Showing titles in 20th Century

With her family struggling amidst the nightly bombing raids in London’s East End, Ida Brogan is doing her very best to keep their spirits up. The Blitz has hit the Brogans hard, and rationing is more challenging than ever, but they are doing all they can to help the war effort. When Ida’s oldest friend Ellen returns to town, sick and in dire need of help, it is to Ida that she turns. But Ellen carries a secret, one that threatens not only Ida’s marriage but the entire foundation of the Brogan family. Can Ida let go of the past and see a way to forgive her friend?

A two-part radio dramatisation of Vasily Grossman's dark, honest account of the Battle of Stalingrad; a prequel to Life and Fate - plus Stalingrad: Destiny of a Novel. With this astonishing prequel published in its first ever English translation by Richard and Elizabeth Chandler, we are transported back to the very beginning of Vasily Grossman’s panoramic tale, as the ‘harsh whirlwind’ of war approaches the city of Stalingrad.

New York City, 1943. From jazz clubs to back alleys, passion and peril collide in this slow-burn sapphic love story that simmers through every twist and turn. Nightclub singer–turned–OSS spy Kathryn Hammond has a past she can’t outrun and a mission she can’t afford to fail. But when fearless reporter Jenny Ryan becomes her assignment, sparks fly and everything starts to unravel.

After witnessing the brutal nature of the Nazi regime, Hannah, a quiet Jewish girl with a rebellious streak, escapes Germany with her traumatised young son. Leaving behind her dreams, she seeks refuge in Paris with a childhood friend, Kat, in the hopes that this tie to her past will provide a desperately needed sanctuary for them both. Though reluctant because of her own precarious situation, Kat agrees to help.

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Old Baggage written by Lissa Evans, read by Joanna Scanlan. 'The work of a novelist in her prime' Daily Telegraph 'Wise and witty' Sarah Hughes, Observer 'Essential . . . Evans is a brilliant storyteller' Stylist What do you do next, after you’ve...

London, 1969: The Kray twins, the nemeses of Charles Holborne, barrister, are finally convicted of multiple murders and sent away for the longest prison terms ever imposed by a British court. But with London in the grip of a housing crisis and unscrupulous landlords hiking rents, there are new ruthless enforcers terrorizing destitute East Enders. When a tenant dies during a violent altercation with bailiffs, Charles is instructed to represent the businessmen charged with conspiracy to murder.

In a modest little tale for the season, Brother Hermitage heads for London. William Duke of Normandy is to be crowned King of England on Christmas day 1066 and he expects presents. For reasons beyond reason, the monastery of De'Ath's Dingle is invited to the ceremony and the only ones who can be let out on their own are Brother Hermitage and Wat the Weaver. But it will be a rush to get there. With only 7 days to travel over 100 miles, the pair must cross a frozen and largely lawless country if they are to make it to Westminster alive.

Brought to you by Penguin. FEATURING HUGE NAMES FROM LITERATURE, COMEDY AND BEYOND - INCLUDING RODDY DOYLE, FRANK SKINNER AND ALAN TITCHMARSH - THIS ANTHOLOGY OF STORIES REIMAGINES JEEVES AND WOOSTER THROUGH FRESH EYES. The irrepressible duo first appeared on the page in 1915, coming to feature...

Sally Hartley is a hopeless romantic. Her father died when she was a baby, but she has lived on stories from her mother of what a wonderful man he was. Now, all she wants is a love like theirs. And she thinks she’s found it in Adam, the brother of a friend from home. When Adam is posted to Orkney, it’s like Sally’s dreams have all come true. After Italy changes sides in the war, the Italian POWs are granted more freedom on the islands, meaning Sally can spend more time with her friend, Aldo, and the two grow ever closer.

A festive instalment in Patricia McBride's acclaimed Lily Baker series - guaranteed to make you smile! Will this finally be a Christmas to celebrate? For the courageous Bletchley Park girls, the fourth Christmas of the war is approaching fast. It should be a happy time, yet life throws them...

Manchester, 1922. Nancy Pike is out of her depth. A pupil at the Miss Heskeths' school for surplus girls, she's blundering through her lessons and her job placements. Her only joy is getting to know the children at St Anthony's orphanage. And working for Mr Zachary Milner twice a week. Alone in the world since the death of his brother, Zachary is determined to do well for the both of them. And Nancy's presence has brought a little sunshine back into his life. But when she makes a terrible mistake that puts his livelihood in jeopardy, he has no choice but to let her go.

Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her. What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; ambition, glamour and love in Paris. 

Pearl, Thea and Jenny fling themselves into making Fenthorpe as festive as it can be, hoping they will be able to celebrate the end of C-Charlie’s tour. Disaster strikes when the squadron has to make a forced landing behind enemy lines and all the crewmen are reported missing. Pearl and Thea’s grandmother, Edith, immediately travels to Lincoln to support her granddaughters. But Edith has history at Fenthorpe – can the girls uncover her secrets to help their grandmother find new romance? And can C-Charlie evade capture and survive in enemy-occupied Holland to make it home for Christmas?

De l'édification du mur de Berlin à l'effondrement de l'Union soviétique, la grande aventure du XXe siècle telle que personne ne l'a jamais racontée. 1961. Les Allemands de l'Est ferment l'accès à Berlin-Ouest. La tension entre les États-Unis et l'Union soviétique s'exacerbe pour atteindre un point culminant l'année suivante avec la crise des missiles de Cuba. Le monde scindé en deux blocs se livre une guerre froide qui risque de devenir une guerre nucléaire.

Set off the coast of Wales between the 1940s and present day, The Last Song of Winter is a beautiful, romantic story from the author of The Winter Children. 'Completely unputdownable, every Lulu Taylor novel grips you to the very end' – Lisa Jewell, author of None of This is True 'A book to...

Occupied France is a dangerous place for Luke and Christine, especially when they are the children of a French mother and a British father. Desperate to escape, the two teenagers embark on a perilous journey back to England to the safety of their grandparents. But there are eyes everywhere. 

A bloodcurdling drama unravels in the shadow of Mengele's dark, twisted obsession. Ernst must face his nemesis as he battles to save Shoshana, Bluma, Perle, and ultimately, his heart. Marcel Petoit has weaponized Gisele's dark secrets. Will she escape his evil grip? Will Herschel and Naomi ever see their girls again?

London, 1944. With bombs raining over London, keeping the Battersea Tavern open is no easy feat for owner Winnie Berry - but the community need the warmth and familiarity of the pub more than ever. After marriage, Maureen Fanning had moved out to Wandsworth with her bad-tempered husband Brancher...

The definitive edition of the classic World War I romance novel, featuring all of the alternate endings: “Fascinating…serves as an artifact of a bygone craft, with handwritten notes and long passages crossed out, giving readers a sense of an author’s process” (The New York Times)...

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of An Italian Girl in Brooklyn comes a captivating new novel of enduring love and devastating secrets, based on a true story. 'Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore' JOJO MOYES Rupert promised he was going to come back. All Florence had to do was...