The hero of this curious novel is des Esseintes, a neurasthenic aristocrat who has turned his back on the vulgarity of modern life and retreated to an isolated country villa. Here, accompanied only by a couple of silent servants, he pursues his obsessions with exotic flowers, rare gems, and complex perfumes and embarks on a series of increasingly strange aesthetic experiments, starting with the decision to give his giant pet tortoise a jewel-encrusted shell...

Once the gleaming "Paris of the East," Bucharest in 1989 is a world of corruption and paranoia, in thrall to the repressive regime of Nicolae Ceau?escu. Old landmarks are falling to demolition crews, grocery shelves are empty, and informants are everywhere. Into this state of crisis, a young British man arrives to take a university post he never interviewed for. He is taken under the wing of Leo O'Heix, a colleague and master of the black market, and falls for the sleek Celia, daughter of ...

This book is the most comprehensive collection of essays, criticisms, and analyses of the author C. H. Sisson, dubbed as "one of the great translators of our time" by the Times Literary Supplement. This work provides an insightful look into C. H. Sisson's work and that of his peers, and provides readers with a better understanding of the state of literature in Britain and Europe in the 20th century.

“Compulsively readable.”-New York Times Book Review"A significant literary achievement that also happens to be a terrific page-turner."- Jonathan Lee"Elegantly written, darkly entertaining."- John Banville"An extraordinary writer of great compassion . . . Stunning."- Denise MinaIn the aftermath of Brexit, the body of a young woman is found by the river Thames, and a neighbor, a reti...

'Beautiful and deep ... **a sumptuous treat for any book lover' The Independent'F**ood for short story lovers everywhere' Irish Times*A major celebration of the French short story and Spectator Book of the Year*The short story has a rich tradition in French literature. This feast of an anthology celebrates its most famous practitioners, as well as newly translated writers ready for redisco...

'Abbé Faujas has arrived!' The arrival of Abbé Faujas in the provincial town of Plassans has profound consequences for the community, and for the family of François Mouret in particular. Faujas and his mother come to lodge with François, his wife Marthe, and their three children, and Marthe quickly falls under the influence of the priest. Ambitious and unscrupulous, Faujas gradually infiltrates into all quarters of the town, intent on political as well as religious conques...

'Beautiful and deep ... **a sumptuous treat for any book lover' The Independent'Food for short story lovers everywhere' Irish Times***A major celebration of the French short story and Spectator Book of the Year*The short story has a rich tradition in French literature. This feast of an anthology celebrates its most famous practitioners, as well as newly translated writers ready for rediscovery. The second ...

'The irresistible power of money, a lever that can lift the world. Love and money are the only things.' Aristide Rougon, known as Saccard, is a failed property speculator determined to make his way once more in Paris. Unscrupulous, seductive, and with unbounded ambition, he schemes and manipulates his way to power. Financial undertakings in the Middle East lead to the establishment of a powerful new bank and speculation on the stock market; Saccard meanwhile conducts his l...

‘A superb legal thriller…crackles with tension’ Guardian‘A topical and gritty story’ Observer'A thought-provoking and sparklingly intelligent novel, with the welcome bonus of an unguessable ending’ Daily Telegraph‘Razor-sharp…Much more than a courtroom thriller’ Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX* * * * *IT’S TIME TO...

The stunning new thriller from No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller Stuart MacBride.One down…A dark night in the isolated Scottish countryside. Nicholas Wilson, a prominent professor known for his divisive social media rants, leaves the house with his dog, as he does every night. But this time he doesn’t come back…Two down…The last thing Inspector Logan McRae wants is to take on such a high-profile case. But when a second ma...

**INSTANT INTERNATIONAL AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERIconoclastic detective Jackson Brodie returns in a triumphant novel about secrets, sex, and lies**Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son and an ageing Labrador, both at the discretion of his ex-partner Julia. It’s picturesque, but there’s something darker lurking behind the scenesJackson's current job, gathering...

New York Times bestseller“Swanson rips us from one startling plot twist to the next… A true tour de force.” —Lisa Gardner“[A] multilayered mystery that brims with duplicity, betrayal and revenge.” —USA TodayFrom the hugely talented author of The Kind Worth Killing comes a chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of ...