Description

Book Synopsis

The Sunday Times top 10 bestselling novel from the author of HAMNET and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT

*Over 400,000 copies sold*


Winner of the 2010 Costa Novel Award



''Exquisitely sensual'' Emma Donoghue, author of Room
-----
Fresh out of university and in disgrace, Lexie Sinclair is waiting for life to begin. When the sophisticated Innes Kent turns up on her doorstep in rural Devon, she realises she can wait no longer, and leaves for London. There, Lexie carves out a new life for herself at the heart of bohemian 1950s Soho, with Innes by her side.

In the present, Ted and Elina no longer recognise their lives after the arrival of their first child. Elina, an artist, wonders if she will ever paint again, while Ted is disturbed by memories of his own childhood - memories that don''t tally with his parents'' version of events.

As Ted''s search for answers gathers momentum, so a portrait is revealed of two women separated by fifty years, but linked by their passionate refusal to settle for ordinary lives.
_____

''The journey this novel invites us on is wonderful, involving time travel, heart ache, elation, confusion, freedom, nostalgia and art'' Scotland on Sunday

''A skilful, hurtful writer, capable of imbuing the everyday with weight and colour, ridiculously pleasurable to read'' Guardian

''Genuinely unputdownable''
Literary Review
_____

⭐ What readers are saying; ⭐

''I look up and several days have passed, unnoticed, because I''ve been completely absorbed... at the end, I sat back, breathless'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''
Lexie has become one of my favourite heroines'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

''
At times I hold my breath, filled with emotion. Beautiful'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Hand That First Held Mine

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    £10.44

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £10.99 – you save £0.55 (5%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Wed 10 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback by Maggie O'Farrell


      View other formats and editions of The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

      Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
      Publication Date: 3/27/2025
      ISBN13: 9781035430093, 978-1035430093
      ISBN10: 1035430096

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The Sunday Times top 10 bestselling novel from the author of HAMNET and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT

      *Over 400,000 copies sold*


      Winner of the 2010 Costa Novel Award



      ''Exquisitely sensual'' Emma Donoghue, author of Room
      -----
      Fresh out of university and in disgrace, Lexie Sinclair is waiting for life to begin. When the sophisticated Innes Kent turns up on her doorstep in rural Devon, she realises she can wait no longer, and leaves for London. There, Lexie carves out a new life for herself at the heart of bohemian 1950s Soho, with Innes by her side.

      In the present, Ted and Elina no longer recognise their lives after the arrival of their first child. Elina, an artist, wonders if she will ever paint again, while Ted is disturbed by memories of his own childhood - memories that don''t tally with his parents'' version of events.

      As Ted''s search for answers gathers momentum, so a portrait is revealed of two women separated by fifty years, but linked by their passionate refusal to settle for ordinary lives.
      _____

      ''The journey this novel invites us on is wonderful, involving time travel, heart ache, elation, confusion, freedom, nostalgia and art'' Scotland on Sunday

      ''A skilful, hurtful writer, capable of imbuing the everyday with weight and colour, ridiculously pleasurable to read'' Guardian

      ''Genuinely unputdownable''
      Literary Review
      _____

      ⭐ What readers are saying; ⭐

      ''I look up and several days have passed, unnoticed, because I''ve been completely absorbed... at the end, I sat back, breathless'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

      ''
      Lexie has become one of my favourite heroines'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

      ''
      At times I hold my breath, filled with emotion. Beautiful'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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