Whether your passion is The Ancient Greeks, The Wars of The Roses or The Russian Revolution, you'll find stories of life during these eras and every other, often using factual accounts to build a fictional narrative.
Historical Fiction Books
Cornerstone A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Book SynopsisBetty Smith was born in 1896 and died in 1972. She wrote four novels, including A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.Trade ReviewA profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience... It is a poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships. * New York Times *This story radiates life. * Daily Telegraph *One of the books of the century * New York Public Library *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Untitled Margaret Dickinson 2026
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.70
Pan Macmillan The Attic Child: A powerful and heartfelt
Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Jhalak Prize 2023.‘An incredibly important book . . . a beautifully crafted, compelling story . . . which will undoubtedly break your heart but also make it sing’ - Mike GayleTwo children trapped in the same attic, almost a century apart, bound by a secret.1907: Twelve-year-old Celestine spends most of his time locked in an attic room of a large house by the sea. Taken from his homeland and treated as an unpaid servant, he dreams of his family in Africa even if, as the years pass, he struggles to remember his mother’s face, and sometimes his real name . . .Decades later, Lowra, a young orphan girl born into wealth and privilege, will find herself banished to the same attic. Lying under the floorboards of the room is an old porcelain doll, an unusual beaded claw necklace and, most curiously, a sentence etched on the wall behind an old cupboard, written in an unidentifiable language. Artefacts that will offer her a strange kind of comfort, and lead her to believe that she was not the first child to be imprisoned there . . .Lola Jaye has created a hauntingly powerful, emotionally charged and unique dual-narrative novel about family secrets, love and loss, identity and belonging, seen through the lens of Black British History in The Attic Child.‘This is important storytelling about issues of race and privilege . . . that will stay with me for a long time’ - Tracy Chevalier‘Just brilliant’ - Dorothy Koomson‘Powerful and emotional’ - Lisa JewellTrade ReviewBruising, yet hopeful epic novel. . . Emotional and evocative, The Attic Child is a powerful tale of trauma, identity and survival. * Daily Mail *An incredibly important book giving breath to voices we sadly seldom hear, Lola Jaye’s The Attic Child is a beautifully crafted, compelling story crossing continents and time which will undoubtedly break your heart but also make it sing. -- Mike Gayle, author of Dinner for TwoThe Attic Child is an impressive feat of imagination, and a great example of how one photograph can inspire a whole world. The interlinked stories of two children moved and upset me in all the right ways. This is important storytelling about issues of race and privilege and abuse, and a book that will stay with me for a long time. -- Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single ThreadThe Attic Child could be Lola’s best book yet. Her writing is on another level, with characters and a story that grab you from the first page and don't let go until the very end. Just brilliant. -- Dorothy Koomson, author of My Other HusbandI was definitely in tears by the end! There is so much to say about this story. Lola Jaye has given us such a creative way of examining privilege, identity, trauma and whiteness in both eras. -- Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)A powerful and emotional journey, that will break your heart and put it back together again. -- Lisa Jewell, author of The Family RemainsHeart-breaking and timely - Lola Jaye's first epic historical novel is an emotional roller coaster of a ride -- Trisha Ashley, author of The Wedding Dress Repair ShopAn evocative, emotional, beautifully written and captivating novel. -- Rowan Coleman, author of The Red MonarchStrong, memorable characters and an unputdownable story . . . Powerfully affecting -- Gill Paul, author of The Manhattan GirlsAs educational as it was exceptional. I was nowhere near ready for it to end. It was heartbreakingly sad yet life affirming and full of hope. One of the most important books you’ll read all year. -- John Marrs, bestselling author of the Netflix sensation The OneWith The Attic Child, Lola Jaye has created something truly special. An epic, historical novel that is as informative and fascinating about a period in history, as it is deeply moving. Above all, it’s a beautiful testament to the strength of the human spirit. I’ve been telling everyone I know about it. -- Katy Regan, author of How to Find Your Way HomeAn ambitious novel carried out to perfection. This epic tale had me utterly engrossed from first page to last. It's heart-breaking yet powerful and inspiring and so, so wonderful. Dikembe is a hero I will never forget -- Tracy Rees, Bestselling author of Amy Snow and The Rose GardenA powerful and timely book, compelling, heart-breaking yet hopeful and very, very special. -- Alex Brown, author of A Postcard from CapriHauntingly powerful. * New Magazine *
£8.54
Vintage Publishing A Town Called Solace: ‘Will break your heart’
Book Synopsis**AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO FOUR**Set in the frozen north of Canada in 1972, this is a novel of painful histories and the moments in life when we can change for the better.Clara's rebellious older sister is missing. Grief-stricken and bewildered, she yearns to uncover the truth about what happened.Liam, newly divorced and newly unemployed, moves into the house next door and within hours gets a visit from the police.Elizabeth is thinking about a crime committed thirty years ago, one that had tragic consequences for two families. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies.**LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE**'I've been telling everyone I know about Mary Lawson . . . Each of her novels is just a marvel' Anne Tyler'Close to perfection' The Times'Exquisitely poignant' Liane MoriartyTrade ReviewIt's already one of my favourite books of the year * Rachel Joyce *She has the God-given ability to convey the complexities of human nature in everyday language... Like a magician, Lawson hides her technique, and makes it all seem as natural as breathing -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *A contemplative story about loss and regret, a slow burn of a read with a fire at its heart -- John Boyne * Irish Times *Lawson's writing is such that it appears effortless but, as all the strands come together to create a rich and satisfying tapestry, her genius for storytelling becomes apparent * Irish Independent *The doubts, difficulties and uncertainties of the human condition are carefully examined in a way that is both heartbreaking and joyful * Scotsman *Subtle and darkly funny, this tender novel unspools the interconnected lives of her beautifully drawn characters * Daily Express *An absorbing novel * Sunday Express *Lawson has carved out a world in Northern Ontario that's vividly, absorbingly real... Carries you along from midnight to dawn, oblivious of the time * Literary Review *A Town Called Solace keeps you breathless with anxiety, then relief and finally even joy -- Ferdinand Mount * Observer *Close to perfection * The Times *
£9.49
Cornerstone The Second Sleep: From the Sunday Times
Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER PRECIPICE, THE THRILLING NEW NOVEL FROM ROBERT HARRIS, NOW - PUBLISHING AUGUST 2024WHAT IF YOUR FUTURE LIES IN THE PAST?'One word: wonderful. Two words: compulsive reading. Three words: buy it tomorrow. Four words: tonight, if possible.' STEPHEN KING'A thoroughly absorbing, page-turning narrative.' SUNDAY TIMES'Genuinely thrilling.' DAILY TELEGRAPHDusk is gathering as a young priest, Christopher Fairfax, rides across a silent land.He must arrive at a remote village in the wilds of Exmoor before night falls. He's lost and he's becoming anxious as he slowly picks his way across a countryside strewn with the ancient artefacts of a civilisation that seems to have ended in cataclysm.What Fairfax cannot know is that, in the days and weeks to come, everything he believes in will be tested as he uncovers a secret that is as dangerous as it is terrifying . . .'[Harris] takes us on a thrilling ride while serving up serious food for thought.' SUNDAY EXPRESS'A truly surprising future-history thriller. Fabulous, really.' EVENING STANDARD'The book's real power lies in its between-the-lines warning that our embrace of the internet represents some kind of sleepwalk into oblivion. It's a provocative, tub-thumping sci-fi of which H. G. Wells might have been proud.' DAILY MAIL'Harris' latest work intelligently warps historical fiction and tackles issues of religion, science and the apocalypse in the process. As he flexes his imagination, you will be left pondering as often as you are page-turning.' HERALD'A brilliantly imaginative thriller' READER'S DIGESTAct of Oblivion, Sunday Times bestseller, June 2023Trade ReviewA thoroughly absorbing, page-turning narrative in which the author, with his customary storytelling skills, pulls us ever deeper into the imaginative world he has created. It [also] poses challenging questions about the meaning of the past, the idea of progress and the stability of civilisation. It is a fine addition to Harris’s diverse body of work. * Sunday Times *A return to the type of high-concept novel that made his name . . . [T]he writing is elegant and pacy. The characters are fleshed out and the plot zips along. * The Times *A truly surprising future-history thriller. Fabulous, really. * Evening Standard *Harris is rightly praised as the master of the intelligent thriller. Genuinely thrilling, wonderfully conceived and entirely without preaching, it probes the nature of history, of collective memory and forgetting, and exposes the fragility of modern civilisation. * Daily Telegraph, 5 stars ***** *Harris's bleak imagined world issues a clarion call to the present, urging us to recognise the value of progress, the importance of woolly concepts like liberalism and the rule of law, and all the other ideals we’ve spent generations fighting for yet seem prepared to sacrifice on the altar of populism. For make no mistake, this novel [is] very much about the here and now . . . Harris is a master of plotting and, in elegant, understated third-person prose, he ratchets the tension ever upwards . . . this is nothing if not a page-turner. * Observer *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Seven Sisters
Book SynopsisA sweeping tale of love and loss, the epic saga of the Seven Sisters begins here. From Lucinda Riley, the international number one bestselling author.Maia D’Aplièse, in her early thirties, gathers together with her five sisters at their childhood home: a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva. They have been told that their beloved adoptive father, the elusive billionaire they call Pa Salt, has died.Each of them is handed a tantalising clue to their true heritage – a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil . . .Eighty years earlier, in the Belle Époque of Rio, 1927, Izabela Bonifacio’s father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into aristocracy. But Izabela longs for adventure, and convinces him to allow her to accompany the family of a renowned architect on a trip to Paris. In the heady, vibrant streets of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again.The Seven Sisters is the first book in the spellbinding Seven Sisters series, inspired by the mythology of the famous star constellation. It is followed by The Storm Sister.'A brilliant page-turner just soaked in glamour and romance' - Daily MailPraise for the Seven Sisters:'A masterclass in beautiful writing' – The Sun'Heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling' – Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party'A breathtaking adventure' – Lancashire Evening PostFive-Star Reader Reviews:'Absolutely incredible''Totally addictive''Ideal for when you need to escape'Trade ReviewA brilliant page-turner just soaked in glamour and romance * Daily Mail *Riley is one of the strongest authors in this genre of historical fiction . . . excellent historical detail, heart-wrenching romance, and an engaging mystery -- Historical Novel SocietyLike the famous statue that brought the lovers together and hovers over Rio today, the story is elegantly sculpted and rich with history -- Library Journal, USA
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Pan Macmillan Be Careful What You Wish For The Clifton
Book SynopsisJeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O' Nine Tales, is one of the world's favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in ninety-seven countries and in more than thirty-seven languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).Jeffrey is also an art collector, sports lover, and amateur auctioneer, conducting numerous charity auctions every year. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
£8.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Circe: The stunning new anniversary edition from
Book SynopsisThe captivating Sunday Times and New York Times number one bestseller by the Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles; ‘spellbinding … a thrilling tour de force of the imagination’ (Mail on Sunday) ‘Fabulous’ Daily Telegraph ‘Blisteringly modern’ The Times ‘Bold and sensuously written’ Daily Mail ‘An airy delight’ Observer God. Mortal. Daughter. Monster. Saviour. Outcast. Lover. Destroyer. Creator. Mother. Witch. Scorned, rejected and at last exiled from her father’s house for her dark gifts, Circe arrives on the remote island of Aiaia with nothing but her wits and magic to help her. But there is danger for a solitary woman in the world, and Circe’s independence and strange powers draw the wrath of men and gods alike. To protect what she holds dear, Circe must decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. Complicated and wounded, gifted and passionate, Madeline Miller’s captivating Circe steps out of myth and into the present as a heroine for our time, and all times.Trade ReviewCirce gives us a feminist slant on the Odyssey … Miller makes these age-old texts thrum with contemporary relevance … An airy delight, a novel to be gobbled greedily in a single sitting * Observer *Circe back as superwoman … Homer’s witch get a kickass modern makeover… Miller’s Me Too-era, kickass portrait of a woman trying to defy the men and Fates arrayed against her is enchanting… Blisteringly modern * The Times *In a thrilling tour de force of imagination, Miller makes her otherworldly heroine a complex, sympathetic figure for whom we cheer throughout. Circe is a truly spellbinding novel, the mesmerising shimmer of ancient magic rising from it like a heat haze * Mail on Sunday *A brilliantly strange work of mythic science fiction, as effortlessly expressive within the palaces of gods as it is about the world below … Superb … This is both a fabulous novel and a fascinating retelling; the best compliment, perhaps, that any myth could hope for * Daily Telegraph *Circe is poised to become the literary sensation of the summer, as much for the quality of its writing as its timeliness * Sunday Times Magazine *It is out of these insights that Miller achieves real narrative propulsion … Supple, pitched in a register that bridges man and myth * Guardian *The first witch in Western literature sets Homer straight as she tells her life story, from her unhappy childhood to her lonely island exile. The woman who emerges is complex and sympathetic. A spellbinding tour de force of imagination * Mail on Sunday, ‘Sizzling summer reads’ *Miller has effected a transformation just as impressive as any of her heroine’s own: she’s turned an ancient tale of female subjugation into one of empowerment and courage full of contemporary resonances -- Lucy Scholes * Independent *What more could you wish for on holiday than this fabulously written re-imagining of the myth? Gods, monsters and mortals are lushly evoked in a page-turner that is as gripping as a soap opera and which triumphantly fuses myth with our contemporary concerns -- Elizabeth Buchan * Daily Mail, Books of the Summer 2018 *Dubbed the ‘feminist Odyssey’, there’s so much to like about Circe. From the author of the much-loved The Song of Achilles, this novel puts a feminist spin on Greek mythology, recasting Circe, the vilified witch infamous for turning men into pigs, in a sympathetic light. Subverting the usual masculine tropes of epic adventure narratives, Miller tells the story of the women who have been historically silenced. And on top of that, she makes Greek myths and culture, which is often perceived as impenetrable and intimidating, accessible. A real page-turner * Elle Magazine *Illuminates known stories from a new perspective … Miller has determined, in her characterization of this most powerful witch, to bring her as close as possible to the human, as a thoughtful and compassionate woman who learns to love unselfishly … A highly psychologized, redemptive and ultimately exculpatory account of the protagonist herself -- Claire Messud * New York Times *The Orange prizewinner Madeline Miller reimagines Circe, the witch from The Odyssey. In Miller’s retelling Circe is a suitably bolshie character who is not going to be bossed around by men. The writing is beautiful * The Times *An epic that’s also a page-turner * i *Fabulous … Bold and sensuously written, it plays brilliantly with the original myth of Circe * Daily Mail *I’ve been waiting for Circe by Madeline Miller for what feels like forever. Since her 2011 debut, The Song of Achilles – a queer retelling of the Iliad from Patroclus’ perspective – I’ve been crowing about the wit and magic of Miller’s prose. Circe did not disappoint. It’s a feminist tale of the nymph child of Helios, the sun god, who is exiled for practising witchcraft. Circe lives for hundreds of years, encountering heroes, gods and legends, but it never feels like a Greek mythology lesson. Actually, it feels more like a splashy, gossipy memoir written by a celebrity who has met everyone. I suspect this will be my book of the year -- Caroline O'Donoghue * Irish Times *Greek myth is fertile fictional terrain for Miller, who won the Orange Prize with her debut, The Song of Achilles. Her new novel is narrated by Circe, the witch from Homer’s Odyssey, who is banished to a remote island and there learns how to survive as a woman alone in the world -- Anita Sethi * Independent, Books of 2018 *A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess’s story that manages to be both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right * New York Times *The Song of Achilles was a big hit; Circe will be, too * Sunday Times *[Miller] gives voice to Circe as a multifaceted and evolving character ... Circe is very pleasurable to read, combining lively versions of familiar tales and snippets of other, related standards with a highly psychologized, redemptive and ultimately exculpatory account of the protagonist herself * New York Times Book Review *God though she may be, here she faces life – and its love, heartbreak, loneliness and motherhood – with immensely relatable humanity. The definition of female strength in all its fractured, fragile glory * **** Stylist *Offers opportunities for feminist revision of famous characters both mortal and divine, especially the egotistical Odysseus and the irresponsible and laddish Hermes. It also leads to a suspenseful metaphysical dilemma … Polished diction and descriptive powers * Prospect *Absorbing ... One of the most amazing qualities of this novel [is]: We know how everything here turns out -we’ve known it for thousands of years - and yet in Miller’s lush reimagining, the story feels harrowing and unexpected. The feminist light she shines on these events never distorts their original shape; it only illuminates details we hadn’t noticed before… In the story that dawns from Miller’s rosy fingers, the fate that awaits Circe is at once divine and mortal, impossibility strange and yet entirely human * Washington Post *A look at mythology with fresh eyes ... In Circe the female perspective sharpens into focus in a way that doesn’t happen in the original * Wall Street Journal *Miller excels at reworking myths and legends for a modern audience … Miller conjures up a cast of strong, relatable characters, from cold-hearted gods and flawed heroes to deadly monsters-and best of all-a strong female protagonist. Fabulously readable * Scotsman *Beautifully written throughout … Miller has broken [Circe] free of the conventions of the masculine epic * Literary Review *A refreshingly complex and utterly compelling portrait of one of the most intriguing women in western literature … Miller’s depiction of what it feels like to work magic is extraordinarily vivid and convincing … What elevates Circe is Miller’s luminous prose, which is both enormously readable and evocative, and the way in which she depicts the gulf between gods and mortals … Circe can be part of that cycle of cruel and pointless conflict, or she can choose to break it. In this unforgettable novel, Miller makes us care about that magical, mythical choice * Irish Times *This is a gorgeous retelling of Homer’s Odyssey blended with other legends. Miller creates a magical narrative: strong relatable characters, cold-hearted gods, flawed heroes, deadly monsters, and best of all, a strong female protagonist. Overall, it is fabulously readable * Herald *In Circe, Miller gives depth and history to the title character, how it was she came to be on her island, and her struggles as an independent woman. The “heroes” of Greek myths - the gods, Odysseus and so on - get shoved to the side, as Miller brings to the forefront a fascinating, captivating female character. This is wonderfully detailed and well worth the more than five year wait since The Song of Achilles * Stylist, The 20 must-read books to make room for in 2018 *A mesmerising, fiercely feminist and lyrical retelling of a story from Greek mythology – as enchanting as the enchantress herself * Psychologies *Circe is the utterly captivating, exquisitely written story of an ordinary, and extraordinary, woman's life -- Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-Formed ThingAn epic spanning thousands of years that's also a keep-you-up-all-night page turner -- Ann PatchettCaptivating ... Will entertain and enchant * Sunday Express Magazine *Horror, heartache and grit pour from the pages of this exquisitely written and compelling novel. An alchemist with words, Miller continues to rejuvenate the classics with her exceptional talent … Circe is one of the best and most rewarding books of 2018 * Attitude, 'Book of the Month' *Dazzling * Woman & Home *Gives Greek mythology a modern, feminist twist * Elle *Even better than its predecessor. Written in supple, imaginative prose, it conjures up brilliantly a vivid world in which the lives of gods and mortals are intimately intertwined * BBC History Magazine *Miller weaves an intoxicating tale of gods and heroes, magic and monsters, survival and transformation * i *A life-affirming tale of astonishing beauty … A sensuous, thrilling experience, combining exquisite prose with high drama … The pettiness and casual brutality of the deities is sadly recognisable in modern political times, while Circe’s quest for validation will ring a chord with men and women alike * Toast Book Club *With her classicist’s ear, Miller infuses her prose with Homeric rhythms, to mischievous and lovely effect. With nods to a wealth of ancient works, she crafts her own triumphant Circe … Miller’s Circe is a shrewd and cool character, capable of great love but also possessed of a lethally ruthless streak. Her mixture of assiduous domesticity and merciless witchcraft is addictively conveyed * The Lady *The exiled witch, who barely gets more than a mention in Homer’s The Odyssey, is at the centre of a page-turning feminist romp * The Pool, Summer Reads 2018 *Miss Miller leaves us utterly bewitched * Country Life *
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers All the Light We Cannot See. Film TieIn
Book SynopsisSOON A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES from director Shawn Levy, starring Louis Hofmann, Lars Eidinger and Marion Bailey, with Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo, and introducing Aria Mia Loberti.WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTIONNATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTIONA beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.Marie-Laure has been blind since the age of six. Her father builds a perfect miniature of their Paris neighbourhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. But when the Nazis invade, father and daughter flee with a dangerous secret.Werner is a German orphan, destined to labour in the same mine that claimed his father's life, until he discovers a knack for engineering. His talent wins him a place at a brutal military academy, but his way out of obscurity is built on suffering.At theTrade Review'Far more than a conventional war story, it's a tightly focused epic revolving around two unusual main characters … Doerr paints with a rich palette, using prose that resonates deeply and conveys the ephemera of daily existence along with high drama, sadness and hope … A bittersweet and moving novel that lingers in the mind' Clifford Beal, Daily Mail ‘This novel will be a piece of luck for anyone with a long plane journey or beach holiday ahead. It is such a page-turner, entirely absorbing… [Doerr’s] attention to detail is magnificent’ Guardian ‘It is easy to understand why Doerr’s book is regarded by many as an epic and a masterpiece’ Observer ‘He can bring a scene to life in a single paragraph … Delicate and moving … the novel takes hold and will not easily let go’ The Times ‘Boy meets girl in Anthony Doerr’s hauntingly beautiful new book, but the circumstances are as elegantly circuitous as they can be’ New York Times ‘I’m not sure I will read a better novel this year … Enthrallingly told, beautifully written and so emotionally plangent that some passages bring tears’ Washington Post ‘This jewel of a story is put together like a vintage timepiece … Doerr’s writing and imagery are stunning. It’s been a while since a novel had me under its spell in this fashion’ Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone ‘A dazzling, epic work of fiction. Anthony Doerr writes beautifully about the mythic and the intimate, about snails on beaches and armies on the move, about fate and love and history and those breathless, unbearable moments when they all come crashing together’ Jess Walter, author of Beautiful Ruins
£9.49
Simon & Schuster The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Book SynopsisFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, “one of those special writers capable of delivering both poetry and plot” (The New York Times Book Review), a moving novel about tradition, tea farming, and the bonds between mothers and daughters.In their remote mountain village, Li-yan and her family align their lives around the seasons and the farming of tea. For the Akha people, ensconced in ritual and routine, life goes on as it has for generations—until a stranger appears at the village gate in a jeep, the first automobile any of the villagers has ever seen. The stranger’s arrival marks the first entrance of the modern world in the lives of the Akha people. Slowly, Li-yan, one of the few educated girls on her mountain, begins to reject the customs that shaped her early life. When she has a baby out of wedlock—conceived with a man her parents consider a poor choice—she rejects the tradition that would compeTrade Review“The story begins small, plunging us into the immersive detail of a single grueling day picking tea with the young girl, Li-yan, her mother, A-ma, and the rest of their ethnic minority Akha family…What makes life bearable for the Akha is their belief system, which infuses every aspect of their daily lives. The full sweep of their practices is flawlessly embedded in See’s prose…The hardships that confront Li-yan in her life are as compelling as the fog-shrouded secret groves where she and her mother cultivate a special healing tea. I could have hung out here in remote China forever, but See has wider ground to cover, including Chinese adoption, the international fine tea market and modern Chinese migration to the United States… A lush tale infused with clear-eyed compassion, this novel will inspire reflection, discussion and an overwhelming desire to drink rare Chinese tea.” –Helen Simonson, The Washington Post“One of the fascinating elements of See’s epic novel is the contrast between the isolated lives of the Akha and the globalized world of China’s larger cities — a contrast bridged by tea…Fans of the best-selling Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will find much to admire in The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, as both books closely illuminate stories of women’s struggles and solidarity in minority-ethnic and rural Chinese cultures…In rendering the complex pain and joy of the mother-daughter bond, Lisa See makes this novel — dedicated to her own mother, author Carolyn See, who died last year — a deeply emotional and satisfying read.” —Emily Gray Tedrowe, USA Today“Lisa See transports readers to the remote mountains of China…come for the heartwarming bonding between mother and daughter; stay for the insight into Akha culture and the fascinating (really) history of the tea trade." —Real Simple"With strong female characters, See deftly confronts the changing role of minority women, majority-minority relations, East-West adoption, and the economy of tea in modern China. Fans of See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will appreciate this novel.” —Library Journal"With vivid and precise details about tea and life in rural China, Li-Yan’s gripping journey to find her daughter comes alive." —Publishers Weekly"A riveting exercise in fictional anthropology." —Kirkus Reviews
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Little, Brown Book Group Gardam J Flight Of The Maidens
Book Synopsis''A formidably intelligent, gentle, comic genius'' A.N. Wilson''Gardam is a brilliantly subtle comedian who can keep the reader enraptured until the last page'' The TimesSet during the post-war summer of 1946, The Flight of the Maidens follows the growing-up of three young women in the months between leaving school and taking up their scholarships at university. Una Vane, whose widowed mother runs a hairdressing salon in her front room (''Maison Vane Glory - Where Permanent Waves are Permanent''), goes bicycling with Ray, the boy who delivers the fish and milk. Hetty Fallowes struggles to become independent of her possessive, loving, tactless mother. And Lieselotte Klein, who had arrived in 1939 on a train from Hamburg, uncovers tragedy in the past and magic in the present.Rooted in the north of England, The Flight of the Maidens is peopled with extraordinary characters, who are evoked with all the humour, compassion and eye for detail that marked Jane Gardam as one of Britain''s most gifted and original novelists.Trade ReviewA formidably intelligent, gentle, comic genius ... In a hundred years she will be read as Mrs Gaskell is read * A. N. Wilson SPECTATOR *Gardam ... has written another jewel. This tale of the three young women is made with a concentrate of humour and compassion. Gardam is a brilliantly subtle comedian who can keep the reader enraptured until the last page * THE TIMES *Jane Gardam has captured the burgeoning renaissance of post-war Britain in her novel THE FLIGHT OF THE MAIDENS. Writing with her usual deft and sensitive touch... Gardam paints scenes like a watercolour and every stroke adds depth and subtlety. The characters are rounded and appealing and humour often bubbles beneath the surface. * Christina McLoughlin, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW *Gardam has a pleasant, accessible style well-suited to a reassuring tale of regeneration and optimism after adversity. * OBSERVER *As a celebration of the rites of passage it rings diamond true. It is light, witty, sharp, yet understanding and sympathetic. It is also thoroughly enjoyable * SCOTSMAN *Gardam blends memory and imagination, intellect and humour, to evoke unsentimentally a vanished England, setting it in the context of the wider world and capturing the bittersweet excitement of leaving childhood behind * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Jane Gardam, as ever, shapes her narrative with wit and aplomb ... intelligent, inspiriting and entertaining * INDEPENDENT *She does fiction as it should be done, with confidence and insight -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie * Observer *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Warrior Chronicles 05. The Burning Land
Book Synopsis*A brand new companion to the Last Kingdom series, Uhtred's Feast, is available to pre-order now*The fifth novel in Bernard Cornwell's epic and bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.To King Alfred he is the lord of battles'. He has gained riches, loyal men and a beloved wife. But Uhtred is dogged by betrayal and tragedy.The ailing Alfred presses Uhtred to swear loyalty to his son and heir Edward, preventing the warrior lord from taking vengeance on those who stole his home at Bebbanburg. Now Uthred will once again defend the Christian kingdom in a battle which could smash the growing power of the deadly Danes.In so doing he meets a woman more dangerous than any warlord. A killer, a schemer with a dark power over men's hearts: Skade.Uhtred of Bebbanburg's mind is as sharp as his sword. A thorn in the side of the priests and nobles who shape his fate, this Saxon raised by Vikings is torn between the life he loves and those he has sworn to serve.Trade ReviewPraise for The Burning Land: ‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’The Times Praise for AZINCOURT: 'This is a magnificent and gory work' Daily Mail 'The historical blockbuster of the year' Evening Standard ‘If Bernard Cornwell was born to write one book, this is it. No other historical novelist has acquired such a mastery of the minutiae of warfare in centuries past.’ Daily Telegraph ‘A runaway success’ Observer Praise for Bernard Cornwell: ‘The characterisation, as ever, is excellent…And one can only admire the little touches that bring the period to life. He can also claim to be a true poet of both the horror and the glory of war.’ Sunday Telegraph This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution’. News of the World ‘He’s called a master story-teller. Really he’s cleverer than that.’ Telegraph
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Little, Brown Book Group Because of Miss Bridgerton A Bridgerton Prequel
Book SynopsisThe first book in the witty, charming Rokesby series by Julia Quinn, NYT #1 bestselling author of the beloved Bridgerton books (now a major Netflix series created by Shondaland). A generation before the Bridgertons, there were the Rokesbys...
£8.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Girl with the MakeBelieve Husband A
Book SynopsisThe second book in the witty, charming Rokesby series by Julia Quinn, NYT #1 bestselling author of the beloved Bridgerton books (now a major Netflix show by Shondaland). A generation before the Bridgertons, there were the Rokesbys...Trade ReviewQuinn writes delightfully fast-paced, funny, sparkling and bright romance * Romantic Times *Quinn's witty Regency-set romantic comedies are the next best thing to Georgette Heyer * Gloss *Quinn has a smart, funny touch...that's reminiscent of Helen Fielding * Time Magazine *A great read . . . with mystery and adventure and, yes, romance . . . Quinn's fans will be grateful she's crossed the pond for this textured look at life in New York during the 1770s * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *
£8.49
Pan Macmillan Mightier than the Sword Clifton Chronicles 5
Book SynopsisJeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O' Nine Tales, is one of the world's favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in ninety-seven countries and in more than thirty-seven languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).Jeffrey is also an art collector, sports lover, and amateur auctioneer, conducting numerous charity auctions every year. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer, and they have two sons, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
£8.09
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Fortress
Book Synopsis*SHARPE’S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Trade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
Pan Macmillan This Was a Man
Book SynopsisSuspenseful and mesmerizing, This Was a Man is the seventh and final novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s the Clifton Chronicles – an epic and poignant conclusion. Harry Clifton is set to write his magnum opus, and as he reflects on his days, the lives of his family continue to unfold, unravel and intertwine in ways no one could have imagined.Harry’s wife Emma completes her ten years as Chairman of the Bristol Royal Infirmary when she receives a surprise call from Margaret Thatcher.In Whitehall, Giles Barrington discovers the truth about his wife, but is she a pawn in a larger game? Sebastian Clifton finds himself in a new role after an unexpected resignation and his talented daughter, Jessica, goes to art school but gets into trouble. Can her aunt help?Lady Virginia is about to flee the country to avoid her creditors when the death of a duchess gives her another opportunity to clear her debts and finally trump the two families.The epic saga that has charted the lives, loves and adventures of the Clifton and Barrington families reaches its stunning conclusion in this, the final heart-stopping volume from the master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer.Trade ReviewArcher puts his entire formidable bag of storytelling tricks into this last in the series * Daily Mail *
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Pan Macmillan Lonesome Dove
Book SynopsisLonesome Dove by Larry McMurty is a powerful, triumphant, Pulitzer-Winning tribute to the American WestImmerse yourself in the gritty realism of the American Frontier in this masterful epic from the screenwriter of Brokeback Mountain. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of a group of audacious cowboys on a perilous cattle drive across the sprawling wilderness, from Texas to Montana. Bound by duty and hardened by the relentless frontier, their shared journey embodies the enduring spirit of the West.An iconic creation by the accomplished author of The Last Picture Show and Texasville, Lonesome Dove transcends boundaries – more than an adventure, beyond any love story. The saga paints the American West with a palette of nuanced characters, from heroes to outlaws, in a narrative that is as unflinching as it is captivating.This novel, the third in McMurtry’s esteemed Lonesome Dove quartet, depictsTrade ReviewIf you read only one Western novel in your life, read this one . . . no other has ever approached the accomplishment of Lonesome Dove * USA Today *Moving . . . thrilling . . . perfectly realized . . . unforgettable * New York Times *A triumph . . . McMurtry is superb * Chicago Tribune *Flush with authenticity * Wall Street Journal *
£11.04
HarperCollins Publishers Sword of Kings
Book Synopsis*A brand new companion to the Last Kingdom series, Uhtred's Feast, is available to pre-order now*An oath of loyalty.Two warring kings.A destiny he didn't chooseEngland is in turmoil as Vikings and Saxons battle for territory. Rumours build about the fatal sickness of the King, and the country awaits an heir.A violent clash at sea forces the warrior lord Uhtred to lead his men from his Northumbrian fortress to London and plunge into the eye of the storm. For two kings claim the empty throne, and a new kingdom cannot be born without bloodshed.Uhtred's sword will leave one king dead and the other victorious. But sometimes it is hard to know the will of the godsNobody in the world does this better than Cornwell' LEE CHILDTrade ReviewPraise for Sword of Kings: ‘Cornwell’s skill [is] in ageing his warrior-hero, who now creaks as he fights and is haunted by those he has loved and lost’ The Times ‘The master still adding to his wonderful Saxon Chronicles’ Sunday Times Magazine ‘Legendary … excellent storytelling, as ever’ Sunday Sport Praise for Bernard Cornwell: 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES ‘Like Game of Thrones, but real’ OBSERVER 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES 'A violent, absorbing historical saga, deeply researched and thoroughly imagined' WASHINGTON POST ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin ‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’ THE TIMES ‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH ‘A reminder of just how good a writer he is’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child
£8.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
Book SynopsisFrom Sunday Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the final gloriously witty instalment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet that will appeal to fans of historical and women's fiction alike. If you loved Bridgerton, you'll adore the Smythe-Smiths!
£7.99
Little, Brown Book Group What Happens In London Tom Thorne Novels
Book SynopsisWelcome to The Bevelstokes, an irresistibly romantic collection by the bestselling author of Bridgerton, now a series created for Netflix by Shondaland
£8.09
Penguin Putnam Inc The MANIAC
Book SynopsisNamed One of the 10 Best Books of 2023 by The Washington Post and Publishers Weekly ? One of Barack Obama''s Favorite Books of 2023 ? A National Bestseller ? A New York Times Editor''s Choice pick ? Nominated for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction?Captivating and unclassifiable, at once a historical novel and a philosophical foray . . . Labatut is awriter of thrilling originality. The MANIAC is a work of dark, eerie and singular beauty.? ?The Washington Post ?Darkly absorbing . . . A brooding, heady narrative that is addictively interesting.? ?Wall Street Journal From one of contemporary literature?s most exciting new voices, a haunting story centered on the Hungarian polymath John von Neumann, tracing the impact of his singular legacy on the dreams and nightmares of the twentieth century and the nascent age of AIBenjamínLabatut?s When We Cease to Understand the World electrified a global readership. A Booker Prize and National Book Award finalist, and one of the New York Times? Ten Best Books of the Year, it explored the life and thought of a clutch of mathematicians and physicists who took science to strange and sometimes dangerous new realms. In The MANIAC, Labatut has created a tour de force on an even grander scale.A prodigy whose gifts terrified the people around him, John von Neumann transformed every field he touched, inventing game theory and the first programable computer, and pioneering AI, digital life, and cellular automata. Through a chorus of family members, friends, colleagues, and rivals, Labatut shows us the evolution of a mind unmatched and of a body of work that has unmoored the world in its wake.The MANIAC places von Neumann at the center of a literary triptych that begins with Paul Ehrenfest, an Austrian physicist and friend of Einstein, who fell into despair when he saw science and technology become tyrannical forces; it ends a hundred years later, in the showdown between the South Korean Go Master Lee Sedol and the AI program AlphaGo, an encounter embodying the central question of von Neumann''s most ambitious unfinished project: the creation of a self-reproducing machine, an intelligence able to evolve beyond human understanding or control.A work of beauty and fabulous momentum, The MANIAC confronts us with the deepest questions we face as a species.
£999.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Sum of All Kisses
Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the third dazzling instalment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet that will appeal to fans of historical and women's fiction alike. If you loved Bridgerton, you'll adore the Smythe-Smiths!Trade ReviewQuinn brings her signature style and wit to yet another late-Regency romance . . . charmingly romantic, with compelling edges of dark conflict and sexual tension * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *
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HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Tiger
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Sharpe's Tiger is the brilliant beginning of Sharpe's adventuresIndia, 1799The citadel of Seringapatam is under siege. Navigating this dangerous kingdom of bejewelled palaces and poverty, Private Richard Sharpe embarks on a rescue mission to save a senior officer from the clutches of the Tippoo of Mysore and oust the Sultan from his throne.The fortress of Mysore is considered impregnable, but one of the greatest threats comes from betrayal within the British ranks. And the man to outwit enemies from both sides is Sharpe . . .A master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
Pan Macmillan Fall of Giants
Book SynopsisThe first in Ken Follett's breathtaking Century Trilogy, Fall of Giants is a captivating novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.A World in Chaos1911, a thirteen-year-old boy, Billy Williams, begins working down the mines as George V is crowned king. The escalating arms race between the empire nations will put not only the king but this young boy in grave danger.A Terrible WarBilly’s family is inextricably linked with the Fitzherberts, the aristocratic owners of the coal mine where he works. And when Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London, their destiny also becomes entangled with that of Gus Dewar, an ambitious young aide to Woodrow Wilson, and two orphaned Russian brothers whose plan to emigrate to America falls foul of conscription, revolution and imminent war.A Revolution That Will Change EverythingWhen Russia convulses in bloody revolution and the Great War unfolds, the five families’ futures are entwined forever, love bringing them closer even as conflict takes them further apart. What seeds will be sown for further tragedy in the twentieth century and what role will each play in what is to come?Continue the captivating Century Trilogy with Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity.Trade ReviewFew works set out with such a grand concept as Ken Follett’s new Century trilogy, but part one suggests that the series will be one of the literary masterpieces of our time * Sunday Times *He’s pulled it off again with Fall of Giants: it’s classic Follett with the brewing cataclysm of war given a human angle * Sunday Express *Follett is masterly in conveying so much drama and historical information so vividly * Scotsman *The master storyteller Ken Follett knits together British, American, German and Russian points of view from the start to the end of the First World War into a fascinating and remarkably fertile tapestry of society and politics * The Times *An epic saga on a grand scale. Spiked with romance and intrigue . . . This involving historical saga is the perfect read for long winter evenings * Choice *An extraordinary achievement * Reader’s Digest *Follett has managed to write an accessible and fascinating page turner that leaves the reader wanting more, at the same time as staying true to history * Sunday Business Post *
£9.89
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Triumph
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Sergeant Richard Sharpe witnesses a murderous act of treachery and, with Sir Arthur Wellesley, faces the Mahratta Horde.The paths of treachery all lead to the small village of Assaye. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wellesley, with a diminished British army, plunges his men into the white heat of battle. A battle that will make his reputation, and perhaps Sharpe's too.Soldier, hero, rogue Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.Trade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Cometh the Hour
Book SynopsisThrilling and absorbing, Cometh the Hour is the sixth novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s the Clifton Chronicles and sees the Clifton and Barrington families navigate the 1970s in an epic tale of tragedy and hope.There are devastating consequences for Harry and Emma Clifton, her brother Giles Barrington and their arch enemy Lady Virginia when a suicide note is read out in court.Having fallen in love, Giles must decide if he should withdraw from politics to try and rescue the woman he loves from behind the Iron Curtain.Lady Virginia faces bankruptcy, and can see no way out of her financial problems, until she is introduced to a rich, hapless American.Harry and Emma’s son Sebastian Clifton, now the Chief Executive of Farthings Bank, falls in love with the wrong girl even as his rivals plot to overthrow him. Meanwhile, his father remains determined to free a fellow author from a gulag in Siberia, following the international success of the book they wrote together, the acclaimed Uncle Joe.But then something astonishing happens that none of them could have anticipated . . .The penultimate book in the Clifton Chronicles once again showcases Jeffrey Archer’s extraordinary storytelling abilities and confirms his reputation for breathtaking twists.Continue the bestselling series with This Was a Man.Trade ReviewArcher continues his storytelling magic to create characters of spellbinding substance, and readers can count on his surprising twists and shocking conclusion. Here, just when the end seems too tidy, Archer provides a killer cliffhanger * Publishers Weekly *
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Little, Brown Book Group Brighter Than The Sun a dazzling duet by the
Book SynopsisBook Two in the sparkling Lyndon Sisters duet, by the globally bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Eagle The Sharpe Series The Talavera
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Spain, July 1809Lieutenant Richard Sharpe faces not only great danger on the battlefield but also, even more dangerous, treachery within his own ranks. But as the enemy approaches, he must pick up his rifle and prepare to lead his men against the French at one of the biggest, bloodiest fights of the war the Battle of Talavera.Out of the mist comes the roaring, undefeated army sent by Emperor Napoleon. Over their heads soar the Eagles, the standards touched by the hand of the Emperor himself. And boldly waiting for them is Sharpe . . .A master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers Warriors of the Storm Book 9 The Last Kingdom
Book Synopsis*A brand new companion to the Last Kingdom series, Uhtred's Feast, is available to pre-order now*The ninth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions.A hero will be forged from this broken land.As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.A fragile peace is about to be brokenKing Alfred's son Edward and formidable daughter, Æthelflaed, rule Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia. But all around the restless Northmen, eyeing the rich lands and wealthy churches, are mounting raids.Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the kingdoms' greatest warrior, controls northern Mercia from the strongly fortified city of Chester. But forces are rising up against him. Northmen allied to the Irish, led by the fierce warrior Ragnall Ivarson, are soon joined by the Northumbrians, and their strength could prove overwhelming. Despite the gathering threat, both Edward and Æthelflaed are reluctant to move out of the safety of their fortifications. But with Uhtred's own daughter married to Ivarson's brother, wTrade ReviewPraise for Bernard Cornwell: 'A tense, powerful and compulsive story' THE TIMES 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES 'A violent, absorbing historical saga, deeply researched and thoroughly imagined' WASHINGTON POST ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin ‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’ THE TIMES ‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH ‘A reminder of just how good a writer he is’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child This is a magnificent and gory work' Daily Mail 'The historical blockbuster of the year' EVENING STANDARD ‘A runaway success’ OBSERVER ‘A master of storytelling’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution’ NEWS OF THE WORLD
£8.49
Little, Brown Book Group A Night Like This SmytheSmith Quartet
Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the second dazzling instalment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet that will appeal to fans of historical and women's fiction alike. If you loved Bridgerton, you'll adore the Smythe-Smiths!
£7.99
Little, Brown Book Group Everything And The Moon
Book SynopsisBook One in the sparkling Lyndon Sisters duet, by the globally bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Flame Bearer
Book Synopsis*A brand new companion to the Last Kingdom series, Uhtred's Feast, is available to pre-order now*The tenth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions.A hero will be forged from this broken land.As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.From the day it was stolen from me I had dreamed of recapturing Bebbanburg. The great fort was built on a rock that was almost an island, it was massive, it could only be approached on land by a single narrow track and it was mine.Britain is in a state of uneasy peace. Northumbria's Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia's Saxon Queen Aethelflaed have agreed a truce. And so England's greatest warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, at last has the chance to take back the home his traitorous uncle stole from him so many years ago and which his scheming cousin still occupies.But fate is inexorable and the enemies Uhtred has made and the oaths he has sworn combine to distract him from his dream of recapturing Bebbanburg. New enemies enter intTrade ReviewPraise for THE FLAME BEARER: ‘This is the best series Cornwall has written in an impressive career, and The Flame Bearer, which is as clever as it is bloody, holds its own.’ Praise for Bernard Cornwell: ‘Like Game of Thrones, but real’ OBSERVER 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES 'A violent, absorbing historical saga, deeply researched and thoroughly imagined' WASHINGTON POST ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive’ George R.R. Martin ‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’ THE TIMES ‘He’s called a master storyteller. Really he’s cleverer than that’ TELEGRAPH ‘A reminder of just how good a writer he is’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell’ Lee Child
£8.49
Seven Seas Entertainment Peerless Novel Vol. 3
Book SynopsisA RACE AGAINST TIMEAfter the long journey to the Western Khaganate, Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao find their diplomatic efforts stymied when they are accused of murdering a Göktürk prince. Thinking on his feet, Cui Buqu requests a single day to crack the case and clear their names. Yet to everyone’s surprise, the crafty chief of the Zuoyue Bureau offers himself as hostage, leaving the investigation—and his life—in Feng Xiao’s peerlessly beautiful hands.Now Feng Xiao faces a difficult choice: watch his rival perish in the desert or risk his own life in pursuit of the true killer. Time is running out, and unsettling forces are at work within the Western Khaganate. Yet Feng Xiao can’t shake the feeling that Cui Buqu may have one final card to play—one that could reveal the truth before it’s too late.
£16.63
HarperCollins Publishers Sword Song
Book Synopsis*A brand new companion to the Last Kingdom series, Uhtred's Feast, is available to pre-order now*The fourth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions.A hero will be forged from this broken land.As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.To serve a king or become one? Uhtred warrior, pagan, scourge of the Vikings faces a hard choice.Despite being offered a crown of his own, Uhtred is a man of his word. And he gave it to King Alfred of Wessex, who dreams of an England free from Vikings. So when the king orders him to take London from the Danes and hand it to his foolish son-in-law Aethelred, Uhtred agrees despite his concerns.For Aethelred's wife is the king's spirited daughter Aethelflaed and her fate is entwined with Uhtred's. And fate will not be denied Uhtred of Bebbanburg's mind is as sharp as his sword. A thorn in the side of the priests and nobles who shape his fate, this Saxon raised by Vikings is torn between the life he loves and those he has sworn toTrade ReviewPraise for ‘The Lords of the North’: ‘Beautifully crafted story-telling, complete with splendid set-piece battles and relentless derring-do, so gripping that it rarely stops to catch a breath. It demonstrates once again Cornwell’s enormous skill as a historical narrator. He would have graced Alfred’s court entertaining the guests with his stories’Daily Mail ‘Cornwell takes the spectres of ninth century history and puts flesh back on their bones. Here is Alfred's world restored – impeccably researched and illuminated with the colour and passion of a master storyteller’Justin Pollard, author of ‘Alfred the Great’ Praise for Bernard Cornwell: 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.'Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched'Observer
£8.54
Canongate Books Restless Dolly Maunder
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN''S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024A DAILY MAIL NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023LONGLISTED FOR BEST FICTION IN THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS AUSTRALIA 2024Born into the sweat and drudgery of a New South Wales sheep farm at the end of the 19th century, Dolly Maunder is different to her siblings. She will not endure the small, servile existence of a wife. Dolly, bright, ambitious and stubborn, dreams of a different fate, of building something that she truly owns.She will do whatever it takes to be the woman she deserves to be. Even with a husband and children, Dolly pushes the boundaries of what is ''proper'' and what a wife and mother ought to do, as war spreads across Europe and the rules are forever changed. But every life has its limits. What happens when Dolly''s wanderlust finally risks taking her too far?
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Siege
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Richard Sharpe, abandoned in enemy territory, has to trust in assistance from a hostile American privateer.The invasion of France is under way and the British Navy has called upon the services of Major Richard Sharpe. He and a small force of riflemen are to capture a fortress and secure a landing on the French coast one of the most dangerous missions of his career.Through the reckless incompetence of a naval commander, Sharpe finds himself abandoned in the heart of enemy territory, facing overwhelming forces and the very real prospect of defeat. He has no choice but to trust his fortunes to an American privateer a man who has no love for the British invaders.Soldier, hero, rogue Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th RifleTrade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Keeper of Stories
Book Synopsis*Discover The Secrets of Flowers, the brand new novel from Sally Page available to pre-order now*I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny and charming' Sunday Times bestseller Katie FfordeFunny, wise, moving and full of lovely momentsThe characters are endearing and unforgettable' Hazel Prior, author of the Richard & Judy Book Club Pick Away with the PenguinsJanice is a wonderful woman whose authenticity pulls you alongthe breadth and originality of supporting characters makes this debut an immersive delight' Dorset MagazineAbsolutely spellbindinga warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny and yet deeply poignant' Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory LaneA treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you'll love spending time with' Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and FoundShe can't recall what started her collection. Maybe it was in a fragment of conversation overheard as she cleaned a sink? Before long (as she dusted a sitting room or defrosted a fridge) she noticed people were telling her their stories. Perhaps they always had done, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to herWhen Janice starts cleaning for Mrs B a shrewd and tricksy woman in her nineties she meets someone who wants to hear her story. But Janice is clear: she is the keeper of stories, she doesn't have a story to tell. At least, not one she can share.Mrs B is no fool and knows there is more to Janice than meets the eye. What is she hiding? After all, doesn't everyone have a story to tell?Readers are loving Sally Page:Oh my giddy aunt what an amazing bookabsolutely adored it from start to finish' JeannieNot what I was expecting at allloved the way it ended' JulieAn absolutely wonderful, unputdownable book full of delightful characters' SueWhat a wonderful idea for a bookA joy to read' AngelaBeautiful storyI loved every minute of reading it!' RubieTrade Review‘Wow, what a fantastic book that kept me rooting for the main character, Janice…The book has so many interesting characters, each with their own story and I loved it’ ‘An interesting, enjoyable and quite engaging story…anyone who is fascinated in people's lives will love this book and be completely engrossed from start to finish’ ‘A lovely, delightful book filled with rich, wonderful characters, and an intriguing plot’
£8.54
Random House USA Inc A Little Life
Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century.NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZEA Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.
£11.70
Vintage Publishing Mother Night
Book SynopsisKurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922 and studied biochemistry at Cornell University. An army intelligence scout during the Second World War, he was captured by the Germans and witnessed the destruction of Dresden by Allied bombers, an experience which inspired his classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five. After the war he worked as a police reporter, an advertising copywriter and a public relations man for General Electric. His first novel Player Piano (1952) achieved underground success. Cat's Cradle (1963) was hailed by Graham Greene as 'one of the best novels of the year by one of the ablest living authors'. His eighth book, Slaughterhouse-Five was published in 1969 and was a literary and commercial success, and was made into a film in 1972. Vonnegut is the author of thirteen other novels, three collections of stories and five non-fiction books. Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007.Trade ReviewVonnegut's chilling early masterpiece * Observer *Mother Night is not one of his most famous books, but it's one of the best * Washington Post *A brilliant wacky ideas-monger * Observer *Everyone should read Vonnegut -- Tim MinchinA cool writer, at once throwaway and passionate and very funny * Financial Times *
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Battle
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Spain, May 1811As the British struggle to keep their last strongholds in Spain, Captain Richard Sharpe is handed a grenade of a command ordered to train the Spanish palace guards for battle.But when the crumbling frontier fort where they are based becomes the target for the elite French attack, Sharpe is confronted by an old enemy.After a desperate fight, the British are badly beaten and bruised and so is Sharpe's fragile reputation. The only hope of redemption is glory in one of the fiercest battles of the whole war. And so leading his men through the blood-stained, narrow streets of Fuentes de Oñoro is Sharpe . . .A master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPHTrade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
Pan Macmillan Marking Time
Book SynopsisAs featured on BBC Radio 4 Open BookBeautifully and poignantly told, Marking Time is the second novel in Elizabeth Jane Howard's bestselling family saga The Cazalet Chronicles.'She helps us to do the necessary thing – open our eyes and our hearts' – Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf HallHome Place, Sussex, 1939. As the shadows of the Second World War roll in, banishing the sunlit days of childish games and trips to the coast, a new generation of Cazalets take up the family's story.Louise, who dreams of becoming a great actress, finds herself facing the harsh reality that her parents have their own lives with secrets, passions and yearnings. Clary, an aspiring writer, learns that her beloved father is now missing somewhere on the shores of France. And sensitive, imaginative Polly feels stuck – stuck without a vocation, stuck without information about her mother's illness, stuck without anything except her nightmares about the war.'Charming, poignant and quite irresistible . . . to be cherished and shared' – The TimesWith cover artwork exclusively designed by artist Luke Edward Hall, this is the second volume of the extraordinary Cazalet Chronicles and a perfect addition to your collection. Marking Time is followed by Confusion, the third book in the series.Trade ReviewIf I were sent to a desert island with one book this would be my choice -- HRH The Duchess of CornwallCharming, poignant and quite irresistible . . . to be cherished and shared' * The Times *She is one of those novelists who shows, through her work, what the novel is for . . . She helps us to do the necessary thing – open our eyes and our hearts -- Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf HallThe Cazalets have earned an honoured place among the great saga families . . . rendered thrillingly three-dimensional by a master craftsman * Sunday Telegraph *Superb . . . hypnotic . . . very funny * Spectator *Evocative and gracefully written * Cosmopolitan *A family saga of the best kind . . . a must * Tatler *A dazzling historical reconstruction -- Penelope Fitzgerald, Booker Prize-winning author of OffshoreThis chronicle will be read, like Trollope, as a classic about life in England in our century -- Sybille Bedford, author of A Legacy and JigsawGloriously addictive . . . Family loyalty, betrayals, triumphs, tragedy, births and deaths are all blissfully here, and you become emotionally absorbed in the fate of each character * Daily Mail *
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HarperCollins Publishers Sharpes Revenge
Book Synopsis*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Richard Sharpe triumphs in the last battle of the war, only to find himself in worse peril when charged to recover Napoleon's treasure.It is 1814. There are rumours that Napoleon is dead, or has run away, but Sharpe has one last battle to fight before he can lay down his sword. It is the battle for Toulouse. Little does he know it will be one of the bloodiest conflicts of the war.But Sharpe's war is not only the battle. Accused of stealing Napoleon's treasure, Sharpe must discover the unknown enemy who has tried to frame him and his revenge is ingenious and devastating.Soldier, hero, rogue Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.Trade Review‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer ‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
£7.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Lady Most Willing A Novel in Three Parts
Book SynopsisThree of the brightest stars of Regency romance invite you to a ball. Or is it a party? Or a kidnapping? If you loved Bridgerton, you'll adore this witty, sparkling Regency romance. . .Trade ReviewQuinn, James and Brockway are all Regency legends, and they are at their best in this sexy, touching, powerful romance . . . a great read for anyone who loves a good romance, a must-read for historical-romance fans * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *
£7.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Book of Beginnings
Book Synopsis**Sally Page''s remarkable new novel The Secrets of Flowers is available now**From the author of the phenomenal bestseller The Keeper of Stories, comes an utterly beautiful and charming novel full of mystery and secrets waiting to be uncoveredFilled with compassion and insight a true ode to friendship' HAZEL PRIORMasterful storytelling' CELIA ANDERSONA powerful ode to friendship'FabulousHer new chapter starts nowJo Sorsby is hiding from her past when she agrees to run her uncle's beloved stationery shop. Glimpsing the lives of her customers between the warm wooden shelves, as they scribble little notes and browse colourful notebooks, distracts her from her bruised heart.When she meets Ruth, a vicar running from a secret, and Malcolm, a septuagenarian still finding himself, she suddenly realizes she isn't alone.They each have a story that can transform Jo's life if only she can let them in.The perfect gift for book lovers, The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Bookshop in this gorgeous novel about secrets, second chances and finding friendship in the most unlikely places.Netgalley reviewers LOVE The Book of Beginnings!''Another extraordinary read by the author of The Keeper of Stories'' ?????''What a gem of a book!''?????''Everything about the story moved me''?????''I am in awe of Sally Page's writing'' ?????''So refreshingly original'' ?????''You just have to read it'' ?????''A read cover-to-cover-in-one-sitting book that gives all the feels'' ?????''Wonderful, just wonderful''?????Trade Review Praise for The Keeper of Stories ‘I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny and charming’ Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde ‘Funny, wise, moving and full of lovely moments…The characters are endearing and unforgettable’ Hazel Prior, author of the Richard & Judy Book Club Pick Away with the Penguins ‘Janice is a wonderful woman whose authenticity pulls you along…the breadth and originality of supporting characters makes this debut an immersive delight’ Dorset Magazine ‘Absolutely spellbinding…a warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny and yet deeply poignant’ Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory Lane ‘A treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you’ll love spending time with’ Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and Found
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HarperCollins Publishers All the Light We Cannot See
Book SynopsisIntroducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience classics which will endure for generations to come.Open your eyes, and see what you can with them before they close foreverFor Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes: the miniature model of her Paris neighbourhood she traces with her fingers; the microscopic layers within the diamond in the Museum of Natural History; the unmapped future which brings her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, whose talents draw the attention of the Hitler Youth.A deeply moving novel about the ways people try to be good to one another, All the Light We Cannot See has touched the hearts of millions of readers across the world, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.Far more than a conventional war story, it's a tightly focused epic A bittersweet and moving novel that lingers in the mind' Daily MailTrade Review'Far more than a conventional war story, It's a tightly focused epic revolving around two unusual main characters … Doerr paints with a rich palette, using prose that resonates deeply and conveys the ephemera of daily existence along with high drama, sadness and hope … A bittersweet and moving novel that lingers in the mind' Clifford Beal, Daily Mail ‘TIt is easy to understand why Doerr’s book is regarded by many as an epic and a masterpiece’ Justin Cartwright, Observer ‘This novel will be a piece of luck for anyone with a long plane journey or beach holiday ahead. It is such a page-turner, entirely absorbing … [Doerr’s] attention to detail is magnificent’ Carmen Callil, Guardian ‘Doerr’s novel seems poised somewhere between the sublime and the twee. It very much lands on the right side of things, thanks to the author’s eye for detail and the suspenseful rhythm of his chapters — often only a page or two — which expertly cut back and forth in time. He can bring a scene to life in a single paragraph … Delicate and moving … the novel takes hold and will not easily let go’ Lidija Haas, The Times ‘Boy meets girl in Anthony Doerr’s hauntingly beautiful new book, but the circumstances are as elegantly circuitous as they can be’ Janet Maslin, The New York Times ‘I’m not sure I will read a better novel this year … Enthrallingly told, beautifully written and so emotionally plangent that some passages bring tears’ Amanda Vaill, Washington Post ‘This jewel of a story is put together like a vintage timepiece … Doerr’s writing and imagery are stunning. It’s been a while since a novel had me under its spell in this fashion’ Abraham Verghese
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Hodder & Stoughton King Rat
Book SynopsisThe completely uncut edition of James Clavell's classic KING RAT, in fresh new packaging for a new generation of readersTrade ReviewA splendidly exciting and original story * Sunday Telegraph *Terrifyingly exciting suspense * Ian Fleming *KING RAT is the best novel in English to have come out of Japanese prisoner of war camps . . . James Clavell is a teller of stories. They are complicated and exciting, and you are desperate to know what will happen to his characters because they are like the people you know from your own life and experience, set in strange and sometimes terrible circumstances * John Simpson *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing The Name of the Rose
Book SynopsisFranciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. But his delicate mission is overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths. He collects evidence, deciphers secret symbols and digs into the eerie labyrinth of the abbey where extraordinary things are happening under the cover of night.Trade ReviewThe late medieval world, teetering on the edge of discoveries and ideas that will hurl it into one more recognisably like ours...evoked with a force and wit that are breathtaking * Financial Times *A novel of sunning intelligence, linguistic richness, thematic complexity * Il Giorno *This novel belongs with Voltaire' philosophical tales-in the entertaining guise of an erudite fiction story, it is also a vibrant plea for freedom, moderation and wisdom * L'Express *A brilliant deconstruction of the traditional crime novel -- Iain Rankin * Mail on Sunday *Whether you’re into Sherlock Holmes, Montaillou, Borges, the nouvelle critique, the Rule of St. Benedict, metaphysics, library design, or The Thing from the Crypt, you’ll love it. Who can that miss out? * Sunday Times *
£10.44
