Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA GRIPPING AND ULTIMATELY UPLIFTING SAGA SET IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY LONDON FROM A WONDERFUL TALENT ...Born into poverty and living under the roof of her violent and abusive brother-in-law, young Kitty Cox dreams of working in a women's dress shop in the West End - a million miles away from the reality of her life as a mud-lark, scavenging on the banks of the Thames. Fate soon intervenes and Kitty finds herself working as a skivvy for Sir Desmond and Lady Arabella Mableton in Mayfair. Bullied by the kitchen maids, Kitty is soon taken under Lady Arabella's wing and for the first time in her life Kitty dares to hope. But Lady 'Bella' has a secret and unable to live with her domineering husband she decides to leave, fighting for custody of their daughter, Leonie. Kitty will do anything for her mistress but her loyalty is severely tested as all their lives are thrown into turmoil and Kitty faces a life of poverty and hardship in the slums of the East End once more ...

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Book SynopsisA powerful saga set in turn-of-the-twentieth-century London from the Sunday Times bestselling author. For Ruby and Rosetta Capretti life in the slums of the East End holds little promise. Although very similar in looks they dream of very different futures. Coquettish, flamboyant Rosetta is desperate to leave the claustrophobic confines of the sewing sweatshop to follow in her wayward aunt's footsteps and work under the bright lights of the music hall. Ruby, quieter and more modest, has always longed to train as a nurse, a pipe-dream for a girl from her humble background. And then, by the side of their father's grave, they meet handsome Jonas Crowe. But little do they know how much one man will affect both their lives for ever.

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Book Synopsis'I aint always going to be poor, I made me mind up to that.'Dismissed from her position as housemaid under a cloud of misunderstanding, Tilly True is forced to return home. But Tilly is determined to make something of her life and, rather than admit the truth to her poverty-stricken family, she sets out once more in search of employment. Her journey takes her to the London law courts, a grim parsonage in one of the most notorious parts of the East End and a house of ill-repute. But when she falls for the dangerous charms of Barnaby Palgrave, Tilly soon finds that her troubles have only just begun ...

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Book SynopsisThe Thames carried him away from her, but would it bring him home...?Twelve-year-old Eliza Bragg has known little in life but the cold, comfortless banks of the Thames. Living above her uncle's chandlery she has grown accustomed to a life of penury and servitude, her only comfort the love and protection of her older brother, Bart. But one day Bart accidentally kills a man and is forced to flee to New Zealand. Alone, barefoot, beaten down and at the mercy of her cruel uncle, Eliza realises that her very survival is at stake...Trade ReviewThis is a wonderful book from a brilliant new writer * Bournemouth Daily Echo *

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Book Synopsis_________________________________A sweeping tale of loss and love set in turn-of-the-century London, from beloved bestselling author Dilly CourtWhen Eloise Cribb receives the news that her husband's ship has been lost at sea she wonders how she is ever going to manage. With two young children, the rent overdue and almost nothing to live on, she has no alternative but to turn to his estranged family for help.She sets off on the long and arduous journey to Yorkshire, but is met with hostility and soon realises she has little choice but to return to London. Virtually destitute and desperate, Eloise is faced with her worst nightmare: she must either go to the workhouse, or abandon her children at the Foundling Hospital. But she is determined to keep them safe and under her protective wing at all costs...Trade ReviewThere's a depth to her characters, and the locations are vividly drawn * Choice *

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Book SynopsisDespite living by the side of the Thames, with its noise, disease and dirt, eighteen-year-old Rosina May has wanted for little in life. Until her father's feud with a fellow bargeman threatens to destroy everything. To save them all, Rosina agrees to marry Harry, the son of a wealthy merchant. But a chance encounter with a handsome river pirate has turned her head and she longs to meet him again. When her father dies a broken man, Harry goes back on his promise and turns Rosina out onto the streets. She is forced to work the river herself, ferrying rubbish out of London and living rough. In spite of her hardships, she cannot forget her pirate and when tragedy threatens to strike once more she is forced to make a choice. But is she really prepared to risk everything for love?

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Book SynopsisWhen Hetty Huggins made a promise to her dying mother that she would look after her younger sister and brothers, little did she know how difficult this would be. But despite the threat of being turned out onto the streets by the unscrupulous tallyman and the never-ending struggle just to exist, Hetty is determined her family will never starve or want for a roof over their heads. Longing for something better out of life than the daily grind of making matchboxes for a pittance, she dreams of setting up her own business. With the help of friends she sells hot potatoes on the streets and things begin to look up for them all. But when the tallyman comes calling, they are faced once more with a future full of hardship and despair ...

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Book SynopsisA MOVING, HEARTFELT AND FAMILY DRIVEN SAGA SET IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY LONDON FROM THE BESTSELLING SAGA AUTHOREffie Grey has fallen on hard times since the death of her husband. Forced to live on a narrowboat owned by her tyrannical father-in-law, Jacob, Effie must put aside her own despair in order to protect her brother, Tom, and her young son, Georgie. Life becomes even more unbearable when Jacob hires the villainous Salter and his vile wife Sal to run the barge. When Tom is sent away without a penny, Effie is forced to make a choice to protect her family. Driven by desperation, Effie steals Jacob’s hidden cache of money and flees with her son in search of Tom. No matter what, she will make a home for little Georgie and keep him safe from harm.Trade ReviewA great story that keeps you interested from the start * Bournemouth Daily Echo, 4 stars *

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Book Synopsis1470The recent tensions between King Edward and his great ally the Earl of Warwick lie forgotten these past months, but even as winter tightens her grip on the land, the peace is shattered by a vicious attack on one of the King’s allies.Long buried secrets are brought to the surface, and Thomas and Katherine must finally decide where their loyalties lie and to choose between fight or flight, knowing either choice will incur a terrible price. From Lincoln to Bruges, from Barnet to the great battle at Tewkesbury, both must play their part in one of the most savage wars in history. The wars of the roses.'Should be required reading for fans of historical fiction' The Times'Toby Clements does it again with another powerhouse of a book: thrilling and literate, engaging, passionate, deeply moving and full of historical detail of the sort that fills me with awe for the fortitude of our ancestors and yet makes me so glad I live in the safety of the twenty-first century. This is going to be one of the stellar series of our generation, redefining that period of history that we think we know, and discover we really don’t. Bravo!' Manda Scott'A major achievement in historical fiction' Historia Magazine'Clements is so convincing on the detail of his characters’ lives that it is difficult to believe that he never walked in the brutal, messy world he conjures up on the page' The Times'Toby Clements’ Kingmaker series is historical fiction at its very finest - and Kingdom Come is the best of them all.' William RyanTrade ReviewToby Clements does it again with another powerhouse of a book: thrilling and literate, engaging, passionate, deeply moving and full of historical detail of the sort that fills me with awe for the fortitude of our ancestors and yet makes me so glad I live in the safety of the twenty-first century. This is going to be one of the stellar series of our generation, redefining that period of history that we think we know, and discover we really don’t. Bravo! * - Manda Scott *Should be required reading for fans of historical fiction * The Times *A major achievement in historical fiction * Historia Magazine *Clements is so convincing on the detail of his characters’ lives that it is difficult to believe that he never walked in the brutal, messy world he conjures up on the page * The Times *Toby Clements’ Kingmaker series is historical fiction at its very finest - and Kingdom Come is the best of them all. -- William Ryan

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Book SynopsisIf you like nail-biting tension, all-guns-blazing action and high-octane drama, then this historical adventure novel from multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman is perfect for you. Fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith will not be disappointed.'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - Sunday Times'A terrific nautical yarn from one of the best Naval authors' -- ***** Reader review'Another romping good yarn by my favourite author. The only trouble is when I start reading, its hard to put it down :-)' -- ***** Reader review'A must read' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************The Allies are poised for the invasion of Italy.Yet the Germans hold a vital card: a floating dock - the only one in the Adriatic large enough to take a major warship. Moored at a small port near Rimini, it is exposed, vulnerable.It must be destroyed before the Germans can tow it to a safer harbour. Air, surface and conventional submarine attacks are out of the question.Only one team can do the job and still stand a chance of surviving - the crew of HM Midget Submarine XE 51...

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Book SynopsisTHE FIRST SHIPYARD GIRLS NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, NANCY REVELL.'Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!' The Northern Echo***********Sunderland, 1940, and the women go to the shipyards to do their bit for the war effort.Polly never dreamed she would be able to work in the shipyards like the men in her family but times are tough and her new job ends up giving her more than she ever expected when she meets enigmatic dock diver Tommy Watts.During the day, head welder Rosie teaches her fledgling flock of trainees their new trade, but at night she hides a secret life.And mother hen Gloria signs up to escape her brutal husband, but finds she cannot run from her problems.The Shipyard Girls start off as strangers - but end up forging an unbreakable bond of friendship in the most difficult times.Praise for The Shipyard Girls series:'the author is one to watch' Sun'A brilliant read' Take a Break'Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages' Woman Trade ReviewTHE FIRST SHIPYARD GIRLS NOVEL. Sunderland, 1940, and the women go to the shipyards to do their bit for the war effort. The Shipyard Girls start off as strangers - but end up forging an unbreakable bond of friendship in the most difficult times. * from the publisher's description *I have just finished The Shipyard Girls and enjoyed it very much indeed . . . It has all the essentials of a good saga: well-drawn, believable, sympathetic characters, storylines which keep the reader turning the page and a very authentic background . . . The special bond that develops between the women makes it a very well rounded novel and will I’m sure have readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. -- Lyn AndrewsSet in Sunderland at the start of WW2 tough doesn’t begin to describe the hard graft the Shipyard Girls experienced building battle ships for the Navy. Though often weary, heartbroken and terrified they have the dogged determination of conscripted women who will never give up – whatever fate throws at them. Well done on a terrific debut novel, Nancy Revell! -- Daisy Styles, author of The Bomb GirlsI had read The Shipyard Girls and enjoyed it tremendously, so much so that I bought Nancy’s second book. Strong characters and an absorbing story-line. Can't wait to read her third novel. -- Rosie Archer, author of The Gunpowder and Glory GirlsThe Shipyard Girls is just wonderful. Heartfelt, pacy and gutsy, I adore it already and will no doubt be devouring the rest of the series with just as much enthusiasm. -- Fiona Ford, author The Spark Girl

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Book SynopsisTHE SECOND SHIPYARD GIRLS NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, NANCY REVELL.‘Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!’ Northern Echo***********1941: it takes strength to work on the docks, but the war demands all hands on deck and the women are doing their best to fill the gap. Rosie is flourishing in her role as head-welder while still keeping her double life a secret. But a dashing detective is forcing Rosie to choose between love and her duty. Gloria is hiding her own little secret – one that if found out, could not only threaten her job, but her life.And the shipyards are proving tougher than Polly ever imagined, while she waits for her man to return home safely. Join the shipyard girls as they journey through the hardships of life, love and war.Praise for The Shipyard Girls series:'the author is one to watch' Sun‘A brilliant read’ Take a Break‘Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages’ WomanTrade ReviewTHE SECOND SHIPYARD GIRLS NOVEL. 1941: it takes strength to work on the docks, but the war demands all hands on deck and the women are doing their best to fill the gap. Rosie is flourishing in her role as head-welder, Gloria is hiding her own little secret, and the shipyards are proving tougher than Polly ever imagined. * from the publisher's description *Arrow have a speciality in publishing these sweeping historical novels. It is easy to see why the genre is so popular in general, but also why Nancy Revell’s books are so popular. Researched within an inch of its life; the novel is enjoyably entertaining. A perfect way to spend hours, wrapped up in the characters’ lives. This is the second book in The Shipyard Girls saga and it is not only just as good as the first, but a perfect continuation. Recommended reading. * Frost Magazine *If you loved The Shipyard Girls you’ll be itching to get your hands on this sequel … a brilliant read! * Take a Break *Nancy creates strong characters that come alive as you read. I loved finding out about their individual journeys. Nancy writes about some serious issues but she writes it in such away that it is also filled with hope that things will get better. If you love reading about strong women, love and family in time of war this is a book for you. * chellsandbooks *

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THE THIRD SHIPYARD GIRLS NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, NANCY REVELL. ‘Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!’ Northern Echo ***********Sunderland, 1941As the world war continues the shipyard girls face hardships at home, but work and friendship give them strength to carry on.Gloria is smitten with her newly arrived bundle of joy, but baby Hope’s first weeks are bittersweet. Hope's father is missing at sea, and with their future as a family so uncertain, Gloria must lean on her girls for support.Meanwhile, head welder Rosie has turned her back on love to keep her double life secret. But her persistent beau is determined to find out the truth and if he does, it could ruin her.And there is finally a glimmer of hope for Polly and her family when Bel and Joe fall in love. But it isn’t long before a scandalous revelation threatens to pull them all apart.Praise for The Shipyard Girls series:‘This author is one to watch!’ Sun ‘A brilliant read’ Take a Break‘Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages’ Woman

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD AND FINAL SAGA IN EVIE GRACE'S MAIDS OF KENT TRILOGY.'An intriguing tale of family relationships and of finding love a second time around . . . I’ll be sure to look out for the next book in the series.' Val Wood ‘An enthralling plotline with unexpected twists that will intrigue the reader until the last page.’ Margaret Dickinson*****East Kent, 1876With doting parents and siblings she adores, sixteen-year-old Rose Cheevers leads a contented life at Willow Place in Canterbury. A bright future ahead of her, she dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming a teacher. Then one traumatic day turns the Cheevers’ household upside-down. What was once a safe haven has become a place of peril, and Rose is forced to flee with the younger children. Desperate, she seeks refuge in a remote village with a long lost grandmother who did not know she existed. But safety comes at a price, and the arrival of a young stranger with connections to her past raises uncomfortable questions about what the future holds. Somehow, Rose must find the strength to keep her family together. Above all else, though, she needs a place to call home.Trade ReviewEnthralling * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *A perfect conclusion to this riveting saga. Get a cup of tea and dig in. The book equivalent to a great Sunday night drama. * Frost Magazine *

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Book SynopsisLiverpool, 1923Lizzie is an orphan living with her Aunt Annie, Uncle Perce and two boy cousins in Cranberry Court, within a stone's throw of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Lizzie loves her aunt but is hated by her uncle and escapes whenever she can.She makes friends with Geoff Gardiner, another orphan, and is teaching him to swim in the Scaldy when Clem Gilligan rescues the pair of them from drowning. Clem works on the Canal boat, The Liverpool Rose, with Jake Pridmore and his wife, plying between the great cities of Leeds and Liverpool.But Lizzie's situation at home starts to worsen as her uncle grows surlier and more violent. Eventually the worst happens and Lizzie is forced to flee from the Court or risk serious injury, perhaps even death. Her first instinct is to make for the canal, but finding Clem is not so easy . . .

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Book SynopsisTHE BRAND NEW BOOK BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA DOUGLASHer second book in The Nurses of Steeple Street series The Nightingale Christmas Show is available to PRE-ORDER NOW!*****West Yorkshire, 1926. After completing her training in Steeple Street, Agnes Sheridan is looking forward to making her mark as Bowden's first district nurse, confident she can make a difference in the locals’ lives.But when Agnes arrives, she’s treated with suspicion, labelled just another servant of the wealthy mine owners. The locals would much rather place their trust in the resident healer – Hannah Arkwright.And when the General Strike throws the village into turmoil, the miners and their families face hunger and hardship, and Agnes finds her loyalties tested.Now it’s time to prove whose side she is really on and to fight for her place in the village . . .'Full of well drawn characters and intriguing relationships. Donna Douglas skilfully charts her heroine's attempts to be accepted . . . uncovering secrets, heartbreak and lost loves along the way!'Mary Gibson, author of Custard Tarts and Broken HeartsTrade ReviewThe second book in Sunday Times bestseller Donna Douglas's Nurses of Steeple Street series. West Yorkshire, 1926. After completing her training in Steeple Street, Agnes Sheridan is looking forward to making her mark as Bowden's first district nurse, confident she can make a difference in the locals’ lives. * from the publisher's description *A very well researched and vivid portrayal of a close knit mining community facing poverty, hardship and danger during the momentous year of 1926. I was quickly drawn into this story, full of well drawn characters and intriguing relationships. Donna Douglas skilfully charts her heroine's attempts to be accepted by the proud and often hostile community she serves - uncovering secrets, heartbreak and lost loves along the way! -- Mary Gibson, author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts[A] story of grit and determination * The People’s Friend ***** *Readers are sure to be hooked from the very first page of this wonderfully written and wholly absorbing saga… A fascinating, compelling and outstanding read saga fans will not want to miss, District Nurse On Call is another winner by Donna Douglas * Bookish Jottings *I absolutely and totally flipping well LOVED this book… I award this book 5* out of 5* but I would award it more stars if I could because it really is that good * Ginger Book Geek *

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Book SynopsisA HEARTWARMING WARTIME TALE FEATURING THE NURSES OF THE NIGHTINGALE HOSPITALBY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA DOUGLAS________________________________________FOR THE NIGHTINGALE NURSES, THE WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING...East London, 1917. Anna is over the moon when her sweetheart Edward returns from the front line. As he recovers from injuries sustained in war, they make plans to be married. But the horrors of the trenches cast a long shadow.Caring for shell-shocked soldiers brings untold challenges for Grace, and her parents have very different dreams for her future. Will she have the strength to forge her own path?Meanwhile Dulcie has her sights firmly set on her own happy ending. Yet sometimes we find love where we least expect to. Each nurse has her own battle to fight but they must pull together to find true happiness.

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Book Synopsis___________________________Sisters Willa and Harper mean the world to each other.Inseparable since the loss of their mother as teenagers, the Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. Quiet, demure Willa has always admired Harper's sense of adventure. She enjoys her peaceful routine as a café owner in their coastal hometown of Oceanside. When a handsome customer shows interest in Willa, Harper urges her sister to take a chance on love. Then Harper receives crushing news that threatens to bring everything to a halt. Only by supporting each other will the sisters be able to face the trials to come. And though the time ahead may be tough, Willa and Harper will discover that the darkest times can lead to the most beautiful rewards.___________________________Praise for Debbie Macomber 'An ideal holiday book' Good Housekeeping 'If there's a star in the romance and women's fiction firmament, chances are high it's Debbie Macomber' Publisher's Weekly

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Set during the Hundred Years War, the protagonist of The White Company is a cloister-raised young nobleman who discovers that his father's will stipulated he travelled for a year before taking his vows. Setting off on his adventures, he finds himself part of the White Company - a group of mercenary archers en route to France.The horror of fighting awaits him - but so does the promise of valour. This is a lively and action-packed account of the exploits of a crew of Saxon archers, realistic and incredibly atmospheric in its depictions of medieval life, with a satisfying and compelling combination of breathless adventure and romantic chivalry.

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Book SynopsisVirginia Woolf's most unusual and fantastic creation, a funny, exuberant tale that examines the very nature of sexuality. **One of the BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World** As his tale begins, Orlando is a passionate young nobleman whose days are spent in rowdy revelry, filled with the colourful delights of Queen Elizabeth's court. By the close, he will have transformed into a modern, thirty-six-year-old woman and three centuries will have passed. Orlando will not only witness the making of history from its edge, but will find that his unique position as a woman who knows what it is to be a man will give him insight into matters of the heart. WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY PETER ACKROYD AND MARGARET REYNOLDSTrade ReviewOrlando is the wittiest little book, a pleasure: it makes me laugh every time I read itUndoubtedly Virginia Woolf's most intense and one of the most singular [novels] of our era

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Book SynopsisEscape to the Cornish cliffs in the dizzying heat of August 1939, where five cousins are making the most of the last summer of their youth.Oliver is just back from the Spanish Civil War and world-weary at only nineteen. Calypso is gorgeous, utterly selfish and determined to marry for money. Polly and Walter, brother and sister, play their cards close to their chests. Then there's little Sophie, who nobody loves. Soon the world will be swept into war again and the five cousins will enter a whirligig of sex, infidelity, love and loss, but for now they have one last, gaspingly hot summer at the house by the cliffs with the camomile lawn. A beloved bestseller from an author ahead of her time, The Camomile Lawn is a waspishly witty, devil-may-care delight.Trade ReviewProvides equal does of sex and repression in war-torn Britain with panache and pace * The Times *A very good book indeed...rich in detail, careful and subtle in observation, mature in judgement -- Susan HillExtraordinarily accomplished and fast-moving * Financial Times *It's hard to overpraise Mary Wesley's novel...so tingling and spry with life that put a mirror to the book and I'll almost swear it will mist over with the breath of the five young cousins * The Times *

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Book Synopsis'Not since Shakespeare has love been so fully, vividly, scrupulously and directly communicated' Sunday TimesRead this stunning new translation of Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning masterpiece from Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, the acclaimed translators of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.Banned in the Soviet Union until 1988, Doctor Zhivago is the epic story of the life and loves of a poet-physician during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Taking his family from Moscow to what he hopes will be shelter in the Ural Mountains, Yuri Zhivago finds himself instead embroiled in the battle between the Whites and the Reds, and in love with the tender and beautiful nurse Lara.Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have restored the rhythms, tone, precision, and poetry of Pasternak's original, bringing this classic of world literature gloriously to life for a new generation of readers.VINTAGE CLASSICS RUSSIAN SERIES - sumptuous editions of the greatest books to come out of Russia during the most tumultuous period in its history.Trade ReviewThe first work of genius to come out of Russia since the Revolution -- V.S. PritchettThe English-speaking world is indebted to these two magnificent translators * New York Review of Books *One of the great events in man's literary and moral history -- Edmund WilsonBelongs to that small group of novels by which all others are ultimately judged -- Frank Kermode * Spectator *Not since Shakespeare has love been so fully, vividly, scrupulously and directly communicated -- Isaiah Berlin * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the most popular of Woolf's books during her lifetime - a powerful portrait of a family coping with changes wrought by the new twentieth century. The Years follows the lives of the Pargiters, a large middle-class London family, from an uncertain spring in 1880 to a party on a summer evening in the 1930s. We see them each endure and remember heart-break, loss, radical change and stifling conformity, marriage and regret. Written in 1937, this was the most popular of Virginia Woolf's novels during her lifetime, and is a powerful indictment of 'Victorianism' and its values. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SUSAN HILLTrade ReviewInspired throughout - a brilliant fantasia of all Time's problems, age and youth, change and permanence, truth and illusion * Times Literary Supplement *Lovely through The Waves was, The Years goes far beyond and beyond it-expressing Woolf's purpose in the novel more richly than it has ever been done before * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisDiscover Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning search for his family's origins: a powerful memoir, a history of slavery and a landmark in African-American literature.Tracing his ancestry through six generations of architects, lawyers, blacksmiths, farmers, freedmen and slaves, Alex Haley’s research took him back to Africa and a sixteen-year-old youth named Kunta Kinte. Torn from his homeland and brought to the slave markets of the New World, re-imagining Kunta’s journey would allow Haley to explore his family’s deep and distant past.‘A gripping mixture of urban confessional and political manifesto, Roots not only inspired a generation of black activists, but drove home the bitter realities of racism to a mainstream white liberal audience’ Observer WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY DAVID OLUSOGA, AUTHOR OF BLACK AND BRITISHTrade ReviewA gripping mixture of urban confessional and political manifesto, it not only inspired a generation of black activists, but drove home the bitter realities of racism to a mainstream white liberal audience * Observer *A Pulitzer Prize-winning story about the family ancestry of author Alex Haley... [and] a symbolic chronicle of the odyssey of African Americans from the continent of Africa to a land not of their choosing * Washington Post *Haley succeeds beautifully where many have failed... The book is an act of love, and it is this which makes it haunting -- James Baldwin * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisWilla Cather’s best-loved novel, and the final book in the Great Plains trilogy, is a beautiful portrayal of friendship, longing and growing up in frontier Nebraska. When young orphan Jim Burden is sent to live with his grandparents in Nebraska, he finds himself growing up alongside Bohemian immigrant Ántonia Shimerda. Their childhoods are full of shared adventures but as they grow their paths diverge, spurred on by the dire poverty of the Shimerda family. Yet Jim will never forget Ántonia, spellbound by her strength and remarkable free spirit. WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY TRAVEL WRITER SARA WHEELERTrade ReviewA clear-eyed salute to the resilience of the human spirit * Guardian *My Ántonia remains a revelation * The Paris Review *The knowledge of long hardship gives weight to the novel’s exquisitely realized moments of fulfilment… Cather looks with a wise, clear eye on those quiet moments -- Alexandra Harris * Harper's Bazaar *

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Book Synopsis'My dear, I don't give a damn.'Margaret Mitchell’s page-turning, sweeping American epic has been a classic for over eighty years. Beloved and thought by many to be the greatest of the American novels, Gone with the Wind is a story of love, hope and loss set against the tense historical background of the American Civil War. The lovers at the novel’s centre – the selfish, privileged Scarlett O’Hara and rakish Rhett Butler – are magnetic: pulling readers into the tangled narrative of a struggle to survive that cannot be forgotten.WINNER OF NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND PULITZER PRIZE'For sheer readability I can think of nothing it must give way before' The New Yorker'What makes some people come through catastrophes and others, apparently just as able, strong, and brave, go under?’ Margaret MitchellTrade ReviewThis is beyond a doubt one of the most remarkable first novels produced by an American writer. It is also one of the best. I would go so far as to say that it is, in narrative power . . . surpassed by nothing in American fiction. * The New York Times *For sheer readability I can think of nothing it must give way before * The New Yorker *Gone With The Wind is a rich, complicated book . . . we can and should argue about a story that’s achieved such a hold on the American imagination * The Washington Post *Mitchell carefully analyses the nature of human resilience, and holds up hopefulness as the critical tool for getting through the worst times… most of all, in the[se] bleak days . . . it is Scarlett’s belief that tomorrow will be better that feels endlessly and gleefully hopeful. After all, as she knows so well: “Tomorrow is another day.” * The Guardian *Anyone who has not read it has missed one of the greatest literary experiences a reader can have.

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Book Synopsis'A masterpiece of hurt' New York TimesWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MONIQUE ROFFEYIn the Caribbean, at the beginning of the last century, a poor rice-growing family struggle to exist. Four siblings pass their days in the ricefield, as does Ma. But Pa is an angry man ready to vent. It is the August rainy season and above their heads the black sky crackles with lightning.On the day that Pa nearly drowns Ma in a tub of washing water, the children and their mother escape into the cane fields to wait out Pa's rage. But eight-year-old Rama, catches a chill in the rain and falls ill. What follows is a tale of the inheritance of loss. It contains a heart-stopping intensity that places it as one of the greatest Caribbean novels ever written.'It is a novel unconcerned with anything but truth-telling' Dionne Brand'To anyone who knows Caribbean literature his novel is infamous, and Ladoo is seen as one of the region's great literary stars' Independent'Ladoo drags you through this terrific hurricane, and you can never forget it' Amanda Smyth, author of FortuneTrade ReviewI have read the book several times and it is my favourite novel written by a Trinidadian novelist hands down. It deserves to be known -- Monique Roffey * Independent *It is a book whose enduring gift is that someone had the courage to write it, without illusions, beneath a black sky -- David ChariandryRereading this book has given me the gift of seeing it not only as an ode to violence, as it has come to be characterized, but also as a compassionate work by its end. I am indeed in love with this book. -- Shani MootooLuminous and harrowing * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisJoe Trace in his fifties, door-to-door salesman, erstwhile devoted husband shoots dead his eighteen-year-old lover.At the funeral, his determined, hard-working wife, Violet, who is given to stumbling into dark mental cracks, tries with a knife to disfigure the corpse. Passionate and profound, Jazz brings us back and forth in time, in a narrative assembled from the hopes, fears and realities of black urban life.''Jazz blazes with an intensity more usually found in tragic poetry of the past.... Morrison''s voice transcends colour and creed and she has become one of America''s outstanding post-war writers'' Guardian''She wrote about what was difficult and what was necessary and in doing so she unearthed for a generation of people a kind of redemption, a kind of relief'' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, New York TimesBY THE NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF BELOVED**Winner of the PEN/Saul Be

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Book Synopsis'A magnum opus... Puts the reader at the heart of the horror that came to be called the Atlanta child murders' Toni MorrisonZala Spencer is barely surviving on the margins of Atlanta's booming economy when she awakens one summer's morning in 1980 to find her teenage son, Sonny, has disappeared. As uneasy hours turn into desperate days, Zala realizes that Sonny is among the many cases of missing children beginning to attract national attention. Growing increasingly disillusioned with the authorities, who respond to Sonny's disappearance with cold indifference, Zala and her estranged husband embark on an epic search. Through the eyes of a family seized by anguish and terror, we watch a city roiling with political, racial, and class tensions. Written over a span of twelve years, and edited by Toni Morrison, who called Those Bones Are Not My Child the author's magnum opus, Toni Cade Bambara's last novel leaves us with an enduring and revelatory chronicle of an American nightmare.Trade ReviewA magnum opus... Puts the reader at the heart of the horror that came to be called the Atlanta child murders -- Toni MorrisonA full-bloodied, important book and an eloquent final testament of a writer whose art was always dictated to by her humanity and sense of justice -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *These Bones Are Not My Child isn't just a gripping thriller; it's a masterwork of American literature * Harper's Bazaar *Bambara has produced both a human drama and a steely report on contemporary society. . .admirable * The Times *Bambara's achievement - in this masterly work - is to voice this sense of loss, to give full human dimension to events that for too long many of us flashed by like billboards at highway speed * New York Times Book Review *Captures for all time a nightmare of private hate and public racism * Independent on Sunday *A woolly mammoth of a novel, truly worthy of being called an epic, a book with great big feet that sometimes take ponderous steps but that always hit the ground with the sound of thunder * Chicago Tribune *Riveting... A carefully crafted mystery [that is] difficult to put down * Boston Globe *Toni Cade Bambara's writing is so great it lifts you off the ground * New Statesman *Nobody writes with her breathtaking humor, empathy, ferocity, and surrealness... As a writer, her observation and humanity are timeless. As a reader, I release myself into Ms. Toni's sure and steady hands, knowing every part of me will be illuminated by her gaze -- Adjoa Andoh

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Book Synopsis**A RICHARD AND JUDY AUTUMN BOOK CLUB PICK AND THE MOST POWERFUL BOOK YOU'LL READ THIS YEAR** 'Poignant and bittersweet, this novel is a joy' Richard & JudyYoung and confident, with a swagger in her step, Sugar arrives in the southern town of Bigelow hoping to start over. Soon Bigelow is alight with gossip and suspicion, and Sugar fears her past is catching up with her. Then she meets Pearl, a woman trying to forget her own traumas. As these next-door neighbours become unlikely friends, they wonder if their lives could finally be changing for the better. But small towns have long memories...Perfect for fans of The Vanishing Half and Where the Crawdads Sing, Sugar is a classic waiting to be rediscovered.Reviewers adore Sugar: 'A page-turning novel guaranteed to be looked back on as a timeless classic' INDEPENDENT 'This book is so engaging and beautiful and intriguing and satisfying that I could not put it down' ELLE 'Riveting... Searing and expertly imagined' TONI MORRISON on Bernice L. McFadden Readers are falling for Sugar 'Such an enjoyable read... beautifully written, raw and impactful' 'Riveting, heart-breaking' 'Very powerful, poignant' 'Beautifully written... brutal and moving... a must read book' 'Well-written with rich characters and many twists and turns' 'So descriptive yet easy to read, and it made me fall in love with all the characters'Trade ReviewSugar follows expertly crafted characters as they wade through grief, sexism, and the bitter judgement of the 1950s Deep South with warmth and heart. Sugar is a page-turning novel guaranteed to be looked back on as a timeless classic * Independent *Riveting...searing -- Toni Morrison (on Bernice McFadden)This book is so engaging and beautiful and intriguing and satisfying that I could not put it down -- Tarana BurkeMcFadden works a kind of miracle - not only do her characters retain their appealing humanity; their story eclipses the bonds of history to offer continuous surprises . . . Beautiful and evocative -- Jesymn WardSugar was a masterful debut, an electrifying and profoundly realized addition to African American women's literary fiction. And importantly, Sugar introduced us to the brilliant author, Bernice L. McFadden, who would bring forth The Book of Harlan, Gathering of Waters, Glorious, and Nowhere is a Place. -- Sapphire

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Book Synopsis'Look for your sister after each dive. Never forget. If you see her, you are safe.'This is the story of Hana and her little sister Emi, who are part of an island community of haenyo, women who make their living from free diving off the southernmost tip of Korea. One day Hana sees a Japanese soldier heading for where Emi is guarding the day's catch on the beach. Saving her sister, Hana herself is captured and forced to become a "comfort woman" in a Japanese military brothel.Moving between Hana in 1943 and Emi as an elderly woman today, White Chrysanthemum sheds light on a devastating history - and how the bond of sisterhood is strong enough to endure the evils of war.Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world.

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Book SynopsisNew to the Vintage Classics Woolf series, this is Woolf's groundbreaking experimental novel.Jacob's Room is Virginia Woolf's first truly experimental novel. It is a portrait of a young man, tracing his life from childhood, to Cambridge University, and to his early adult life in artistic London. Jacob always yearns for something greater, and embarks on a voyage to the Mediterranean before the war begins and his fate is forever altered. Impressionistic in style, the narrative is as inspired now as it was when it first appeared.'A remarkable achievement' New StatesmanTrade ReviewJacob, of whom people speak, of whom they think, but who is never shown. And yet that denial of presence on the part of the author makes of him one of the most living presences in world literature. It’s a remarkable achievement.—New StatesmanVirginia Woolf stands as the chief figure of modernism in England and must be included with Joyce and Proust in the realisation of experimental achievements that have completely broken with tradition—New York Times

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Book SynopsisA beautiful hardback edition of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel, from the great Toni Morrison.Sethe is now miles away from Sweet Home - the farm where she was kept as a slave for many years. Unable to forget the unspeakable horrors that took place there, Sethe is haunted by the violent spectre of her dead child, the daughter who died nameless and whose tombstone is etched with a single word, 'Beloved'.A tale of brutality, horror and, above all, love at any cost, Beloved is Toni Morrison's enduring masterpiece and best-known work.'An American masterpiece' A. S. Byatt'Toni Morrison was a giant of her times and ours... Beloved is a heartbreaking testimony to the ongoing ravages of slavery, and should be read by all' Margaret Atwood, New York Times**One of the BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS: Bound to be beautiful

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Book SynopsisRead the searing first novel from the celebrated author of Beloved, which immerses us in the tragic, torn lives of a poor black family in post-Depression 1940s Ohio. Unloved, unseen, Pecola prays each night for blue eyes. In this way she dreams of becoming beautiful, of becoming someone like her white schoolfellows worthy of care and attention. Immersing us in the tragic, torn lives of a poor black family in post-Depression Ohio, Toni Morrison's indelible debut reveals the nightmare at the heart of Pecola's yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfilment.**AS FEATURED IN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB**''She revealed the sins of her nation, while profoundly elevating its canon. She suffused the telling of blackness with beauty, whilst steering us away from the perils of the white gaze. That''s why she told her stories. And why we will never, ever stop reading them'' Afua Hirsch''Discovering a writer like Toni Morrison is rarest of plea

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Book SynopsisHere is twentieth-century woman in close-up, coping with the tragedies and upheavals of women''s lives from the First World War to Greenham Common and beyond.This is the edited' diary of an individual woman, born in 1901, and a story of the twentieth century. On the eve of the Great War, Millicent King begins keeping her journal, vividly recording the drama of everyday life. From bohemian London to Rome in the 1920s, through social work and the build-up to another war, in which she drives ambulances through the bombed streets of London, this is a story both fictional and true. Full of the texture of life, beautifully observed and evocative, it tells the story of an ordinary woman's life against the huge canvas of the last century.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHORThis series of war novels from Vintage Classics presents eight powerful stories about the horror and waste of war - each a passionate plea to prevent its repetition.

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling author Diney Costeloe, a young woman fights to save a treasured war memorial and uncovers a tragic story that reverberates from World War I to the present day. 'This is our secret, pet. You mustn't tell anyone about us planting this tree for dad. It's our secret.' 1921. In the sleepy village of Charlton Ambrose, eight ash trees stand as a timeless memorial to the men killed in the Great War. On a dark and chilly night, a ninth tree appears. Who planted it and why? And who was 'the unknown soldier' for whom it is marked? 2001. Eighty years later, the memorial is under threat from developers. Local reporter, Rachel Elliott, is determined to save it, and to solve the mystery of the ninth tree. The trail will take her into the dark heart of her own family history; to a great, but tragic, love; and to a secret that has been kept since the war to end all wars. Published in ebook as THE NURSES OF ST CROIX. What readers are saying about THE LOST SOLDIER: 'I didn't want it to end. It is beautifully written and pulls on every emotional string in our bodies' 'I loved reading this... Diney Costeloe is a fabulous author... I really felt as though I was living the story with the characters. I definitely recommend this book!' 'Diney Costeloe is an awesome writer, all her books are just wonderful and unputdownable'.Trade ReviewA powerful and moving account of the brutality of war itself -- Tony BennThis book bears powerful witness to a grave injustice -- Martin BellDiney Costeloe has tackled an important subject. We should never forget this terrible injustice -- John Humphrys

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Book SynopsisTHE RUNAWAY FAMILY was previously published as EVIL ON THE WIND. From bestselling author Diney Costeloe, a gritty drama about a mother's struggle to protect her family and escape Nazi persecution in World War Two Germany. Germany 1937: Fear and betrayal stalk the streets. People disappear. Persecution of the Jews has become a national pastime. When Ruth Friedman's husband is arrested by the SS, she is left to fend for herself and her four children. She alone stands as their shield against the Nazis. But where can she go? Where will her family be safe? Ruth must overcome the indifference, hatred and cruelty that surrounds her as she and her family race to escape the advancing Nazi army's final solution. What readers are saying about THE RUNAWAY FAMILY: 'A powerful and moving account of the dark era of Germany's history... A story which needed to be told and should be read by people of all ages' 'I personally loved this book... A harrowing insight into the lives of a young Jewish family at the beginning of Hitler's reign of terror... A sound reminder of man's inhumanity to man!' 'My university studies had to go on hold for a while because I couldn't put it down!' 'Another great story by Diney Costeloe'

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Book SynopsisGripping, authentic novel set in Roman Britain from bestselling historian, Adrian Goldsworthy. AD 98: VINDOLANDA. A FORT ON THE EDGE OF THE ROMAN WORLD. The bustling army base at Vindolanda lies on the northern frontier of Britannia and the entire Roman world. In just over twenty years time, the Emperor Hadrian will build his famous wall. But for now defences are weak as tribes rebel against Rome, and local druids preach the fiery destruction of the invaders. It falls to Flavius Ferox, Briton and Roman centurion, to keep the peace. But it will take more than just a soldier's courage to survive life in Roman Britain. This is a hugely authentic historical novel, written by one of Britain's leading historians. 'A thrilling and engrossing novel' HARRY SIDEBOTTOM. Trade ReviewAn instant classic of the genre. No historian knows more about the Roman army than Adrian Goldsworthy, and no novelist better recreates the Classical World. Flavius Ferox, Briton turned Roman Centurion is a wonderful, charismatic hero. Action and authenticity combine in a thrilling and engrossing novel -- Harry SidebottomAn authentic, enjoyable read * The Times *A well-written and authoritative novel that is always enjoyable and entertaining * For Winter Nights *Don't be surprised if you see Vindolanda in the starting line-up for Historical Fiction Book of the Year 2017 * Weekend Sport *Much more accurate than the usual action fiction about legionaries and Rome... Vindolanda brings the reader closer to the true nature of Roman Britain' * New Books Magazine *Complex and interesting, Vindolanda is definitely worth a read if you like history - and if you like your mystery with a solid dollop of action. Go Rome! * Roaring Bookworm *Gritty and realistic... Goldsworthy's characters are authentically ancient and his descriptions of Roman Briton ring true' -- Troy Lennon, Daily Telegraph (Sidney)Feels like an incredibly authentic view of life on the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Plenty of action and a cracking read for lovers of historical fiction or fans of Roman history * What Cathy Read Next *

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Book SynopsisThe perfect read for Christmas, from bestselling author Nadine Dorries. 1950s Liverpool. Christmas is the most harrowing time of year for the nurses of St Angelus Hospital. A brilliant nurse secretly battling a fatal illness over Christmas... A starving baby boy abandoned in the freezing cold... A cruel, controlling mother, determined to block her daughter's nursing career at all costs... In the run up to Christmas, nurses Pammy and Beth are aiming to win the coveted national decorating competition for the St Angelus children's ward, but drama after drama threatens to upset their plans. Amid the hardship and poverty of 1950s Liverpool, only the humour and community spirit of nurses and patients will get the Angels through their toughest Christmas yet. What people are saying about CHRISTMAS ANGELS: 'It had everything from laughing out moments, to those times where tears were not far away' 'Nadine Dorries is an excellent story teller and her characters are so well written... Not many authors have that effect on me' 'I have enjoyed all The Lovely Lane series so far but for me this is the best one yet' 'In my opinion she can do no wrong and this latest book is just wonderful, such a heart warming story!'Trade ReviewIf you enjoy historical fiction full of heartwarming moments that keeps you glued to the pages look no further than this... Five sparkly festive stars from me: Christmas Angels is perfect reading material for this time of year' -- Ali the DragonslayerDorries writes about life and death in a beautiful honest way... The Lovely Lane books are true gems and Christmas Angels is another gorgeous story with an ending that moved me to tears... I highly recommend this series' * With Love for Books *I adore the Lovely Lane series and Christmas Angels may be the best yet... It's a great read for this festive time of year. Some parts will bring a tear to the eye. Others will have you laughing' -- Rachel BustinA heartwarming, heart-wrenching and captivating new novel... Christmas Angels is a wonderful story that touches the heart and tickles the funny bone' * Bookish Jottings *Touching, moving and heartbreakingly beautiful, Nadine Dorries puts the spotlight on community spirit at Christmas time in the most humble and poignant manner * The Writing Garnet *A beautifully written novel which had me totally absorbed from the start... I'm hoping there is another novel featuring the characters of Lovely Lane as I don't think I could tire of reading about them ever' * That Thing She Reads *Dorries will make you feel all of the emotions while underpinning it all with strong, intelligent characters that convey hope throughout * Books of All Kinds *A truly beautiful read which authentically demonstrates how high a hospital is held in esteem by the staff, patients and local residents * Reviewer Lady *The hospital, children, Christmas, and a close-living community provide a highly emotional backdrop to crises: medical, social and romantic. Readers engaging with this story will find some strands intriguingly left unresolved * Historical Novel Society. *

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Book SynopsisAn unputdownable drama from the bestselling author of The Girl With No Name. Wynsdown, 1949. In the small Somerset village of Wynsdown, Charlotte Shepherd is happily married and now feels settled in her adopted home after arriving from Germany on the Kindertransport as a child during the war. Meanwhile, the squire's fighter pilot son, Felix, has returned to the village with a fiancée in tow. Daphne is beautiful, charming... and harbouring secrets. After meeting during the war, Felix knows some of Daphne's past, but she has worked hard to conceal one that could unravel her carefully built life. For Charlotte, too, a dangerous past is coming back in the shape of fellow refugee, bad boy Harry Black. Forever bound by their childhoods, Charlotte will always care for him, but Harry's return disrupts the village quiet and it's not long before gossip spreads. The war may have ended, but for these girls, trouble is only just beginning. What readers are saying about The Married Girls: 'Thoroughly enjoyed this book' 'Three words: wonderful, captivating and enthralling' 'I am so pleased I found this author' 'Diney Costeloe at her best.Trade ReviewA gripping saga * My Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA new emotional and gritty drama from the bestselling author of The Throwaway Children. After her mother's death, twenty-year-old Sophie Ross is left orphaned, with only her erstwhile nursemaid and faithful friend, Hannah for company. Penniless and little chance of an income, she looks for work as a governess in London to avoid destitution. But unbeknown to Sophie, her mother instructed Hannah to post a letter to Trescadinnick House in Cornwall upon her death. The letter will be the catalyst that changes Sophie's life forever as she learns of her mother's doomed romance and family she left behind in Cornwall. The Penvarrow family welcomes Sophie into their fold, but the new life she's built is threatened by secrets and lies that soon come to light... What readers are saying about Miss Mary's Daughter: 'Diney Costeloe's books are always first on my list, she writes such wonderful stories' 'I loved everything about this novel. It's an intriguing plot with a well-rounded group of characters and a beautifully written setting'.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR DINEY COSTELOE: 'A treat from the very first page. I could not put it down!' Historical Novel Society on The Sister of St Croix. 'This book bears powerful witness to a grave injustice' Martin Bell on The Lost Soldier. 'A powerful and moving account of the brutality of war itself' -- Tony Benn on The Lost Soldier

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Book SynopsisHeart-stopping and gripping, this classic Diney Costeloe story shows the courage of one family in the face of great danger. Nineteenth-century Paris is in flames, houses ransacked, streets barricaded. Most people are fleeing the ravaged city, but the St Clair family have made a fateful decision – to return to Paris from their house in the country. As the horrors of the Commune and the ensuring siege engulf the St Clairs, little Helene falls ill and becomes separated from the family. Lost and alone, she must fend for herself on the war-torn streets.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR DINEY COSTELOE: 'A treat from the very first page. I could not put it down!' Historical Novel Society on The Sisters of St Croix. 'Historical fiction heaven... Anyone who feels that women's hist fict is a simplified genre sub-set would definitely need a rethink after this' Bookbag, Top Ten Women's Fiction Books of 2016, on The Sisters of St Croix. 'Enlightening, compelling and emotional' * Living North, on The Throwaway Children *

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Book SynopsisYoung Maisie Halliday has escaped the grinding poverty of the northern town where she was born to live in the glittering world of professional dancing. At the outbreak of the Second World War, she volunteers as an ambulance driver, finding joy both in helping the wounded during the Blitz and also in her friends among the other drivers in the Bloomsbury Auxiliary Ambulance Depot. Maisie is at the Cafe de Paris nightclub when it is bombed. In the chaos, she attempts to help an injured man, and by this charitable act she becomes mixed up in what may well be a murder. A series of incidents, all connected to a handsome, arrogant American, throw Maisie''s life into a dangerous spin. Is anything what it seems in wartime? With one serious misjudgement, Maisie risks losing everything she holds dear...

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Book SynopsisCan she escape her past?Patty Jenkins has come a long way from her poverty-stricken days in Brownlow workhouse.She now has a coveted position in the kitchens at Freeman's Department store in Liverpool and even the prospect of advancement. For Patty has always enjoyed baking and her flair for it has caught the attention of the store owner who intends to have her create elaborate cakes and pastries to serve at afternoon tea to Freeman's clientele.But when you're a workhouse girl you can never quite forgive your past and when you've fallen on hard times before, you're always aware how easy it is to lose everything...

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