Join us for an afternoon with historical fiction authors Liz Hyder and Rebecca F. John as they talk about their books, The Gifts and Fannie.
The Gifts – Liz Hyder
In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are…
October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders. Meanwhile, when rumours of a ‘fallen angel’ cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grip of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger…
The Gifts is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of Bearmouth. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.
Fannie – Rebecca F. John
A feminist reimagining of the story of Les Misérables‘ Fantine, from the Costa award-shortlisted author.
Montreuil-sur-Mer, 1815. Life is hard for Fannie working at the factory, with only sweet memories of her ‘gentleman’ and daughter to sustain her. But when she is revealed as an unmarried mother and dismissed, she is forced to take greater and greater risks to earn money for her child. What can she sell? Who can she trust? Has she any escape? A story of desperation, but also of love and the soaring power of hope.
Tickets: £3 (redeemable against a paperback copy of either book)