The New Life cover art

The New Life

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can-listen catalogue of 15K+ audiobooks and podcasts
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The New Life

By: Tom Crewe
Narrated by: Freddie Fox
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

*Shortlist, Debut Fiction, 2023 Nero Book Awards *

London, 1894. John and Henry have a vision for a new way of life. But as the Oscar Wilde trial ignites public outcry, everything they long for could be under threat.

After a lifetime spent navigating his desires, John has finally found a man who returns his feelings. Meanwhile, Henry is convinced that his new unconventional marriage will bring freedom.

United by a shared vision, they begin work on a revolutionary book arguing for the legalisation of homosexuality.

Before it can be published however, Oscar Wilde is arrested and their daring book threatens to throw them, and all around them, into danger. How high a price are they willing to pay for a new way of living?

*** This audiobook includes an exclusive conversation between Freddie Fox and Tom Crewe ***

'A very fine new writer' Kate Atkinson

'Electrifying' Anne Enright

'Filled with nuance and tenderness... charting the lives of men and women who inspired not only political progress but an entire new way of living and loving' Colm Tóibín

©2023 Tom Crewe (P)2023 Penguin Audio Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Romance Victorian
All stars
Most relevant
A good story which despite some self conscious writing, grips the ear.
An excellent final sentence.

Above and beyond pastiche

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Whilst there are some graphic parts in this story, especially at the start, these are necessary to give the characters their multi dimensional levels. The story, whilst a blend of fiction and documented history, is based on the realities and 'choices' that homosexuals faced at that point in our British history.... frighteningly not that long ago. Extremely well read too. So glad to have listened to this book.

Don't let the graphic start put you off

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Brilliant writing, deeply moving story. Extremely well read. Great sense of time, place and pain caused by having to stay hidden.

Brilliant tender tragic hopeful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A very vividly written book, superb characters and profound story. Each characters pain or enjoyment was evident in this writing.

Wonderful narration of beautiful prose

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
No doubt an important story to tell, despite it only being inspired by vaguely true events. The LGBTQ battle to be accepted is still ongoing and if you changed the time setting and replaced ‘invert’ with ‘trans’ it could be a book about today’s main fight. Wonderful narration and some truly moving passages. My only criticism is that at times it flip flopped from being very dry to being overly dramatic. The writer is no Alan Hollinghurst or James Cahill sadly.

The ongoing fight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews