'Tightly plotted and hugely readable' Jane Rogers, author of PROMISED LANDS
'Marvellous . . . fans of immersive historical fiction, the 18th century, all things French and a dash of peril, this one's for you' Emily Brand, author of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF BYRON
'Glasfurd deftly, elegantly captures this volatile world of impoverished attic rooms and gilded literary salons' DAILY MAIL

The King knows the true power and privilege of books. When every book is cause for suspicion, you risk execution for possessing the wrong ones.

1766, PARIS. Ten years have passed since Delphine Vimond last saw her father. After his violent arrest, his library of books is burned. Young Delphine, bereft and fatherless, is forced to seek refuge in the city.

Now working as a housekeeper for the radical Monsieur Diderot, her settled life is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of Chancery Smith. A printer's apprentice, he has been sent from London to hunt down the mysterious author of revolutionary papers marked only with the initial D - the possession of which could prove fatal.

Pursued by the brutal French censor, Henri Gilbert, Delphine and Chancery set off on a frantic and deadly search that will take them across the country.

But can they catch up with D before Gilbert catches up with them?

'Among historical novelists, Glasfurd rides high' FINANCIAL TIMES

About the Author
Guinevere Glasfurd is a critically acclaimed novelist. Her debut novel, The Words in my Hand, was shortlisted for the 2016 Costa First Novel Award and Authors' Club Best First Novel Award and was longlisted in France for the Prix du Roman FNAC. Her second novel, The Year Without Summer, was written with support from the MacDowell Foundation, longlisted for the Walter Scott Historical Fiction Prize 2021 and shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award 2020. Awarded grants from the Arts Council England and the British Council for her work, her writing has also appeared in The Scotsman, Mslexia and in a collection published by the National Galleries of Scotland. Originally from Lancaster, she now lives near Cambridge with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

Praise for THE WORDS IN MY HAND

*shortlisted for the 2016 Costa First Novel Award*

Excellent . . . Glasfurd has created an entirely unsentimental love story, with a memorable and engaging heroine. She takes the narrowness of Helena's life and her kicks against its confines, and spins them into an original tale * The Times (Book of the Month) *
A striking debut . . . Her portrait of love across barriers of class, and of Helena's yearning for education, is a touching one * The Sunday Times *
An accomplished first novel . . . She brilliantly dissects the complex frustrations of a woman in love with a man consumed by intellectual obsessions. There is much to move us here * Guardian *
Gloriously readable . . . It feels as though Guinevere Glasfurd has seen into the heart and soul of Helena, as though this really could be her story . . . A truly lovely and captivating debut * LoveReading *

Praise for THE YEAR WITHOUT SUMMER
*Shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award 2020*
*Longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize 2021*

Rich in voice, beautifully told, and with a chilling sting in its tail * Historical Writers' Association *
Superb . . . a stay-up-all-night page-turner . . . a beautifully written, angry, unflinching and unforgettable novel * Financial Times *
Glasfurd is a strikingly sharp and subtle writer . . . She has the rare ability to conjure characters vividly in a few deft strokes and the gift, rarer still, of making us care deeply about them * Guardian *
Another superb saga, rich in both historical detail and human interest * Observer *
*Praise for PRIVILEGE*
'Set in eighteenth century France, Privilege takes us into the vividly dramatic world of Delphine, self-taught and rebellious, who is effectively orphaned by her father's arrest. In Paris she meets Chancery, a naive Scottish printer's apprentice who is miles out of his depth in this country where freedom of the press - for both readers and writers - is literally a burning issue. Feminism and censorship are just two of the themes that make this novel very timely in 2022. Tightly plotted and hugely readable. * JANE ROGERS, author of PROMISED LANDS *
Marvellous . . . fans of immersive historical fiction, the 18th century, all things French and a dash of peril, this one's for you. * Emily Brand, author of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF BYRON *
Glasfurd deftly, elegantly captures this volatile world of impoverished attic rooms and gilded literary salons * DAILY MAIL *
Among historical novelists, Glasfurd rides high... Unsentimentally, she takes us by the lapels and insists we pay attention to her characters... This fine novel is a strong reminder of the sovereign importance of the freedom to seek out the truth, wherever we can find it and, without fear of reprisal, to have it published. * Financial Times *
A wholly immersive plunge into another world, perfectly realised and a sheer joy to spend time in. Above all, it's a book about books - books and their extraordinary power. * Charlie Carroll, author of THE LIP *
A wonderfully engaging novel which reminds us why the freedom to write without fear of persecution remains a privilege which we must always defend. * Alice Jolly, author of MARY ANN SATE, IMBECILE *



Book Information
ISBN 9781529342925
Author Guinevere Glasfurd
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Two Roads
Publisher John Murray Press
Weight(grams) 240g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 26mm