‘Pam Hirsch, author of The Constant Liberal: The Life and Work of Phyllis Bottome, says the title of The Life Line was emblematic of her relationship with the young Fleming.”Phyllis and her husband Ernan were a lifeline for a deeply troubled young man who might not have actually survived if he hadn’t had all their
‘Thanks to Simon Courtauld, in his new book Footsteps in Spain, for the most interesting fact I have yet heard about Castro. When Spain’s right-wing caudillo, General Franco, died in 1975, the leftist Castro ordered a week of mourning for him in Cuba. This was chiefly because Castro’s father, like Franco, came from Galicia. He
‘I am in awe of Vanessa. The amount of research she must have painstakingly carried out to execute this project with such poise and detail is beyond impressive. The historical novel is without a doubt one of the trickiest works of art. Not only do readers expect a pacey tale filled with obstacles and protagonists,
‘Pam Hirsch, Miss Bottome’s biographer, said: ‘They loved him like a son. Her ability to be a bestseller, the page-turning quality, I think he learnt that from her.’
The Daily Mail on Radio 4 programme The Woman Who Invented James Bond? out on 10th December. Read the full article here and to find out more
‘I would cast Rufus Sewell as the admiral, Gabriella Wylde as Grace, Catherine Zeta Jones as Conseulo, Orlando Bloom as Peter and Jim Broadbent as King George!’
Vanessa Hannam does a fantastic Q&A with Jera’s Jamboree blog where she discusses writing Summer’s Grace. Read the full feature here and get your copy of Summer’s Grace
‘Naim does not do anything by halves and the wine he served which was consumed by the bucket load was of a calibre we would only serve of celebratory occasions. This evening was a testament to a remarkable man. To have a publisher like him is beyond a writer’s dreams.’
Read Vanessa Hannam’s blog post
Hiroko Sherwin’s book is a ‘well-written, if ultimately disturbing book. The first half recounts the military experiences of nine Japanese in various theatres of the wars. Some are as harrowing as any similar accounts by Western veterans: young men – and it is all you g men – who were forced to fight in appalling
‘James also wields a vivid pen. He makes the hidden wiring of Whitehall buzz.’
The Stonyhurst Record reviews The Making of an Immigration Judge by James Hanratty. Read the full review here: immigration-judge-review-stonyhurst-record and get your copy of the book here today.
