Rogues, Widows, and Orphans
Mischief and Misadventures in the World of Books
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Rogues, Widows, and Orphans
Pre-order Now for £14.79
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Narrated by:
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Kirsten Potter
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By:
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Rebecca Lee
A publishing industry insider reveals the hilarious and fascinating mishaps, hoaxes, and gaffes behind your favorite books.
It’s a long journey from a writer’s mind to a finished book, and a lot needs to go right along the way. But isn’t it more interesting when things go wrong?
Rebecca Lee, a senior editorial manager at Penguin Random House, guides listeners through the secrets of the book industry, a world fizzing with scandals, rivalries, catastrophes, and con jobs. Lee demonstrates how the tiniest of typos can have oversized consequences, unearths horrifying examples of bad taste and worse style, and peeks into tales of forgeries and feuds as dramatic as any thriller. She unredacts the most egregious cases of censorship, exposes hoarders and thieves, and asks whether AI is really an existential threat to the literary universe—or if we are our own worst enemies.
An irresistible tour of mistakes and misbehavior, Rogues, Widows and Orphans will make you cringe, crack you up, and renew your appreciation for the hard work of making books—and all the ways it can go sidewise.
©2026 Rebecca Lee (P)2026 Blackstone PublishingCritic reviews
“This divine comedy of literary errors―not to mention scandals, hoaxes, howlers, and other bookish misadventures―will make you laugh, make you wiser, and remind you why words are such glorious, untamable things. It is devilishly funny and extremely clever. Every page is packed with wit and warmth and delicious stories. Did I mention it’s funny?”
“A wonderfully mischievous tour of what words get up to behind our backs. Hell is empty, and all the printers’ devils are here!”
“A glorious, madcap tour of all the beautiful chaos that is the world of books. From library bandits to literary feuds, Lee celebrates the mischief and mayhem that words bring to the lives of those who love them. In doing so, she beautifully captures why words are worth fighting for. Bursting with wit and whimsy, Rogues, Widows and Orphans is the insider’s guide that every book lover needs.”