Historical Fiction Books

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Book Synopsis'Cleverly constructed [. . .] psychologically astute and written with flair.' - The Sunday Times'A compelling, almost hypnotic read' - Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of None of This is True'Bright Young Women is Jessica Knoll at her best: an unflinching and evocative novel' - Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told MeJanuary 1978. Tallahassee. When sorority president Pamela Schumacher is startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she’s shocked to encounter a scene of implausible violence – two of her friends dead and two others, maimed. Thrust into a terrifying mystery, Pamela becomes entangled in a crime that captivates public interest for more than four decades . . .On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. When Ruth, her best friend, goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her.When Tina hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she suspects the same man the papers refer to is responsible. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela – and one last impending tragedy.From the author of the New York Times bestseller and #1 Netflix movie Luckiest Girl Alive comes Jessica Knoll's extraordinary novel inspired by the real-life sorority targeted by America's first celebrity serial killer in his final murderous spree.Praise for Bright Young Women:'This book is extraordinary' - Catherine Ryan-Howard, author of Run Time'Writing with pulse-pounding tension and urgency, Knoll expertly conjures an atmosphere of dread and anxiety . . . An utterly absorbing, disturbing, and absolutely essential read.' - Booklist, Starred ReviewTrade ReviewJessica Knoll is a careful writer, and this, her third novel, is a perfect match for her cold dissection of social mores and her fierce rage at misogyny. Knoll takes on the story of Ted Bundy, told from the perspective of a student who survives a horrific attack on a sorority house . . . Some may claim that the crime genre is rift with misogyny; those people have not read Jessica Knoll. She tears apart the restrictive world of women’s roles and lays bare the purpose of such hobbles: to keep women from making a scene, to keep them from seeking justice, and most of all, to keep them from seeking their own lives * CrimeReads/LitHub, Most Anticipated Books of 2023 *Bright Young Women is a fearless and intoxicating ride into the aftershocks of a series of brutal murders. Knoll explores in vivid, pointillist prose the effects on the ‘bright young women’ of the title, both the victims snuffed out in their glorious prime, and those left behind in their wake. It’s a compelling, almost hypnotic read and I loved it with a passion -- Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of None of This Is TrueA captivating read * Woman *Knoll sets about dismantling every last Bundy myth with a controlled but palpable rage. I already loved how she writes, but this book is extraordinary. Genuinely can’t remember the last time a novel moved me so much. Don't miss it -- Catherine Ryan Howard, author of Run TimeBright Young Women is Jessica Knoll at her best: an unflinching and evocative novel about the tabloid fascination with evil and the dynamic and brilliant women who have the real story to tell -- Laura Dave, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told MeBlistering and powerful, Bright Young Women is an almost unbearably vivid story of sisterhood and survival. With razor-sharp skill, Jessica Knoll deconstructs the myth of a criminal mastermind, revealing the women he seeks to destroy as the truly brilliant ones -- Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Northern Spy and Under the Harrow[A] huge summer read . . . one of those great stories that you can't put down! -- Reese Witherspoon, InStyle on Luckiest Girl AliveKnife-sharp and enthralling -- Megan Abbott, author of The Turnout on The Favourite SisterWriting with pulse-pounding tension and urgency, Knoll expertly conjures an atmosphere of dread and anxiety while paying tribute to all the bright young women whose lives are cut short or for ever changed by craven actions of sociopaths. An utterly absorbing, disturbing and absolutely essential read * Booklist, starred review *An unsettling and thrilling page-turner . . . Knoll’s haunting, must-read account will captivate [readers] until the end * Library Journal (Starred) *A stunning, engaging subversion of the Bundy myth – and the true-crime genre * Kirkus Reviews (Starred) *Brilliant . . . writing with pulse-pounding tension and urgency, Knoll expertly conjures an atmosphere of dread and anxiety while paying tribute to all the bright young women whose lives are cut short or forever changed by the craven actions of sociopaths. An utterly absorbing, disturbing and absolutely essential read * Booklist (Starred) *Stunning . . . by focusing on the women affected by her Ted Bundy stand-in instead of the nuances of his criminal psychology, Knoll movingly reframes an American obsession without stripping it of its intrigue. The results are masterful * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2021One family. One promise. One chance to tell a new story.'A moving, brilliantly told family epic' Elizabeth DayTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLEROn a farm outside Pretoria, the Swarts are gathering for Ma's funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stand for - not least their treatment of the Black woman who has worked for them her whole life. Salome was to be given her own house, her own land...yet somehow, that vow is carefully ignored.As each decade passes, and the family assemble again, one question hovers over them. Can you ever escape the repercussions of a broken promise?'A tour de force... A spectacular demonstration of how the novel can make us see and think afresh' Booker Judges, 2021'Astonishing' Colm Tóibín'Utterly compelling' Patrick GaleTrade ReviewA superb novel; a nuanced, sad, hilarious portrait of a family and a country -- PAULA HAWKINSThis story was so powerful, the writing so strong and supple... What an achievement -- CLARE CHAMBERSA moving, brilliantly told family epic . . . darkly comic . . . phenomenally good -- ELIZABETH DAYLayered, clever...with a gripping story -- CLAIRE FULLER * Daily Mail, Books of the Year *A brilliant book told over four decades and four funerals . . . These are characters dancing on the edge of ruin . . . Intoxicating -- ANNA HOPEAstonishing . . . about fate and loss, about three siblings and land, a promise made a broken -- COLM TOIBINA remarkable tale of four generations of one South African family and of the country itself... No wonder it won the Booker * Observer, Books of the Year *Vivid and suggestive, moving and often very funny * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *Outstanding . . . Gripping . . . There is also plenty of unexpected comedy * BBC News *Brilliant... Rarely have I had such a strong sense, while reading a novel, that I myself was there, in the room with the characters * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisKaren Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany's, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.Her historical series called The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the Goldsmiths Prize 2023** **Shortlisted for the Winston Graham Historical Prize** **Chosen as a book of the year 2023 by The Times, Guardian, Telegraph and New Statesman** ‘An epic the north has long deserved’ FINANCIAL TIMES ‘A sensational piece of storytelling … A singular and significant achievement’ GUARDIAN ‘Marvellous, artful, enchanted’ DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Cements Myers’s standing as one of our finest, and most deftly imaginative, writers' I NEWS The triumphant new novel from the Walter Scott Prize-winning author of The Gallows Pole and The Offing Cuddy is a bold and experimental retelling of the story of the hermit St. Cuthbert, unofficial patron saint of the North of England. Incorporating poetry, prose, play, diary and real historical accounts to create a novel like no other, Cuddy straddles historical eras - from the first Christian-slaying Viking invaders of the holy island of Lindisfarne in the 8th century to a contemporary England defined by class and austerity. Along the way we meet brewers and masons, archers and academics, monks and labourers, their visionary voices and stories echoing through their ancestors and down the ages. And all the while at the centre sits Durham Cathedral and the lives of those who live and work around this place of pilgrimage – their dreams, desires, connections and communities.Trade ReviewIt’s been a while since I’ve reacted as emotionally to a novel ... An epic the north has long deserved: ambitious, dreamy, earthy, dark, welcoming and not ... There are readers like me who will not just enjoy this book but feel deeply grateful for its existence * FINANCIAL TIMES *A millennium-spanning polyphonic flight through history ... Myers creates characters and voices so absorbing that when the timeline jumps forward you are reluctant to leave them, only for the next protagonist to become the centre of your world until it is time to move on again. A phenomenal achievement, Cuddy is by some distance my novel of 2023 * NEW EUROPEAN *A visionary epic which covers a millennium of English history and employs poetry and prose, playscript and pastiche to trace the story of St Cuthbert, the building of Durham Cathedral and the contemporary northern landscape * GUARDIAN, Best books of the year *This bold, experimental novel, which uses poetry as much as prose, won this year’s Goldsmiths prize * THE TIMES, Books of the Year *A polyphonic hymn to a very specific landscape and its people. At the same time, it deepens his standing as an arresting chronicler of a broader, more mysterious seam of ancient folklore that unites the history of these isles as it’s rarely taught * OBSERVER *A visionary epic which covers a millennium of English history and employs poetry and prose, playscript and pastiche to trace the story of St Cuthbert, the building of Durham Cathedral and the contemporary northern landscape. * GUARDIAN, Books of the Year 2023 *A genre-blending, millennia-straddling history ... A bold story about faith and nationhood that upends preconceptions of the ’’historical novel” * NEW STATESMAN, Books of the Year *Myers’ playful, form- and genre-bending tale about St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne ... The author is known for his grasp of language and elegiac take on history and the natural world – all of which are put to excellent use in a novel that spans poetry, prose, historical accounts and more * MARIE CLAIRE, The best books of 2023 *A dizzyingly inventive retelling of St Cuthbert’s life * TELEGRAPH, Books of the Year *Myers is maturing into a serious writer rather than just a sombre one. Cuddy is an ambitious and accomplished novel that shows it’s not — necessarily — grim up north * THE TIMES *A bold novel that whirls us through a dizzying range of poetic and prosaic styles * Daily Telegraph, The 75 best books for summer 2023 *One of the best books I have ever read, easily top 5 status … Innovative, clever, engaging and fresh – and my book of the year * NEW WRITING NORTH, What we're reading 2023 *There’s much to enjoy in the novel’s linguistic beauty ... Cuddy explores the endurance of goodness and grace * SPECTATOR *A sensational piece of storytelling … The symbiosis of poetry and story, of knowledge and deep love, marks out Cuddy as a singular and significant achievement * GUARDIAN *Five atmospheric episodes – and an interlude – illustrate the mystical hold that Cuthbert has exerted over the north * STRONG WORDS, Books of the Year *Mesmerising, lyrical ... Stands in a genre of its own ... Serves as a reminder that we are but custodians of a world we inherited. Cuddy cements Myers’s standing as one of our finest, and most deftly imaginative, writers * I NEWS *Myers traces … the manifold threads of history to remarkable effect * IRISH TIMES *The cathedral is a wonder … in its elegance and grotesquery, its shimmering and its solidity, Myers captures it accurately. Indeed, that could be a description of his book * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *As a work of literature and as a tribute to a man and his region, it will endure * INDEPENDENT.CO.UK *Marvellous, artful, enchanted ... With power and pathos, this novel follows the cult of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne from the 7th century to the present day * DAILY TELEGRAPH *One of the best books I have ever read -- TESS DENMAN-CLEAVERBrave, bold and brilliantly alive, Cuddy calls forth the voices and the places of the north in a kaleidoscopic portrait through time. Myers at his best: dark, sharp, earthy and superbly funny. Cuddy isn’t a novel, it’s an invocation -- ROB COWEN, author of Common GroundSpare, poetic, haunting, tenderly observed ... Myers is a natural storyteller ... [with] a poetic sensibility, and as a writer he enjoys the snap and crunch of words, and the way they can summon an atmosphere * PROSPECT *A wonder ... An accomplished and very moving novel * SCOTSMAN *Incorporates poetry, prose, play, diary and real historical accounts to create a novel like no other * NORTHERN LIFE *Myers employs competing voices and different literary styles to pull together an ephemeral yet somehow tangible narrative that is both sweeping in its history and arresting in its style * YORKSHIRE LIFE *Myers chisels a cohesive and engaging portrait of a place laden with history * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *An absorbingly beautiful book ... There aren't many writers as attuned to the present state of this country and the history and landscape that made it as Myers, who succeeds repeatedly in harnessing time with compassion, kindness and a rare gift for finding the right voice for the right people in the right era * NEW EUROPEAN *Cuddy is a work of art. Ben Myers has pulled off a kind of magic trick ... Daring, expansive and deeply satisfying, Cuddy is a truly original piece of writing which weaves a special kind of magic. I was left completely spellbound. I loved every minute of this dazzling and deeply original novel -- CLOVER STROUD, author of The Red of My BloodOnce again Ben Myers has built another time machine in words and I thoroughly enjoyed being humped around early medieval northern England alongside St Cuthbert's holy corpse via centuries of fisticuffs and up Durham Cathedrals tower to a sensitive take on issues of our own time. Most of all I appreciated how Myers explores faith and belief without the usual eyeroll and cynicism of our excessively secular age – I feel St Cuthbert's monks and masons looking down through history with a certain sense of pride -- LUKE TURNER, author of Out of the WoodsCuddy is another milestone marking Myers’ versatility as a writer * BUZZ *Rich, rewarding, dark and comic, Cuddy is, like that cathedral, a magnificent construction * BUZZMAG *To be able to move from the Dark Ages, to the Middle Ages, to the Victorian Era to Modern Times and so ably capture the zeitgeist of each is a rare feat of imagination -- GABRIELLE DRAKEPraise for Benjamin Myers: A writer of extraordinary and incandescent talent -- ALEX PRESTONA genre-melding experimental novel * GUARDIAN, Best Books of 2023 *Here is a strong, spiritual writer who sees and loves every dewdrop, old oak, soft little animal and buried sword, and offers them up to us like the precious treasures they are * THE TIMES *No one writes about the atmosphere, beauty and brutality of the English countryside better than Benjamin Myers. And it's hard to think of many people who can write with such attentiveness, tenderness and force about the importance of human connection and the redemptive power of art -- WENDY ERSKINEOne of the most interesting, restless writers of his generation * DAILY MAIL *No one writes about the atmosphere, beauty and brutality of the English countryside better than Ben Myers. And it's hard to think of many people who can write with with such attentiveness, tenderness and force about the importance of human connection and the redemptive power of art -- WENDY ERSKINEShot through with a romantic, even mystical radicalism of the kind that William Blake would have approved of * DAILY TELEGRAPH *What a radical thing, these days, to have written a book so full of warmth and kindness ... Gorgeous -- MAX PORTERBenjamin Myers is fast making the contested boundary between history and folklore his own -- JOHN MITCHINSONA powerful new voice * GUARDIAN *Book by book, over the past decade, Ben Myers has proved himself to be one of the most singular, moving and crucial voices of our times -- DAVID PEACEA draft of cool, clear water ... He’s such a good and brave writer * MONOCLE *Benjamin Myers is fast making the contested boundary between history and folklore his own -- JOHN MITCHINSONPowerful and moving * LITERARY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisIn 1914, a room full of German schoolboys, fresh-faced and idealistic, are goaded by their schoolmaster to troop off to the 'glorious war'. With the fire and patriotism of youth, they sign up. What follows is the story of a young 'unknown soldier' experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches.Trade ReviewRemarque's evocation of the horrors of modern warfare has lost none of its force * The Times *Remarque is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank * New York Times Book Review *There are some books that should be read by every generation... Remarque's story of German trench soldiers of the 1914-18 war gains even more authority in the context of the loss of life in wars that still rageBrian Murdoch's new English translation shows that Remarque's evocation of the horrors of modern warfare has lost none of its force * The Times *The book conquers without persuading, it shakes you without exaggerating, a perfect work of art and at the same time truth that cannot by doubted

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Book SynopsisChristmas with the Teashop Girls is a heartwarming and moving story of wartime love, bravery and hope, by the bestselling author of the Woolworths series, Elaine Everest.It is late 1940 and the war feels closer to home than ever for Rose Neville and her staff at the Lyon’s Teashop in Margate. The worry of rationing hangs overhead as the Nippies do their best to provide a happy smile and a hot cup of tea for their customers. When a heavy bombing raid targets the Kent coastline, Lyon’s is badly hit, throwing the future of the cafe into jeopardy.The light in Rose’s life is her dashing fiancé Capt. Ben Hargreaves and planning their Christmas Eve wedding. But she must also plan to take two new step-daughters into her life and get on the right side of her wealthy mother-in-law, Lady Diana. Is Rose ready to become a mother so soon? When Rose’s half-sister Eileen makes contact, it seems that Rose’s dreams of having a sibling are coming true at long last. But her friends begin to suspect that something is not right between Eileen and her husband: just what are they hiding?As the Christmas Eve wedding draws near, the bombings intensify in Kent and London, putting everything and everyone Rose loves in danger. Only one thing is for sure: it will be a Christmas she never forgets . . .

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Book SynopsisRobert Harris is the author of fifteen bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy - Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator - Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep, V2 and Act of Oblivion. His work has been translated into forty languages and nine of his books have been adapted for cinema and television. He lives in West Berkshire with his wife, Gill Hornby.Trade ReviewThe fact that this novel is seriously riveting is a testament to Robert Harris's storytelling power; he conjures knuckle-blanching suspense from a very well-known piece of history. * The Times *Harris’ retelling of the Dreyfus case is as taut and exciting as anything by Forsyth or Follet. * Guardian *Menace and suspense twist tight in a narrative of tremendous tension. * Sunday Times *Superb . . . Harris demonstrates his unique ability to recreate historical events and turn them into spellbinding thriller . . . Written with scalpel-like precision and the elegance we expect of Harris, there is a passion here that justifies calling it a masterpiece. * Daily Mail *A brilliant retelling of a scandal that became one of the most famous miscarriages of justice . . . the most gripping book I've read this year. * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''A stone-cold Cold War classic'' Toby Litt, GuardianA high-ranking scientist has been kidnapped. A secret British intelligence agency must find out why. But as the quarry is pursued from grimy Soho to the other side of the world, what seemed a straightforward mission turns into something far more sinister. With its sardonic, cool, working-class hero, Len Deighton''s sensational debut The IPCRESS File rewrote the spy thriller and became the defining novel of 1960''s London.''Changed the shape of the espionage thriller ... there is an infectious energy about this book which makes it a joy to read'' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewThey don't, as they say, write them like this anymore. You will be entertained, informed, thrilled and dazzled. Long may he, and his creations, live on. -- Jeremy Duns * The Guardian *Len Deighton's spy novels are so good they make me sad the Cold War is over. -- Malcolm GladwellDeighton's fiction has stood the test of time. His habitually acerbic narrative voice still has much to say to contemporary readers ... Now a fresh generation have the chance to sample Deighton's wares as Penguin republishes many of his books. -- Vanessa Thorpe * The Observer *The Ipcress File helped change the shape of the espionage thriller ... the prose is still as crisp and fresh as ever ... there is an infectious energy about this book which makes it a joy to read, or re-read. * Daily Telegraph *The self-conscious cool of Deighton's writing has dated in the best way possible ... stone-cold Cold War classic. -- Toby Litt * The Guardian *To read it today is like taking a ride in a time machine, so accurate and astute are its evocations of its era ... Deighton knows how to pinch the ephemera that stick in our souls ... Never not a joy to read. It is also a book that changed the way we see the world. -- Peter Millar * The Times *The IPCRESS File has lost none of its nerve-tingling fascination ... [and] the pleasure of engaging with a master of his craft. -- Barry Turner * Daily Mail *A wonderful mixture of the exciting and the amusingly humdrum ... James Bond may be thinner, but so is his dialogue. -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *Deighton is a fearless observer of the deceptive human world. -- John Gray * New Statesman *A dazzling performance. The verve and energy, the rattle of wit in the dialogue, the side-of-the-mouth comments, the evident pleasure taken in cocking a snook at the British spy story's upper-middle-class tradition - all these made it clear that a writer of remarkable talent in this field had appeared. -- Julian Symons * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisLawrence Hill was born in Ontario, Canada of a black father and a white mother. He is the author of a memoir, Black Berry, Sweet Juice, a work of non-fiction, The Deserter's Tale, and two other novels. His third novel, The Book of Negroes (published in the US as Somebody Knows My Name) was a no.1 bestseller in Canada, and won the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book.Trade ReviewHill's novel is a beautiful, compelling artifice, spun from unspeakably savage facts.... a fiction that faces the terrible truth about slavery * The Times *A colossal achievement... heartrending yet inspiring * Independent on Sunday *The ebb and flow of Aminata's fortunes is gripping stuff, with the horrors inflicted upon her and her people brought to life almost matter-of-factly - and all the more enraging for that * Daily Mail *Richly meticulous recreation of late 18th century slave life... in its grand historical sweep, The Book of Negroes succeeds admirably in giving voice to a captive people who were for so long kept mute -- Stephen Amidon * The Sunday Times *Wears its thorough research lightly... fitting that this ambitious revision of slave narratives should have won the overall Commonwealth Writers' Prize in the year that the American electorate demolished one of its most persistent categories of exclusion * Independent *

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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 Synopsis''The classic and gripping spy novel of Cold War Berlin'' Guardian1963 Berlin is dark and dangerous. The anonymous hero of The IPCRESS File has been sent to help arrange the defection - in an elaborate mock coffin - of a leading Soviet scientist. But, as he soon discovers, this deception hides an even deadlier truth. One of the first novels written after the construction of the Berlin Wall, Funeral in Berlin revels in the murky, chilling atmosphere of a divided city. ''A ferociously cool fable'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewA ferociously cool fable. * New York Times *A most impressive book in which the tension, more like a chronic ache than a sharp stab of pain, never lets go. * Evening Standard *Deighton's fiction has stood the test of time. His habitually acerbic narrative voice still has much to say to contemporary readers ... Now a fresh generation have the chance to sample Deighton's wares as Penguin republishes many of his books. -- Vanessa Thorpe * The Observer *Like lying back in a hot bath with a large malt whisky - absolute bliss. * Sunday Telegraph *Len Deighton's spy novels are so good they make me sad the Cold War is over. -- Malcolm GladwellLen Deighton is the Flaubert of the contemporary thriller writers. -- Michael Howard * Times Literary Supplement *The self-conscious cool of Deighton's writing has dated in the best way possible ... Stone-cold Cold War classic. -- Toby Litt * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAs the head of the aristocratic family, Don Fabrizio is accustomed to knowing his own place in the world and expects his household to run accordingly. He is aware of the changes which are rapidly making men obsolete but he remains attached to the old ways. But Don Fabrizio will make few accommodations for the modern world.Trade ReviewThere is a great feeling of opulence, decay, love and death about itEvery once in a while, like certain golden moments of happiness, infinitely memorable, one stumbles on a book or a writer, and the impact is like an indelible mark. Lampedusa's The Leopard, his only novel, and a masterpiece, is such a work * Independent *Perhaps the greatest novel of the centuryOne of the great lonely books...not a historical novel, but a novel which happens to take place in historyThe poetry of Lampedusa's novel flows into the Sicilian countryside...a work of great artistry

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Book SynopsisWith her tousled blond hair and upturned nose, dark glasses and chic black dresses, she is top notch in style and a sensation wherever she goes. He brownstone apartment vibrates with Martini-soaked parties as she plays hostess to millionaires and gangsters alike. Yet Holly never loses sight of her ultimate goal - to find a real life place like Tiffany's that makes her feel at home. Immortalized in a film starring Audrey Hepburn, Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's is full of sharp wit and in its exuberant cast of characters vividly captures the restless, madcap era of early 1940s New York. This edition also contains three stories: 'House of Flowers', 'A Diamond Guitar' and 'A Christmas Memory'.

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Book SynopsisWilliam Wordsworth - A Conflict Of Love, the latest novel from Wendy Bardsley, sees the young poet, aged just twenty-one, travel to France in 1789 as the revolution begins to rage. Drawn there by his urge to explore, to learn and to write, he unexpectedly falls in love.Trade ReviewPraise for The Passions of Mary Wollstonecraft: ‘Eloquent and highly readable, a fascinating novel on an eternal theme – the destructive power of sexual love: how reason and emotion, thought and feeling, have always been at war in female lives.’ FAY WELDON

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Book SynopsisThis new novel by Wendy Louise Bardsley may shock the reader with its powerful description of suffering but the human side of love unrequited adds tenderness to a story brilliantly told.

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Book SynopsisA heartfelt wartime saga from bestseller Rosie Clarke continues the Trenwith SeriesCaught between enemy lines can they survive?1914, HampshireJack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he'll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny. Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war. But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safeWhat chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?If you love this, have you tried Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane, Blackberry Farm, Dressmakers Alley and Harper's series?Previously Published as Love and War by Linda SolePraise for The Trenwith Series:'Rosie Clarke has written another quality historical fiction novel, she is an author whose books I will always want to read' - Beyond The Books'Rosie Clark is such a brilliant writer. It takes no time at all to imagine the characters and surroundings and be totally immersed. If only there were 2 of you and you could write twice as many' - Reader Review'Superb histoircal fiction - I am a huge fan of Rosie Clarke and her work. I can honestly say that there is not one single book of hers that I haven't enjoyed' - Ginger Book Geek'Lovely book to read, I didn't want to put it down.' - Reader Review'Brilliant book, absolutely compelling. Love Rosie Clarke's books and this is no exception. Beautifully written and difficult to put down' - Reader Review'Count on Rosie Clarke to take you away from all the craziness in the world right now and give you a lovely story with a happy ending. I wish the next book in this trilogy was ready to be released!' - Reader Review

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Book SynopsisSet amid the decadence of Victorian England, A Dangerous Fortune tells of the dramatic highs and lows of the wealthy Pilaster family in Victorian England, from the author of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.A Tragic Accident1866: at an exclusive school, a student drowns in a mysterious accident. His death and its aftermath will have repercussions for decades to come . . .A Fierce RivalryThere on that fateful day were Hugh Pilaster and his older cousin Edward, heirs of a powerful banking dynasty with connections that reach from London to far-afield colonies.A Lethal SecretThe cousins find themselves locked in a vicious competition for the top job at the bank. But the respectable veneer of the family, and even Victorian England itself, looks to shatter as the deadly event from their schooldays threatens everything the Pilasters have built.'A compulsively readable, enjoyable thriller-cum-saga' – Sunday Times'Banks, brothels, and a high body count . . . it's all there' – Financial TimesTrade ReviewBanks, brothels, and a high body count . . . it's all there * Financial Times *A compulsively readable, enjoyable thriller-cum-saga * Sunday Times *A full-blooded melodrama, complete with moustache-twirling villains, saintly heroes, wronged women, and a lot of plot * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThough little more than a settlement surrounded by mountains, Macondo has its wars and disasters, even its wonders and miracles. A microcosm of Columbian life, its secrets lie hidden, encoded in a book and only Aureliano Buendia can fathom its mysteries and reveal its shrouded destiny.Trade ReviewGetting lost and succumbing to the mastery of Gabriel García Márquez's storytelling is all part of the joy of this epic tale ... This incredible novel put me under a spell -- Dua Lipa

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Book Synopsis'A small masterpiece' Colm Toibin, Daily Telegraph'I don't know how many times I have reread the book, including several times in Catalan, with such effort that speaks volumes to my devotion to the novel' Gabriel Garcia Marquez'The fierce beauty of Rodoreda's writing makes it one of the masterpieces of modern European literature' IndependentFirst published in 1962 as 'La Placa del Diamant', this is considered the most important Catalan novel of all time. This is a new English translation. It has previously been published in English as The Time of the Doves.Barcelona, early 1930s: Natalia, a pretty shop-girl from the working-class quarter of Gracia, is hesitant when a stranger asks her to dance at the fiesta in Diamond Square. But Joe is charming and forceful, and she takes his hand.They marry and soon have two children; for Natalia it is an awakening, both good and bad. When Joe decides to breed pigeons, the birds delight his son and daughter - and infuriate his wife. Then the Spanish Civil War erupts, and lays waste to the city and to their simple existence. Natalia remains in Barcelona, struggling to feed her family, while Joe goes to fight the fascists, and one by one his beloved birds fly away.A highly acclaimed classic that has been translated into more twenty-eight languages, In Diamond Square is the moving, vivid and powerful story of a woman caught up in a convulsive period of history.'An extremely moving love story translated from the Catalan, which reveals much about the Spanish civil war as ordinary, non-political people had to live it' Diana Athill'Go along with Natalia on her night out and you'll soon find you'd follow her anywhere. Rodoreda's writing pays such fierce and tender attention to the experience of being alive, and the tempest that ordinary life can be' Helen OyeyemiTrade ReviewI don't know how many times I have reread the book, including several times in Catalan, with such effort that speaks volumes to my devotion to the novel * Gabriel Garcia Marquez *An extremely moving love story translated from the Catalan, which reveals much about the Spanish civil war as ordinary, non-political people had to live it * Diana Athill *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of the The Paris Library returns with a powerful, moving new novel based on the extraordinary true story of Jessie Carson, the American librarian determined to bring books to the children of war-torn France.''This is hands down my book of 2024. A rich, glorious life-affirming ode to the power of books and female solidarity. Simply unforgettable!'' KATE THOMPSON''A wonderful story about the power books have not only to inspire, but also to rescue and restore. The characters are so richly drawn... I absolutely loved it'' RUTH HOGAN------------------------Under what was left of the roof of the ruined cottage, a girl with pigtails perched on a pile of rubble, hunched over a book...1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France, a group of women determined to rebuild devastated French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen - children''s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears.1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. In her obsession, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York''s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.*Published under the title Miss Morgan''s Book Brigade in the US*''An astonishing novel with the beating heart of courageous women who change the world through books. For every reader who was once told to get their head out of the clouds because they read too many books, this one is for you... A moving novel of sacrifice, heroism, and inspired storytelling immersed in the power of books to change our lives'' PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY''Bursting with remarkable characters and filled with heart-in-mouth moments... an enthralling, emotional story rich in historical detail. Janet Skeslien Charles has done real justice to the legacy of these courageous women; this wonderful book is a gift to the reader'' LIESE O''HALLORAN SCHWARZ''Bibliophiles are in for a treat'' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY''I found myself captivated by this eye-opening book and reminder of the good that comes from dedicated hard work. I am grateful to Janet Skeslien Charles for educating me about the remarkable women of CARD'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Goodreads reviewer ''I love books about libraries and books. The fact that this book is actually based off of real people is amazing. This book celebrates the contributions that these women made when they are usually swept under the rug. I loved Jessie so much, and I will be thinking of these brave women for a long time to come'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Goodreads reviewer

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin returns with a story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer of all time and one of the richest men in the world.''An extraordinary, vivid, and skilful re-imagining of a modern Greek legend'' - Victoria HislopIn the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she''s the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she''s found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis i

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA gritty story of two girls from opposite backgrounds and their search for freedom and happiness.1925 - The MidlandsBorn on the canals, feisty Beth Dawson knows danger lurks in the shadows and suspecting she might be pregnant after a vicious attack she quickly marries a fellow boatman.Her mundane existence is interrupted by the arrival of Anthony Wesley whose mission is to organise the impoverished boatmen for strike action. Feeling valued and soon falling for Anthony, Beth wants to help the cause in any way she can.Along the way she is befriended by the company owners rebellious daughter Abigail Gatehouse. She too is in love with Anthony and sensing the attraction between Beth and Anthony, Abigail is overcome with jealousy.Soon both young women are caught up in events that spiral out of control. Only time will tell what the future holds for them both.In the meantime, it’s all about survival...Previously published as Where the Wild Thyme Blows by Jeannie Johnson

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate Rome storyFrom the spectacle of gladiatorial combat to the intrigue of the Senate, from the foreign wars that secure the power of the empire to the betrayals that threaten to tear it apart, this is the remarkable story of the man who would become the greatest Roman of them all: Julius Caesar.In the city of Rome, a titanic power struggle is about to shake the Republic to its core. Citizen will fight citizen in a bloody conflict and Julius Caesar, cutting his teeth in battle, will be in the thick of the action.The first instalment in the bestselling Emperor series.Trade Review‘Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic, historical fiction’ Daily Mirror ‘A brilliant story – I wish I’d written it. A novel of vivid characters, stunning action and unrelenting pace. It really is a terrific read.’BERNARD CORNWELL ‘The descriptions of combat in the circus, slaves in revolt, skirmishes in Greece, amputations and street fighting are all convincing.’TLS ‘A rich and compelling novel that draws the reader into an extraordinary time and the life of an extraordinary man.’DAVID GEMMELL

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Book Synopsis'A powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale set in Depression-era America that makes your heart break and soar in equal measure.' - Matt Haig, author of The Midnight LibraryThe Four Winds, an instant New York Times number one bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, is a deeply moving story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah.‘Powerful and compelling’ – Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingShe will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?From the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds – Elsa’s incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the ones we love.'A story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope. I loved this book so much!' - Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo****What readers LOVE about The Four Winds:‘Everyone should read this book. This is the new American classic’‘It will break your heart and bring you to tears. It will also be one of the best books you read all year!’‘This is historical fiction at its best: compelling, compassionate, enraging and courageous. I absolutely loved this book!’‘Gripping and captivating . . . heartbreaking and inspiring’‘We fall in love with a warrior who finds her power and strength, surrounded by love. Beautiful’‘BRAVO to the author, this is her best work yet’Trade ReviewWow. I have been left with a bursting heart . . . a story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope. I loved this book so much! -- Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of AleppoPowerful and compelling -- Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingA powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale set in Depression-era America that makes your heart break and soar in equal measure. -- Matt Haig, author of Reasons to Stay Alive and The HumansI didn’t just love this book, I became obsessed with it -- Karen Swan on The Great AloneEpic . . . By the end, I was surrounded by snow-drifts of tissues damp with my tears -- Washington Post on The Great AloneGreat characters, great plots, great emotions: who could ask for more in a novel? -- Isabel Allende on The NightingaleMovingly written and plotted with the skill of Greek tragedy. You’ll keep turning the pages until the last racking sob -- Daily Mail on The NightingaleA rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival, as epic as the Alaskan landscape it so vividly describes -- Kate Morton on The Great AloneA real page-turning read. Best book I’ve read all year -- Martina Cole

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Book SynopsisJeffrey Archer's thrilling historical fiction novel, Kane and Abel, is a global phenomenon that has captivated readers worldwide, spawning two sequels and dominating bestseller charts the world over.Two strangers born worlds apart with one destiny that will define them both.William Lowell Kane, the son of a Boston millionaire, and Abel Rosnovski, the son of a penniless Polish immigrant, are born on the same day on opposite sides of the world and brought together by fate and the quest of a dream.Locked in a relentless struggle spanning sixty years and three generations, the two men battle for supremacy in pursuit of an empire, fuelled only by their hatred for the other and the knowledge it will end in triumph for one, and destruction of the other . . .‘If there were a Nobel Prize for storytelling, Archer would win’ - The Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewThe ultimate novel of rivalry -- Dan Brown on Kane and AbelIf there were a Nobel prize for storytelling, Archer would win * Daily Telegraph *Probably the greatest storyteller of our age * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisCormac McCarthy was the author of many acclaimed novels, including Blood Meridian, Child of God and The Passenger. Among his honours are the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His works adapted to film include All the Pretty Horses, The Road and No Country for Old Men the latter film receiving four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture. McCarthy died in 2023 in Santa Fe, NM at the age of 89.Trade ReviewA powerful and talented writer, able to elicit compassion for his protagonist however terrible his action. * Sunday Times *A reading experience so impressive, so "new", so clearly well made that it seems almost to defy the easy aesthetic categories . . . Accomplished in rare, spare, precise yet poetic prose. * New Republic *McCarthy charts the terrible decline of Lester Ballard with passion, tenderness, eloquence, and a humour which, at its best, is attuned perfectly to the bitter wryness of the South. * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless. They think they've killed the last of us... 981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians. Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. Fódla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise... Reviews for The Children of Gods and Fighting Men 'Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect.' SFX 'A novel that celebrates the extraordinary history of Ireland while giving voice to the women who helped shape it. Highly recommended.' Lucy Holland 'An excellent read.' Mark Lawrence 'Highlander meets The Last Kingdom... I was hooked from page one.' Anthony Ryan 'Gripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines.' Anna Smith Spark 'A beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics.' D.K. Fields 'A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary.' Joseph O'Connor 'Rife with atmosphere and armies, magic and compelling characters, it swept me along and refused to be put down.' H.M. Long 'An epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into a sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Absorbing and richly detailed.' Ian Green 'With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both.' Stephen Aryan 'An atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world.' R.J. BarkerTrade ReviewHighlander meets The Last Kingdom as feuding clans of magical undying vie for control of tenth-century Ireland in this assured and captivating debut. Themes of motherhood and conflicted obligation lie at the heart of Shauna Lawless's historical fantasy, explored through the eyes of two powerful women compelled to navigate a land where men hold sway, or think they do. I was hooked from page one -- Anthony RyanAbsolutely luminous... It's a huge, epic, admirable sweep of a novel * Sunday Independent *A compelling and fascinating tale, written with great skill, that draws the reader into a world full of magic, betrayal, warring kings and mythology. With all the complex political machinations of A Song of Ice and Fire and the bloody battles of The Warlord Chronicles, it's ideal for fans of both -- Stephen AryanGripping and beautiful. A Celtic Last Kingdom with wild magic and fierce heroines -- Anna Smith SparkLawless writes historical fiction steeped in fantasy and mythology like Bernard Cornwell, Mary Stewart, and Stephen Lawhead at the top of their games. I don't say this lightly either, I'm aware of the track record and accomplishments of these authors. But I have to say that Lawless more than holds her own among that lofty company. If you are an admirer of those books, you will absolutely love this... Shauna Lawless has loudly and triumphantly announced her presence to the world with this unforgettable debut and first book in the Gael Song series * Out Of This World SFF *Lawless blends fantasy with historical fiction to great effect * SFX *A vividly written story that makes the ancient past feel contemporary -- Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea and ShadowplayI really enjoyed the book. It's an excellent read -- Mark LawrenceA beguiling blend of fantasy, history, and politics... Every turn of the page ratchets up the tension. To read this novel is to fall into a richly imagined web of lives. A gripping start to this series -- D.K. FieldsAn atmospheric journey into a thrilling historical fantasy world that feels like it should be real -- R.J. BarkerAn epic historical fantasy that weaves myth and history into an sprawling tale of magic, intrigue, and war. Through the perspectives of Gormflaith and Fódla we pass through the years at a breakneck speed... Lawless weaves a complex and enticing narrative: there are plots and counterplots, and we move through the years swiftly as these slow plans grow to fruition. The intricacies of life in tenth-century Ireland are lovingly portrayed, from the cultural mix of Vikings, Irish, and English, to the merchant markets full of traders from far off lands. A must-read for those who love Irish mythology and history. An absorbing and richly detailed historical fantasy -- Ian GreenA great debut and an enjoyable read for any fantasy fan * SF Crowsnest *Delivers an intriguing blend of Irish history and folklore fantasy... Quietly excellent * Geek Dad *

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Book Synopsis''Victoria weaves an effortless tale that draws you in and makes you forget the world outside exists. She has the ability to make you step into the pages, to transport you to Thessaloniki as you live the story yourself. She writes in such a beautiful way and her characters have depth and credibility . . . Exceptional'' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Dimitri Komninos is born as fire devastates Thessaloniki, where Christians, Jews and Muslims live side by side. Five years later, Katerina Sarafoglou loses her mother when their home is destroyed by the Turkish army. She flees across the sea, alone, to Thessaloniki. When she and Dimitri meet, their lives entwine with one another - and the city itself - even as war, fear and persecution divide its people. Ninety years later, a young Anglo-Greek hears his grandparents'' life story for the first time. Should he become the custodian of their legacy and make this city his home, keeping aTrade ReviewA sweeping, magnificently detailed and ambitious saga that wrestles with the turbulence of the period Hislop covers . . . All those who loved The Island, her hugely successful first novel, will fall on it * The Sunday Times *Hislop does her research and is very good at interweaving the lives of individuals into the backcloth of great events, giving the reader a history lesson that doesn't feel like one . . . Recommended * Daily Mail *Hislop's fast-paced narrative and utterly convincing sense of place make her novel a rare treat * Guardian *This is storytelling at its best and just like a tapestry, when each thread is sewn into place, so emerge the layers and history of relationships past and present * Sunday Express *Meticulously researched and compellingly told * Woman & Home *Oh what a tangled web she weaves! Hislop has done well to tell a story as diverse and tempestuous as Thessaloniki's with such lightness of touch * Spectator *It's an evocative exploration of the past's hold on a family, with an exquisite love story at its centre * Good Housekeeping *

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Book SynopsisWidowed after fifty years of marriage, Betty has put all thought of romance behind her. Or has she .?Newly widowed after fifty years of marriage, Betty Wilson is determined to remain in the home she has lived in the whole of her married life and retain her independence. Deciding she doesn''t need anyone to look after her, she won''t even accept help from loyal family friend Peter Brown. But it''s not always easy to cope when one is growing older. From errant hedge trimmers to unscrupulous conmen and a car which seems to have a mind of its own, modern life offers unexpected hazards for the unwitting septuagenarian. Will Betty accept the devoted Peter''s help and come to realize what he means to her, before it''s all too late.?

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Book SynopsisBRISTOL 1943 and life for the Tobacco Girls isn’t getting any easier...Bridget Milligan has donned a uniform and joined the nursing services where she becomes intrigued with the miracles of modern medicine. She’s also torn between family loyalty, her new career and Lyndon O’Neill, the love of her life. Is it too impossible to hope that everything will come out right in the end?Phyllis Harvey is still serving in Malta where she sees the casualties of war first hand. Finally it seems like Phyllis is blessed with true in love, but fate can sometimes be a rocky road and nothing is that certain.Maisie Miles is left holding the home front at the tobacco factory but with the sudden death of her grandmother finds herself once more alone in the world. However, thanks to a substantial inheritance, she is able to extend a helping hand to a friend in desperate need.There are tears and laughter, goodbyes and new arrivals along with the hope that new beginnings are not far over the horizon.'A captivating tale of love, friendship, and the strength of feminity. Lizzie Lane effortlessly weaves a web full of passion, heartbreak, and intricate characters, with enough drama to lure you in and keep you stuck to every last page' Epic Book SocietyPraise for Lizzie Lane:'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' Rosie Goodwin'The Tobacco Girls is another heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans.' Jean Fullerton'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of factory girls, redolent with life-affirming friendship, drama, and choices that are as relevant today as they were then.' Catrin Collier'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller

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Book SynopsisBrutal and overwhelming, Confession wrestles with the legacy of Argentina’s past and the passions of one young girl.When Mirta López looks out the dining room window, she sees a slim, self-possessed older boy on his way back from school. It’s 1941 in provincial Argentina, and the sight has awakened in her the first uncertain, unnerving vibrations of desire. Naturally, she confesses. But she cannot stop herself.Over thirty years later, in 1977, that same young man is a general, leading the ruling military junta of a country, and a cell of young revolutionaries plot an audacious attack on him, and the regime.Writing from the present into the past, Martín Kohan maps the contours of Argentina’s 20th century, but finds his centre in one woman – devout, headstrong, lit up with ideas of right and wrong – not the grand historical figures of her lifetime’s omnipresent, brutalizing history. And yet, there is great beauty in Confession , its decades and landscapes, and the legacy of love and guilt, pieties religious and civic, that play out in one family and against the background of dictatorship’s traumas.Trade Review"An expertly structured, morally complicated, and surprisingly timely blend of fact and fiction." —Kirkus"Beguiling." —Publishers Weekly"A wonderful book."" —Fiona Mozley , author of ELMET and HOT STEW"The prose of Argentinian writer Martín Kohan, above all in the most recent books, conveys a clinical precision and cool distance. From one novel to another, however, the effects are different."" —Edmundo Paz Soldán , author of TURING'S DELIRIUM and NORTE"Confession delves into Kohan’s poetics in an agile and determined manner, preserving his affectionate distance from the intimate affairs of his characters, as well as his freedom vis-à-vis militant writing" —Latin American Literature Today"A must-read." —Morning Star"A stupendous novel." —El País"One of Argentina’s greatest living writers." —La gaceta literaria"A fantastic writer whose texts question established ideas." —Letras Libres"Kohan works with tradition and with the Borgesian idea of the traitor and the hero. He chooses three situations and explores them minutely." —La Nación"Kohan’s novel understands and helps to understand; it delimits, records, pursues and reaches the most slippery crevices of history." —Letralia"The end result is a fluid, disturbing novel, one that neither resorts to low blows nor commonplaces when it comes to the military regime and the disappeared, but puts its finger on that concept that still causes unease when spoken aloud: civilian complicity." —La primera piedra"Hypnotic prose. A writer who owns a literary universe and a style all his own; a writer of unquestionable solidity." —El periódico"Martín Kohan is becoming an obligatory name in Argentinian literature." —Pagina/12"With a gift for totally natural dialogue, Kohan writes with an elegant lightness, paying great attention to rhythm. His specialty is the measured, exact word. Impeccable" —El Mundo************Praise for Martín Kohan"The worthy successor of Borges, Sábato and Bioy Casares." —Le Devoir"An expertly structured, morally complicated, and surprisingly timely blend of fact and fiction." —Kirkus"Beguiling." —Publishers Weekly"Hypnotic prose. A writer who owns a literary universe and a style all his own; a writer of unquestionable solidity." —El periódico"A must-read." —Morning Star"A stupendous novel." —El País"One of Argentina’s greatest living writers." —La gaceta literaria"A fantastic writer whose texts question established ideas." —Letras Libres"Kohan works with tradition and with the Borgesian idea of the traitor and the hero. He chooses three situations and explores them minutely." —La Nación"Kohan’s novel understands and helps to understand; it delimits, records, pursues and reaches the most slippery crevices of history." —Letralia"The end result is a fluid, disturbing novel, one that neither resorts to low blows nor commonplaces when it comes to the military regime and the disappeared, but puts its finger on that concept that still causes unease when spoken aloud: civilian complicity." —La primera piedra"Martín Kohan is becoming an obligatory name in Argentinian literature." —Pagina/12************

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Book SynopsisYoung D''Artagnan arrives in Paris to join the King''s elite guards, but almost immediately finds he is duelling with some of the very men he has come to swear allegiance to - Porthos, Athos and Aramis, inseparable friends: the Three Musketeers. Soon part of their close band, D''Artagnan''s loyalty to his new allies puts him in the deadly path of Cardinal Richlieu''s machinations. And when the young hero falls in love with the beautiful but inaccessible Constance, he finds himself in a world of murder, conspiracy and lies, with only the Musketeers to depend on. A stirring nineteenth-century tale of friendship and adventure, The Three Musketeers continues to be one of the most influential and popular pieces of French literature. Richard Pevear''s introduction investigates the controversy of Dumas'' literary collaborators, and how important serialisation was to the book''s success. This edition also includes notes on the text.

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Book SynopsisThe start of a series from bestselling saga author Rosie Clarke.Welcome to Dressmakers' Alley, a twisted place filled with dark and deadly secrets... London's East End 1923In the heart of Dressmakers' Alley, Madame Pauline's sweatshop is rumoured to be a particularly unpleasant place to work. Filled with seamstresses paid a pittance who turn a blind eye to what darker activities are hidden behind locked doors. Young Winnie Brown is keen to prove her value to the Women Movement and secures a job as a seamstress to investigate the whispers of some unsavoury goings on. Her concerns are soon justified when she hears a desperate cry for help. Meanwhile, happily married, Lady Diane Cooper is the darling of London's high-society. Beautiful and talented, she seemingly has it all. But the strict constraints society assigns her leaves her frustrated, she craves more freedom. With the help of her devoted dresser Susie can she realise her dream?What is the connection between Lady Diane's world and the poor exploited young women of Dressmakers' Alley?Can the two worlds come together for the good of all?Missing Mulberry Lane? Read Dressmakers' Alley and you won't be far awayPraise for Rosie Clarke:'Brilliant read. Wonderful characters that draw you into Harpers world. Thoroughly enjoyable.' - Kitty Neale'Rosie Clarke books first class author love every one of her books' - Reader Review'Murder, fraud, sculdugery in the work place, and romance. Who could ask for more' - Reader Review'Great characters and it was a page turner, I will recommend this book to others' - Reader Review'When it comes to writing sagas, Rosie Clarke is up there with some of the best in the business' - Bookish Jottings'Full of drama, romance and secrets ... A perfect example of its genre' - That Thing She Reads'This is wonderful historical fiction that is so character-driven you'll wish these women lived on your street' - Reader Review'Absolutely loved this latest instalment and revisiting the ladies of the Lane. Another great story of love and heartache' - Reader Review

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Book SynopsisA young woman’s journey is beset with trials and tribulations, but will it end in happiness?As war looms in Europe, 18-year-old Jane Shaw, runs her family’s household as an unpaid servant on a meagre budget.When her beloved younger brother dies in suspicious circumstances, Jane as his carer, is forced to take a position in service looking after Ned, a troubled young boy. Here she meets Ned’s Uncle, dashing David Heron, and they form an immediate attachment which will impact Jane’s whole life.Finding themselves orphaned, Jane and her sister Melia are left at the mercy of their domineering Aunt Alice. Struggling to cope with Aunt Alice's exacting wishes Jane decides to strike out on her own and do her bit for King and Country in the Nursing Corp. Here, despite the terrible conditions she finds her one true vocation and one true love.But Jane’s destiny has many more cruel twists and turns to come.Will she ever find her peace and get her happy-ever-after?And where does her destiny lie and with whom?A new saga set during World War One from the well-loved, bestselling Rosie Clarke

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Book SynopsisAlice and Isaac have been close friends since childhood but their paths diverge when they discover they have very different values... Alice Leigh is being prepared for marriage by her mother but has her eyes opened to the injustices faced by girls and women when she gets involved with the charity that runs the House of Help for Friendless Girls, befriending worker Emma Hyde. She has dreams of going to London to continue the fight for women''s rights. But her mother won''t allow it. Meanwhile, Isaac Hinchcliffe is set to take over his adoptive father's steel works when his long-lost mother re-appears after an absence of almost twenty years. Isaac, who has always been troubled by his abandonment, is angry and denounces his mother, but also the life he leads. He gets a job as a warder in a mental asylum. Alice and Isaac are becoming estranged. She thinks he should forgive his mother. He doesn't agree with the women's rights cause. Can the pair ever reconciliate? Or are their differences too big to overcome?

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Book SynopsisKatie Flynn is the pen name of the much-loved writer, Judy Turner, who published over ninety novels in her lifetime. Judy's unique stories were inspired by hearing family recollections of life in Liverpool during the early twentieth century, and her books went on to sell more than eight million copies. Judy passed away in January 2019, aged 82.The legacy of Katie Flynn lives on through her daughter, Holly Flynn, who continues to write under the Katie Flynn name. Holly worked as an assistant to her mother for many years and together they co-authored a number of Katie Flynn novels.Holly lives in the north east of Wales with her husband Simon and their two children. When she's not writing she enjoys walking her two dogs, Sparky and Tara, in the surrounding countryside, and cooking forbidden foods such as pies, cakes and puddings! She looks forward to sharing many more Katie Flynn stories, which she and her mother devised together, with readers in the years to come.

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Book SynopsisThe famous cross-dressing Cantonese opera singer, Chan Kam Foong, passes away, leaving her secret journal to her granddaughter, Xiu Yin, an archival officer at the Singapore National Archives. Xiu Yin reads through the journal that chronicles her grandmother’s relationship with Dearest Intimate in their village in China to their respective escapes to the Nanyang before WWII and her desperate search for Dearest Intimate in Singapore. Her grandmother’s reflections and letters to Dearest Intimate forces Xiu Yin to examine her marriage to an abusive husband and she plucks up the courage to leave him. A surprise encounter with her first love, a rising Cantonese opera singer, brings a period of calm and joy. But when Meng proposes marriage, Xiu Yin backs off and he leaves for Hong Kong. It takes three years of loneliness and letter writing before they reunite again.Trade Review"Singaporean novelist Lim paints an evocative, atmospheric portrait of old Singapore. . . . A fine, deeply felt saga of lives caught up in progress that's as heartbreaking as it is hopeful." --Kirkus Reviews on The River's Song

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club pickThe Sunday Times Bestseller and BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick‘Dark, dramatic and full of danger’ - Daily MailFor readers of Circe and The Handmaid’s Tale, Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Mercies is inspired by real historical events.The storm comes in like a finger snap . . .1617. The sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vardø is thrown into a vicious storm. A young woman, Maren, watches as the men of the island, out fishing, perish in an instant.Vardø is now a place of women . . .Eighteen months later, a sinister figure arrives. Absalom Cornet has been summoned to bring the women of the island to heel. With him travels his young wife, Ursa. In her new home, and in Maren, Ursa encounters something she has never seen before: independent women. But where Ursa finds happiness, even love, Absalom sees only a place flooded with a terrible evil, one he must root out at all costs . . .A story about how suspicion can twist its way through a community, about a love that could prove as dangerous as it is powerful.‘Gripping’ - Madeline Miller, author of Circe‘Took my breath away’ - Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl Earring‘A beautifully intimate story of friendship, love and hope’ - Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain ‘Something rare and beautiful’ - Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel‘Chilling and page-turning’ - The TimesTrade ReviewThe Mercies is among the best novels I’ve read in years. In addition to its beautiful writing, its subject matter is both enduring and timely * New York Times Book Review *A gripping novel . . . [Kiran Millwood Hargrave's] most vital insights are about the human heart: how terrifyingly quickly prejudices can turn into murder, and how desperately we need love and courage to oppose it. Beautiful and chilling -- Madeline Miller, author of CirceThis is a powerful story that gathers ever more momentum as it moves towards its conclusion * Sunday Times *The most interesting historical fiction speaks of the time of writing as much as of its subject . . . The Mercies shows us the patriarchal fear of women's strength and reason -- Sarah Moss, GuardianHistorical fiction fans looking for a Handmaid's Tale-style twist will love this novel . . . A story of danger, love and power - with Big Offred Energy * Cosmopolitan *The Mercies is storytelling at its most masterful. This is an exquisite tale of sisterhood, of love, of courage and of what happens when communities turn on each other . . . I raged, I laughed, I cried. I urge you to read this novel -- Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll FactoryExtraordinary! -- Jo Whiley, BBC Radio Book ClubA book for our times . . . Millwood Hargrave is a whirlwind, storm-building talent -- Daisy Johnson, Man Booker Prize shortlisted author of Everything UnderThe Mercies took my breath away . . . Kiran Millwood Hargrave has masterfully built up an incredible claustrophobic atmosphere, shot through with delicate intimacy. On finishing it I pressed the book to me, hoping to absorb some of her skill -- Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl EarringRead if you like Circe by Madeline Miller and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -- Sunday Times Style, 'Best New Books for 2020'Spun from real-life events, this lyrical novel charts the aftermath of a fatal storm in a 17th century Norwegian fishing village: a town almost exclusively composed of women and girls, and the violent witch-burning newcomer hell-bent on their conversion * Vanity Fair *Based on real events, this is a stunning, intensely told story about sisterhood, superstition and prejudice * Good Housekeeping *The Mercies is a gripping tale of love and obsession, inspired by the real events of a storm on the Norwegian island of Vardø in 1617 that prompted witch trials. Absalom Cornet, the man used to bring the women to submission, is a creepy creation by Millwood, in her debut adult novel * i-news *Elegant and chilling . . . an absorbing account of women finding power and grace and love even under the most harrowing circumstances * USA Today *A dark read filled with suspicion and fear * Psychologies *A mesmerising, heartwrenching novel which had me desperate for the women of Vardø to win through. A perfect book club choice -- AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdPassionate, stirring and conveying a terrifying atmosphere of claustrophobic oppression, Hargrave’s gripping tale of courageous women facing overwhelming odds is helped along no end by the vividness of her bleak island location and her depiction of the dynamics of a God-fearing fishing village as opposing factions struggle for control * The Herald *Kiran Millwood Hargrave illuminates one of the darkest chapters of our history. -- Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange TreeBoth harrowing and beautiful. Through mesmerizing prose, Kiran Millwood Hargrave depicts the brutality of life for women on an isolated island in 1620 Norway during the witch trials. Yet amidst this horror and within the punishing landscape, she creates a set of brilliant characters and a moving love story full of tenderness and hope. This is a book to be savoured and read time and again. -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlAbsolutely stunning. The Mercies is a very special book. -- Louise O'Neill, author of Asking For ItI loved The Mercies. It opened up a completely new chapter of history to me, and I loved the way it told its story in such beautiful language. I won't forget this story of these women in a Norway I knew little about. A searing historical novel -- Naomi Wood, author of Mrs HemingwayEvery once in a while, a modern day parable, perfectly told, reflects all that could happen in a world gone mad. Kiran Millwood Hargrave has written a novel for our times with artistry and skill. Maren's story is powerful, at turns, it is disturbing, and ultimately illuminating. You will ponder it long after you finish this magnificent work -- Adriana Trigiani, author of Lucia, LuciaBased on the real-life witch trials of 1621, this is an immersive and beautifully written tale. Highly recommended -- Alice O'Keeffe * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *Kiran Millwood Hargrave effortlessly transports us across hundreds of years and thousands of miles to a tiny Norwegian Island in the early seventeenth century and throws us into the lives and passions of an extraordinary cast of characters . . . deeply unsettling, entirely pertinent to our contemporary lives, and a completely addictive read. I cannot recommend it enough -- Sarah Butler, author of Jack and BetThis chilling tale of religious persecution is served up with a feminist bite -- Kirkus (starred review)Caught me from the very first page and held me right to the end. A vivid evocation of time and place and utterly believable, absorbing characters - I felt I breathed the same air . . . The Mercies is a story that will stay with me -- Helen Walmsley-Johnson, author of Look What You Made Me DoDark and menacing, retelling the story of a witch hunt on the isolated island of Vardo, off the coast of Norway . . . Millwood Hargrave slowly builds an atmosphere of suspicion and superstition as new loyalties and old rivalries rear up. * Express *

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Book SynopsisTHE FOURTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES. How far will a woman travel to find a father, a lover a destiny? Across seas, across time – across the grave itself. It began in Scotland, at an ancient stone circle. Claire Randall was swept through time into the arms of James Fraser whose love for her became legend - a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Two decades later, Claire travelled back again to reunite with Jamie, this time in frontier America. But Claire had left someone behind in her own time - their daughter Brianna. Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the stone circle and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she risks her own future to try to change history - and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past - or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong...Trade ReviewA blockbuster hit! * Wall Street Journal *Unforgettable characters ... Richly embroidered with historical detail ... I just can' t put it down. * Cincinnati Post *Passionate ... Remarkable-- a mix of history, fantasy, romance and unabashedly ribald storytelling. * Arizona Republic *

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Book SynopsisNow a major TV seriesWinner of the Man Booker PrizeThe second book in Hilary Mantel's award-winning Wolf Hall trilogy, with a stunning new cover design to celebrate the publication of the much anticipated The Mirror and the LightAn astounding literary accomplishment, Bring Up the Bodies is the story of this most terrifying moment of history, by one of our greatest living novelists.Our most brilliant English writer' GuardianBring Up the Bodies unlocks the darkly glittering court of Henry VIII, where Thomas Cromwell is now chief minister. With Henry captivated by plain Jane Seymour and rumours of Anne Boleyn''s faithlessness whispered by all, Cromwell knows what he must do to secure his position. But the bloody theatre of the queen''s final days will leave no one unscathed.A great novel of dark and dirty passions, public and private. A truly great story' Financial TimesIn another league. This ongoing story of Henry VIII's right-hand man is the finest piece of historical fiction I have ever read' Sunday TelegraphTrade Review‘This is a bloody story about the death of Anne Boleyn, but Hilary Mantel is a writer who thinks through the blood. She uses her power of prose to create moral ambiguity and the real uncertainty of political life … She has recast the most essential period of our modern English history; we have the greatest modern English prose writer reviving possibly one of the best known pieces of English history’ Sir Peter Stothard, Chair of the judges for the Man Booker Prize 2012 ‘Simply exceptional … I envy anyone who hasn’t yet read it’ Sandra Parsons, Daily Mail ‘In another league. This ongoing story of Henry VIII’s right-hand man is the finest piece of historical fiction I have ever read. A staggering achievement’ Sarah Crompton, Sunday Telegraph ‘Succeeds brilliantly in every particle … it’s an imaginative achievement to exhaust superlatives’ Spectator ‘Wolf Hall was a tour de force, but its sequel is leaner, more brilliant, more shocking than its predecessor’ Erica Wagner, The Times ‘Picks up the body parts where Wolf Hall left off … literary invention does not fail her: she's as deft and verbally adroit as ever’ Margaret Atwood, Guardian ‘Mantel in the voice of Cromwell is inspired. When she is in full flow as a novelist, creating scenes and inventing dialogue, she is more convincing than rendering a recorded scene from history’ Philippa Gregory, Sunday Express ‘Don’t think you can start this book whenever you feel like it – plan ahead, as, once started, it’s impossible to escape its grip, and until it’s finished, you won’t get any sleep’ Country Life

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Book Synopsis 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.Trade Review‘The Irish writer’s third novel raises timeless questions about suffering and survival through the story of two children expelled from their impoverished home in the midst of the Great Famine. When you’re starving, Lynch seems to be asking, are you truly alive?’ Editors' Choice, The New York Times Book Review‘This book is one of the most beautiful I have read in a long time. Heart wrenching and so moving, with language that makes your soul sing.’ Caitriona Balfe, actress and star of Outlander‘A profound and unusual coming-of-age story.’ The Sunday Times‘A shudderingly well written, dead-real, hallucinatory trip across Famine Ireland.’ Emma Donoghue, author of Room‘Haunting and poetic… Lynch has given us poignant glimpses of the human body’s limits, that peculiar messiness of identity, and what happens when parts of a society fail to help, or even acknowledge, those in need.’ Irish Times‘Lynch is frighteningly skilled...searing images into the mind and forcing you to press carefully through sentences as if they are strips of long grass.’ Sunday Independent, (Dublin)‘Lynch…has a particular gift for finding the unexpected yet compelling image that conveys the anomalous nature of this otherworld…. [The] poetic prose is at deliberate odds with the stark horror it depicts, and yet the four blank, black pages at the terrible climax of Grace’s journey are as eloquent as anything else on the unspeakable tragedy of the Famine.’ TLS‘Lynch brilliantly conveys the rabid effects of the famine on his characters…and he offers us a worthy heroine to guide us through it.’ Irish Examiner‘A literary beauty… It is the saddest, heaviest, most beautiful, lyrical [novel], one of the most stunning books I’ve read in recent times. I would urge you to read it.’ Ryan Tubridy, The Tubridy Show, RTE‘An epic tale of endurance, which in Lynch's deft hands is harrowing and simultaneously starkly beautiful.’ Esquire, (Best Books of 2017 So Far)‘When you finish, you feel like saying "wow". Under your breath perhaps, but do not be hard on yourself if you shout it out, because this is a work of staggering beauty and deep insight.’ Sydney Morning Herald‘Lynch’s wonderful third novel follows a teenage girl through impoverished Ireland at the height of the Great Famine…Lynch’s powerful, inventive language intensifies the poignancy of the woe that characterizes this world of have-nothings struggling to survive.’ Publishers Weekly, (starred review)‘A beautifully written novel, with a haunting story and deep echoes of the Ancients.’ Edna O’Brien, author of The Country Girls‘Lynch makes the page sing like the old masters.’ Philipp Meyer, author of The Son ‘The power of Paul Lynch's imagination is truly startling; his ability to inhabit and deeply understand the moments, both slight and shattering, of a life and of an era translates into an instinct not just for story, but for the most hidden, most forceful currents of language and what they can do.’ Belinda McKeon, author of Tender'As a writer, Lynch is sui generis. His style is bold, grandiose, mesmeric. He strives for large effects, wrestles with big ideas... Lynch has been compared to greats such as Cormac McCarthy, Faulkner and Beckett, while others have located him in the Irish gothic tradition of Stoker and le Fanu.' The Sunday Times (Ireland)‘A work of great lyricism. Its beautiful prose is put to devastating effect in his vivid story of the Irish potato famine, which killed at least a million people... Lynch’s narrative gripped us from the start and never let us go. It haunted the judges long after the final line.’ The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction Judges‘A mesmerizing, incandescent work of art... An exhilarating, Odyssean, heartpounding, glorious story, wrought by a novelist with the eye and the ear and the heart of an absolute master.’ Donal Ryan, Booker-nominated author of The Spinning Heart‘Lynch never shies away from the subject matter—the impossibly gruelling winters Grace faces, the people she meets and can never trust, the heartbreak of losing a family member... In Lynch’s deft hands I found myself enthralled as Grace cuts herself a path through a forbidding world.’ Johanna Zwirner, The Paris Review‘It’s not just style that makes this an unforgettable book. Its heroine, 14-year-old Grace, may not have much to say for herself, but her younger brother, Colly, is a gleefully riddling, smutty delight. Gradually [the book] becomes a darker book as hunger eats away at humanity — and the darker it gets, the more [Lynch’s] unerring gifts are confirmed.’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling murder mystery from Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.Winner of the Nobel Prize for LiteratureWinner of the International IMPAC Dublin AwardWonderful' The SpectatorMagnificent' ObserverUnforgettable' GuardianMy Name is Red is an unforgettable murder mystery, set amid the splendour of sixteenth century Istanbul, from the Nobel prizewinning authorIn the late 1590s, the Sultan secretly commissions a great book: a celebration of his life and his empire, to be illuminated by the best artists of the day - in the European manner. At a time of violent fundamentalism, however, this is a dangerous proposition. Even the illustrious circle of artists are not allowed to know for whom they are working. But when one of the miniaturists is murdered, their Master has to seek outside help. Did the dead painter fall victim to professional rivalry, romantic jealousy or re

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Book SynopsisFrom Booker-shortlisted author Elif Shafak, Honour is a gripping tale of love, betrayal and clashing cultures.''My mother died twice. I promised myself I would not let her story be forgotten''Pembe and Adem Toprak leave Turkey for London. There they make new lives for their family. Yet the traditions and beliefs of their home come with them - carried in the blood of their children, Iskender and Esma. Trapped by past mistakes, the Toprak children find their lives torn apart and transformed by a brutal and chilling crime.Set in Turkey and London in the 1970s, Honour explores pain and loss, loyalty and betrayal, the clash of tradition and modernity, as well as the love and heartbreak that can tear any family apart.''One of the best writers in the world today'' Hanif Kureishi''Vivid storytelling... that explores the darkest aspects of faith and love'' Sunday Telegraph *** ELIF SHAFAK''S NTrade ReviewA powerful book; thoughtful, provoking and compassionate * Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat *Fascinating and gripping - a wonderful novel * Rosamund Lupton, author of Sister *Elif Shafak has woven with masterful care and compassion one immigrant family's heartbreaking story - a story nurtured in the terrible silences between men and women * Sarah Blake, author of The Postmistress *Honour is a powerful tale of family connection and heartbreak, offering us insight and delight in equal measure . . . an exquisite and deep rendering of the fullness of life. * Aurelie Sheehan, author of The Anxiety of Everyday Objects *[Elif Shafak] joins writers such as Hanif Kureishi, Zadie Smith, Monica Ali, Aamer Hussein, Andrea Levy, Hanan al-Shakyh and Leila Aboulela, who offer us fictional glimpses of London's Others * The Independent *An honour killing is at the centre of this stunning novel . . . Exotic, evocative and utterly gripping * The Times *Lushly and memorably magic-realist . . . This is an extraordinarily skilfully crafted and ambitious narrative * The Independent *Shafak treats an important, absorbing subject in a fast-paced, internationally familiar style that will make it accessible to a wide readership * Sunday Times *Compelling -- Mariella Frostrup

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