISH TIMES *This is a book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside ... If you haven't come across her before, you've got a real treat in store * THE LADY *It is no exaggeration to say that Maeve and her books were loved. Deservedly so. A Week in Winter is shot through with her trademark charm ... here is an author who had a zest for life * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *Warm, witty and with a deep understanding of what makes us tick, it's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters * OK MAGAZINE *An unsurpassed grasp of what makes a good story -- Anne EnrightBinchy makes you laugh, cry, and care. Her warmth and sympathy render the daily struggles of ordinary people heroic and turn storytelling into art * SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE *A book to treasure. It's classic Maeve Binchy territory, filled with characteristic warmth and captivating storytelling * HELLO *The final novel by late Irish author Maeve Binchy is out now. Set in a country house hotel on the West coast of Ireland it's full of her trademark warmth, humour and lovable characters. * WOMAN *Binchy's compassion and warmth are undimmed to the very end. Over her long career as a novelist she tackled many serious issues with with the compassion, intelligence and wit that anyone who ever read her wonderful journalism would expect. ... All the characters in A WEEK IN WINTER are struggling - with traumatic memories, with isolation, with regret. Yet Binchy guides her creations through their troubles with a firm and kind hand, leaving them ready for a happier future. Maybe that's why so many readers loved her so much. That and the fact that she always knew how to tell a very good story. * IRISH TIMES *It is no exaggeration to say that Maeve and her books were loved. Deservedly so. A WEEK IN WINTER is shot through with her trademark charm ... here is an author who had a zest for life * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *In the final novel from the Irish legend, we meet the motley holidaymakers of Stone House hotel, each nursing their secrets or sadness during a winter break. The plot is almost irrelevant though; what matters is the warmth and charm of Binchy's storytelling. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *This is a book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside. ... Binchy died this year after a prolific career that began in 1982 and during which she wrote more than 20 books, all of them bestsellers. If you haven't come across her before, you've got a real treat in store. * THE LADY *Beguiling and heartwarming, this is a story of everyday Irish life made extraordinary by the author's trademark blend of compassionate humour and insight into human nature * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *One of the world's best story-tellers, Maeve Binchy, died in 2012, so I do hope you enjoy her final magically weaved story . . . This is a must-read. * WELSH COUNTRY *

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Book SynopsisPraise for Judy Summers: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... The characters are well drawn and believable' Lyn Andrews 'Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read' Mollie Walton Can she save her family when they need her the most? Liverpool, 1847. At seventeen, Delilah Shaw is the eldest of the eight Shaw siblings, and the one who must take charge when her mother and brother die in a tragic manner, and her father is left disabled in an accident at the docks.Taking care of the cooking, cleaning, washing and childcare is hard enough, but when they can no longer afford to live in the family home, Delilah must make the heartbreaking choice to leave it and to take two of her younger sisters to the workhouse.Determined to earn enough to get them back, Delilah conjures up a plan to start a flower-selling business, with the support of her new friends, Irish siblings Bridget and Frank, as well as trusted dockworker Abraham.But as her father's drinking habit gets worse, and her siblings grow weaker, Delilah must ask whether she can really forge a better life for her family before it's too late?Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR JUDY SUMMERS: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... The characters are well drawn and believable' Lyn Andrews. 'Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read' -- Mollie Walton

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Book SynopsisJack Sheffield grew up in the tough environment of Gipton Estate, in North East Leeds. After a job as a 'pitch boy', repairing roofs, he became a Corona Pop man before going to St John's College, York, and training to be a teacher. In the late seventies and eighties, he was a headteacher of two schools in North Yorkshire before becoming Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at Bretton Hall College of the University of Leeds. It was at this time he began to record his many amusing stories of village life as portrayed in Teacher, Teacher!, Mister Teacher, Dear Teacher, Village Teacher, Please Sir!, Educating Jack, School's Out!, Silent Night, Star Teacher, Happiest Days, Starting Over, Changing Times, Back to School and School Days. He lives in Hampshire.

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Book SynopsisAn eerie tale of young girls’ obsession and what happens when it grows out of hand, perfect for fans of dark academia, The Secret History and Picnic at Hanging Rock. 1864. Banished from her parents’ farm to a boarding school for young ladies, Ivy feels utterly alone. In a crumbling and isolated seminary that has seen better days, she is shunned by the other pupils for her working-class origins, and mourns for her sister, who died not long after she was sent away. Hope comes in the form of a new teacher, Miss Emily White, but almost immediately, suspicions are raised that she is not all she should be. Ivy is captivated, yet as her devotion grows, odd reports begin to circulate that Miss White has been glimpsed in the garden picking flowers whilst also teaching a class, leaving the school but stalking the halls at the same time. As increasingly strange rumours abound, Ivy’s obsession spins out of control, and with Emily White’s future at stake, she will do anything to keep her only friend.

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Book SynopsisD. V. Bishop is the pseudonym of award-winning writer David Bishop. His love for the city of Florence and the Renaissance period meant there could be only one setting for his historical thrillers. The first Cesare Aldo novel, City of Vengeance, won the Pitch Perfect competition at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival and the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction Book. Book two in the series, The Darkest Sin, won the prestigious Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger. He teaches creative writing at Edinburgh Napier University. A Divine Fury is the fourth Cesare Aldo mystery, preceded by City of Vengeance, The Darkest Sin and Ritual of Fire.

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Book SynopsisKate Morton’s heartbreaking novel, The Secret Keeper, is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love, moving between the 1930s, the 1960s and the 2010s.1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree-house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in war-time London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

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Book SynopsisAmid the Jacobite uprising of 1715, an English heiress flees to the Scottish lowlands to stay with allies of her powerful family. But while castle walls may protect her from the enemy outside, a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting allegiances, and temptations of the heart lie within.

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Book SynopsisEve has spent all of her days in the Garden, exploring with Adam and walking with their Creator--until the day everything changes. Suddenly she faces darkness she has never before experienced. How will she find the courage to face the unknown future and trust in the promises God has given?

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Book SynopsisIn this action-packed new Bernicia Chronicles adventure from Matthew Harffy, Beobrand finds himself in a dangerous foreign land, caught between warring factions of royalty and the Church. AD 652. Beobrand has been ordered to lead a group of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome. Chief among them is Wilfrid, a novice of the church with some surprisingly important connections. Taking only Cynan and some of his best men, Beobrand hopes to make the journey through Frankia quickly and return to Northumbria without delay, though the road is long and perilous. But where Beobrand treads, menace is never far behind. The lands of the Merovingian kings are rife with intrigue. The queen of Frankia is unpopular and her ambitious schemes, though benevolent, have made her powerful enemies. Soon Wilfrid, and Beobrand, are caught up in sinister plots against the royal house. After interrupting a brutal ambush in a forest, Beobrand and his trusted gesithas find their lives on the line. Dark forces will stop at nothing to seize control of the Frankish throne, and Beobrand is thrown into a deadly race for survival through foreign lands where he cannot be sure who is friend and who is foe. The only certainty is that if he is to save his men, thwart the plots, and unmask his enemies, blood will flow. Reviews for Matthew Harffy 'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron 'He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown.' Jemahl Evans 'A genuinely superb novel.' Steven McKay 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow.' David GilmanTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR MATTHEW HARFFY 'Harffy's writing just gets better and better... He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans. 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald. 'Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson. 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman

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Book SynopsisA 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 atTrade ReviewPraise for The Second Life of Mirielle West"Scrupulous in her research and practically clairvoyant in her choice of urgent subjects – from the Indigenous boarding schools of her first novel to the disease and quarantine of The Second Life of Mirielle West – historical novelist Amanda Skenandore has quietly become one of the valley's finest authors."–The Las Vegas Review Journal "Despite being a fictional work, in her book The Second Life of Mirielle West Amanda Skenandore has used her medical background as a registered nurse–and her storytelling skills as a writer–to describe the sorrows experienced by patients with leprosy who were quarantined at the Carville Leper Home, a hospital in Louisiana that used to provide quarantine and treatment services for leprosy in the USA throughout the 20th century."–The Lancet

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Book SynopsisIf you're a fan of The Crown, Bridgerton and Downton Abbey that this book will not disappoint. This book will have you gasp, laugh and cry. Not one to be missed!' NetGalley reviewer, ????? A young Queen. Two sisters. A voyage that will change their fates forever.

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Book SynopsisFascinating' ChoiceThis well-researched novel draws you straight into the heart of this engaging story' My Weekly'A stunning evocative novel I was completely captivated' Clare Marchant, author of The Queen's SpyCan she tread a dangerous line between love and duty?Raven-haired and fiercely independent, Joan Guildford has always remained true to herself. As lady-in-waiting and confidante to Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII, Joan understands royal patronage is vital if she and her husband, Sir Richard, are to thrive in the volatile atmosphere of court life.But Tudor England is in mourning following the death of the Prince of Wales, and within a year, the queen herself. With Prince Henry now heir to the throne, the court murmurs with the sound of conspiracy. Is the entire Tudor project now at stake or can young Henry secure the dynasty?Drawn into the heart of the crisis, Joan's own life is in turmoil, and her future far from secure. She faces a stark choice be true to her heart and riskTrade Review Praise for The Queen’s Lady: ‘A stunning evocative novel which weaves together the personal and the political, immersing the reader in vivid historical detail. I was completely captivated.’ Clare Marchant, author of The Queen’s Spy ‘Fascinating’ Choice ‘This well-researched novel draws you straight into the heart of this engaging story’ My Weekly Praise for Joanna Hickson: ‘An intriguing tale, told with confidence’ The Times ‘A great tale… the golden thread that led to the crown of England’ Conn Iggulden ‘Bewitching … the characters and the narrative work seamlessly together.’ Woman & Home ‘Evocative … well-researched’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Excellent’ Carol McGrath author of The Handfasted Wife ‘A great book… loving it!’ Joanna Courtney, author of The Chosen Queen ‘Rich and Warm’ Sunday Express 'Colourful and vivid' Elizabeth Chadwick ‘A big-hearted and engrossing novel.’ Elizabeth Freemantle ‘Thoroughly engrossing’ The Lady A gripping and emotional story’ Woman ‘I couldn’t have been more riveted’ For Winter Nights blog 'Well written, well researched and utterly captivating' 5*Netgalley review 'I found it very difficult to put down' 5*Netgalley review 'A most enjoyable read' 5*Netgalley review

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER ? From the Pulitzer Prize?winning author ofMy Name is Lucy BartonandOlive Kitteridgecomes a?poised and moving? (Vogue) novel about a divorced couple stuck together during lockdown?and the love, loss, despair, and hope that animate us even as the world seems to be falling apart.?Strout?sunderstanding of the human condition is capacious.??NPRA BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Time, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, PopSugar, She ReadsWith her trademark spare, crystalline prose?a voice infused with ?intimate, fragile, desperate humanness? (The Washington Post)?Elizabeth Strout turns her exquisitely tuned eye to the inner workings of the human heart, following the indomitable heroine of My Name Is Lucy Barton through the early days of the pandemic.As a panicked world goes into lockdown, Lucy Barton is uprooted from her life in Manhattan and bundled away to a small town in Maine by her ex-husband and on-again, off-again friend, William. For the next several months, it?s just Lucy, William, and their complex past together in a little house nestled against the moody, swirling sea.Rich with empathy and emotion, Lucy by the Sea vividly captures the fear and struggles that come with isolation, as well as the hope, peace, and possibilities that those long, quiet days can inspire. At the heart of this story are the deep human connections that unite us even when we?re apart?the pain of a beloved daughter?s suffering, the emptiness that comes from the death of a loved one, the promise of a new friendship, and the comfort of an old, enduring love.Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize

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