Book of the day - and more on the way

   

    Today's arrival - though it's not due out until early February - is The Whores' Asylum by Katy Darby, "high drama and thrilling mystery mix in [this novel], a fantastically atmospheric and enjoyable gothic romp for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Sarah Waters, and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell."

    Set in Oxford's seedy Jericho in 1887, it concerns Stephen Chapman, a brilliant young medical student, who is persuaded to volunteer at a shelter devoted to reforming the fallen women of the city. Stephen's closest friend Edward knows what it means to fall in love with the wrong woman, and he fears for Stephen, but not even he can foresee the macabre events which begin to take place around them.

    "I present to the public a story as extraordinary as it is cautionary, as appalling as it is, ultimately, uplifting, having at its heart the primacy of those two noblest of all emotions - Love, and Hope, and their final triumph over Death. The principals are no more, but the story lives on to instruct, affect, and warn all those whom it may touch."

                                                 ~~~~~

    News now of some books to come later in the new year, begining with the much-anticipated sequel to Wolf Hall. As you'll perhaps have heard, Hilary Mantel's plans have changed, and as this article explains, she now has enough material for a trilogy, of which volume II - Bring up the Bodies, concerning Anne Boleyn's downfall - is due in May (if you click on the link there you can sign up to be notified when the book is available).

    All of us who enjoyed Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches (post on it here) will be glad to know that the second book in the All Souls Trilogy will be out in early June. Shadow of Night sees Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont in the London of 1590 discovering that the past may not be a safe haven. "Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy, Matthew falls back in step with a group of radicals known as the School of Night who share dangerous ideas about God, science, and man."

    Lastly today, Sue Gee's next novel is due out in late June. As yet untitled, it spans almost four decades in the lives of an English family, beginning in 1947 when after fifteen years in India, Will and Flo Sutherland return to England to start a family. "Through the post-war austerity of the fifties, the rebellious liberation of the sixties and the national unrest of the seventies, the Sutherland family tackle and embrace their rapidly changing world."

Comments

[Willa]

The Whores Asylum sounds just like my type of book! Thanks for bringing it to my attention :-)

[Cornflower]

You're welcome, Willa. It does sound good!

[Mystica]

So looking forward to the Sue Gee book.

[Cornflower]

Me too.

[adele geras]

Cannot wait for the Mantel nor the Gee. How lovely to have those to look forward to!

[Cornflower]

We can all start planning our reading year now!

[Dark Puss]

Not all of us! :-)

[Cornflower]

You're a law unto yourself anyway!!

[Dark Puss]

I'm sure that's no more true of me than anyone else who posts here! Actualy your first book does look interesting, however I have that Thomas Mann to finish first and if Dr Faustus is any guide it will be Easter.

Many thanks for re-enabling the HTML.

P
xx

[Julie Fredericksen]

Good news indeed for Deborah Harkness plans. It's out just in time for my birthday!

[Julie Fredericksen]

Good news for Deborah Harkness FANS. Good grief.

[Cornflower]

Good timing!