1601. Queen Elizabeth I is dying. With no heir for the kingdom, potential successors secretly maneuver to be in position when the inevitable occurs. The leading candidate is King James VI of Scotland, but there is a problem. The queen's spymasters fear that James' claim to be a Protestant are untrue. If he secretly shares his family's Catholicism, then forty years of religious war will have been for nothing, and a bloodbath will ensue. It falls to Geoffrey Belloc to devise a test to discover the true nature of King James's soul. Belloc enlists Mahmoud Ezzedine, a Muslim physician from the Ottoman Empire, as his undercover agent. -- adapted from jacket
The Tragedy of Arthur is an emotional and intricately crafted work by acclaimed novelist Arthur Phillips. The story revolves around Arthur, a young man grappling with the complexities of his con artist father, who is both a master of deception and an unreliable parent. Raised in a world of illusion, Arthur's only constant is the profound love shared between his father and his twin sister for Shakespeare’s works. This passion drives Arthur to become a writer, seeking their approval and affection. As years pass, Arthur’s father, now imprisoned and nearing death, reveals a long-hidden secret: a previously unknown Shakespeare play titled The Tragedy of Arthur. Alongside this revelation, Arthur and his sister inherit their father's mission to publish the play, which may be a genuine literary treasure or just another of his father’s elaborate cons. This novel is both humorous and haunting, featuring the complete text of the supposed lost play. It delves into themes of love, betrayal, and the interplay between storytelling and truth, as the lives of Arthur the novelist and Arthur the legendary king become intricately linked. The work has received numerous accolades, including recognition as a New York Times Notable Book and a favorite of various esteemed publications.
Each song on Julian’s iPod, “that greatest of all human inventions,” is a touchstone. There are songs for the girls from when he was single, there’s the one for the day he met his wife-to-be, there’s one for the day his son was born. But when Julian’s family falls apart, even music loses its hold on him. Until one snowy night in Brooklyn, when his life’s soundtrack—and life itself—start to play again. Julian stumbles into a bar and sees Cait O’Dwyer, a flame-haired Irish rock singer, performing with her band, and a strange and unlikely love affair is ignited. Over the next few months, Julian and Cait’s passion plays out, though they never meet. What follows is a heartbreaking dark comedy, the tenderest of love stories, and a perfectly observed tale of the way we live now.
When Constance married Joseph Barton, she believed she had found the perfect husband. But after the troubled birth of their daughter Angelica, Constance begins to fear for her life and avoids her wifely duties.
Set in 1922, the story follows an Egyptologist driven by an obsession to uncover the tomb of a mythical king. This darkly comic narrative traverses diverse locations, including the deserts of Egypt, the slums of Australia, and the opulent ballrooms of Boston. It weaves through significant historical backdrops such as the First World War and a chaotic royal court, creating a richly layered and inventive tale that blends humor with a quest for discovery.
Five American expatriates living in Budapest in the early 1990s seek to establish themselves and make their fortunes in a city still haunted by the tragedies of its Communist past.
