Historical Fiction Library

Read by Fenella Woolgar, known for her role as Sister Hilda in BBC series Call the Midwife. Three women united by their love of books. One library that has the power to change lives, even in wartime . . . When Juliet begins work ats Bethnal Green Library, she discovers it is far from the...

Alexandre Dumas is the undisputed master of the adventure novel. This definitive collection combines his two most iconic works into a single, breathtaking journey of political intrigue, forbidden romance, and high-stakes dueling. Follow Edmond Dantès as he escapes wrongful imprisonment to execute the most calculated revenge plot in literature. Then, ride alongside D'Artagnan and the legendary Musketeers as they unite to foil the machinations of the sinister Cardinal Richelieu.

Have you ever wondered why some stories define an entire genre for centuries? The Three Musketeers is the cornerstone of historical fiction. Alexandre Dumas plunges you into a divided 17th-century France where King Louis XIII reigns, but Cardinal Richelieu rules. Into this powder keg steps D'Artagnan, a hot-headed outcast whose bravery is matched only by his naivety. Alongside Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, D'Artagnan discovers that true heroism requires more than just skill with a blade—it requires the courage to stand for truth when the world is against you.

Widely considered the greatest tale of revenge ever written, Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo dives deep into the psychology of a man wronged by his closest friends. It is a masterclass of plot and intrigue where every kindness is rewarded, and every sin is punished with mathematical precision.

From the bestselling author of The Bookseller of Inverness comes the unforgettable story of a Scottish town on the cusp of change and the group of townspeople whose lives will be irrevocably altered over the course of one tumultuous year...

This novel centres on the friendship of William Beckwith, a young gay aristocrat who leads a life of privilege and promiscuity, and the elderly Lord Nantwich, who is searching for someone to write his biography.

Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests she's descended from magicians, she's skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she's just an ordinary woman who loves books. She seeks answers from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won't be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books.

When a set of bound manuscripts written on magician-made paper is brought to the Glass Library, Sylvia and the professor send the owner away. After all, the library collects books about magic, not containing it. But the murder of the bookbinder who bound them sees the books returned to the library, along with Gabe in his role as consultant for Scotland Yard. When his investigation uncovers a link to Sylvia’s past, they’re even more determined to find the murderer. But they’re not the only ones searching for answers.

A road trip with Gabe and her friends leads Sylvia to discover more about her mother’s veiled past yet throws up several questions, too. The stack of unopened letters addressed to her family will hopefully provide answers. As she delves into the contents, a startling revelation emerges: the letters allude to a clandestine union between two magician families, hinting at the elusive identity of Sylvia’s father. Full of hope, she embarks on a quest to find the author of the letters.

With her sharpened magical senses, Sylvia recognizes invisible writing while cataloging an obscure book for the library. She’s shocked to discover the message, written many years earlier, pleaded for help. She’s even more shocked to discover the author of the message was married to a paper magician. Could there be a connection to Sylvia’s father? With a magical mystery on her hands, Sylvia engages the help of Gabe Glass, and together they follow the clues to the location of two hidden ledgers that implicate a very dangerous individual in an illegal bookmaking scheme.

An ancient family diary. A timely prophecy. An epic conclusion. As Sylvia prepares to meet Gabe’s parents for the first time, the last thing she needs is for her long-lost father to cause trouble. While his answers to her questions finally bring clarity, they also usher in danger. But that's not all her elusive father brings into Sylvia's life. His treasured gift of an ancient journal passed down through the generations, connects her to the past with its mystical spells and captivating stories.

War brings them together. Liberation will tear them apart. A POWERFUL PORTRAIT OF WAR. A HEARTBREAKING STORY OF LOVE. THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF WHILE PARIS SLEPT. Paris 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love...and to hate. Her fiancé, a young French soldier, was...

London, 1944. Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country's only underground library, built over the railway tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Down here a whole community thrives: with hundreds of bunk beds...

'Books are the perfect antidote to the horrors of war.' 'A sweeping tale of love, loss, bravery and, of course, the crucial role of books’ Amanda James 'Warm and heartfelt … I’m always a sucker for books about libraries and this one absolutely delivered' ★★★★★, reader review...

After months of travel, former maid Lottie Sprigg returns to Fortescue Manor in the rolling hills of Shropshire. Her arrival coincides with a celebratory dinner to mend a family feud. But the flow of champagne dwindles to a trickle when a body is found in the library. Who committed the atrocity? Suspicion falls on several characters: some above stairs and some below....

In a world of burning books, one woman will risk everything to keep stories alive. Berlin, 1933. The vibrant cultural heart of Germany is darkening under the shadow of the Nazi regime. For Helene Nathan, one of the first female librarians at a prestigious German library, the books she cherishes...

How can she 'keep the peace' when there's never been any to keep? England, 1850. Bookworm Irene Denton lives with a painful secret. To the citizens of Lindenfell, her mother is a kind, generous lady—but behind closed doors, she's a cruel and controlling tyrant. Stories have always been...

"One Love", legendary in proportions, unites the "Two Hearts" of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Delight in the sweet romance of "Three Stories" from J. Dawn King’s what-if variations inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Brought to you by Penguin. As the war rages on outside, it is the battle within that must be won, through the quiet strength of words. Josie Everley may have survived the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, but she lost the man she loves most to the sea. Broken-hearted and destitute, Josie must start...

'The Library Window' is a ghost story. A young girl, visiting her aunt in Scotland, finds herself increasingly intrigued by a mysterious window in the house opposite her own favourite window, where she sits to read. There seems to be a local mystery about the window, including a dispute about whether there is even a window there at all. Increasingly this doubt seems odd to the girl as the days go by, as she can see into the room opposite and make out furniture and objects there. Then one day she sees someone in that room....