Biographical Fiction

The first novel written about the enigmatic literary legend Australia, 1901. Miles Franklin, the young daughter of poor bush farmers, manages to publish her first novel against all odds. A work of remarkable boldness and passion, it becomes an immense success in the English-speaking world. While...

Can one rash decision prove the difference between a life well lived and a life destroyed? When the Marquis of Queensbury left his calling card at the Albemarle Club in February 1895, it bore only his name and five words: ‘For Oscar Wilde, posing Somdomite’. The most feted playwright of his...

Can one rash decision prove the difference between a life well lived and a life destroyed? When the Marquess of Queensberry left his calling card at the Albemarle Club in February 1895, it bore only his name and five words: “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite.” The most celebrated playwright...

“A beautiful, moving portrait of lives reshaped by war and its aftermath. Tara Lynn Masih is a tremendous talent.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow An extraordinary novel inspired by the real women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the Manhattan...

She is thirteen when four parents choose her husband. She refuses him, publicly and disastrously, in a way her family's reputation will not quickly recover from. At twenty-one she leaves St. Vincent for New York with a suitcase and no one's permission, and finds work at a sewing machine in the garment district. What she builds there, on a seamstress's wages and her own nerve, is a life of her own choosing, and a reckoning, years later, with the mother who gave her away.

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. **What happens when the person you built to survive becomes the prison you can no longer live inside?** Michael experiences the world differently. Numbers carry color. Voices have texture. The hum of a radiator glows a deep, tender orange. As a child...

Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize 2025 The knock on the door changed everything. Until then, we were happy; we knew who we were. ‘You’ve got the wrong person,’ I told him. ‘My wife is gentle and kind. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.’ In 1939, when she was just nineteen years old...

In the glittering courts and shadowed bazaars of eleventh-century Persia, Harold Lamb brings to vivid life the story of Omar Khayyam—the brilliant tentmaker's son who would become known to the world as the poet of the Rubáiyát, yet was celebrated in his own time as a master astronomer, mathematician, and calendar-maker. Amid the pageantry of Nishapur and the power struggles of the Seljuk Empire, Omar rises as a favored adviser to Sultan Malikshah, advancing bold ideas about the heavens and the earth while navigating intrigue, rivalry, and the jealousies of those who seek the sultan's favor.

An irresistible novel of fame, power, beauty and truth -- 'Truly masterful, her best work so far. I loved it' Vincenzo Latronico A little while ago, I told the actor M that I was thinking of writing her autobiography. She liked the idea. She's a good sport. Would you just make it up? she said. M...

From the critically acclaimed author of the Outline trilogy, an irresistible novel of fame, power, beauty, and truth—and a blazing renovation of the form. This program is read by the author. The movie star M is one of the most recognizable faces of our time. Her image is everywhere. It has...

On the set of Boom!, a big‑budget adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play, Elizabeth Taylor is at the height of her fame. It's an exhilarating experience for everyone in her orbit. That includes Jean, her personal assistant, and Buddy, her semi-closeted best friend and costume designer. Yet...

An Immediate Bestseller | A Bloomberg Best Book of 2025 When the Ritz becomes the Nazis’ favourite spot, its Jewish bartender has no choice but to keep working. Paris, 1940. Despite the Occupation, the prestigious Ritz Hotel has managed to remain open. Its bar becomes a favourite spot for...

A mother forced to leave her family. A daughter forced to reckon with what is left behind. Lipa, Philippines, 2001. Neneng is 11 when her mother, Rosa, leaves to work as a nurse overseas: abandoning Neneng to care for a distant father, unsettled relatives and rebellious siblings. Their home...

Step into immersive historical fiction to master the mental habits of genius, turning private doubt into innovation. Perfect for an inspiring morning commute or a contemplative walk, these thrilling tales transport you from ancient city-states to digital-age startups. Watch as courageous...

A rollicking, "unsinkable," (Sam Lipsyte) and hilarious debut novel about a family of unforgettable women obsessed with securing their legacy, for fans of Geek Love Claire grew up with the legend of the Unsinkable Mounsey Women. Her great-great-grandmother Fanny made headlines in 1915 for...