|
📚 A richly imagined historical novel set in Georgian London, based on the true story of one woman who believed that books should be for everyone, not just the privileged few.
Volume 1 of the Chiswell Street Chronicles
London, 1775. Books have always been Dorcas Turton’s refuge—but now they may be her salvation.
Dorcas should have inherited security and status, but after her mother’s untimely death, she is stunned by the discovery that her father’s compulsive gambling has brought them close to ruin. With the threat of debtor’s prison looming large, she must employ all her ingenuity to keep their creditors at bay.
Fortunately, ingenuity is something Dorcas is not short of. An avid reader, novels have taught her the lessons her governess failed to. Forsaking hopes of marriage and children, she opens a day-school for girls. But unbeknown to Dorcas, her father hasn't given up his extravagant ways. When bailiffs come pounding on the door, their only option is to take in lodgers.
The arrival of larger-than-life James Lackington and his wife Nancy breathes new life into the diminished household. Mr Lackington aspires to join the ranks of Georgian London's booksellers, and what James Lackington sets out to do, he tends to achieve. Soon Dorcas discovers she is not only guilty of envying Mrs Lackington her strong simple faith and adaptable nature. Loath though she is to admit it, she begins to envy her Mr Lackington…
✨ Perfect for readers who enjoy books by Maggie O’Farrell, Tracy Chevalier, Hilary Mantel, Sarah Waters, or who love:
- Women’s historical fiction set in the 18th century
- Historical fiction set in London
- Literary historical fiction with strong female protagonists
- Book club fiction that sparks lively discussion
- Historical fiction based on a true story
- Novels about the hidden women of history
- Feminist historical fiction
- Stories set in bookshops and literary worlds
- Novels about books, reading, and the lives they change
🔍 Also ideal if you’re searching for:
- Character-driven historical novels
- Emotionally rich, immersive storytelling
- Historical fiction with themes of identity and resilience
- Stories about forgotten voices and untold histories
- British historical fiction with strong sense of place
- Thought-provoking fiction for reflective readers
- Historical novels with powerful female leads
- Literary fiction that blends history with emotional depth
Embark on a journey that will remind you why you fell in love with reading in the first place!
‘Vivid, real and full of colour’ ~ Clare Flynn, author of The Pearl of Penang
‘Dorcas is as appealing and extraordinary in her circumstances as Elizabeth Bennet or Mrs Dalloway’ ~ JJ Marsh, author of Salt of the Earth
Add The Bookseller's Wife to your collection today.
|
