The narrative explores the impact of Oscar Wilde's imprisonment for homosexuality on his family, particularly his wife Constance and their two sons. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Victorian England and World War I, the story delves into themes of societal norms, personal sacrifice, and the struggle for acceptance. It highlights the resilience of Wilde's family as they navigate the challenges and stigma associated with his legacy.
A brilliantly-wrought, witty, and sensitive historical novel, by a critically acclaimed and bestselling author, depicting a naïve, career-girl version of Jackie Kennedy as we've never seen her before, and her iconic marriage-in-the- making to an elusive John F. Kennedy, narrated by Jack's best friend and fixer, Lem Billings.
“Riveting . . . Enticing.” —The Washington Post “Exquisite.” —People “A triumph of a novel.” —Bookreporter.com “Rich, fascinating, and romantic.” —Newsday A Washington Post Bestseller * A Indie Next Pick * An Apple Books Best of the Month for April * A People Magazine Best Book of the Week When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one’s short list to be president. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with an interest in debates and elections, at first finds this awkward country lawyer an enigma. “I can only hope,” she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, “that his waters being so very still, they also run deep.” It’s not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: an amiable, profound man with a gentle wit to match his genius, who respects her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate polite society. Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and inspired by historical events, Courting Mr. Lincoln creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before; a moving portrayal of the deep and very real connection between the two men; and most of all, an evocation of the unformed man who would grow into one of the nation’s most beloved presidents.
England, 1603: Regelmäßig kommen im Schutz der Nacht die fünf größten Geister ihrer Generation auf einem Anwesen in Dorset zusammen, sprechen über Politik und Astronomie, Gott und Schwarze Magie und ihre verbotenen Studien. Unter ihnen der Mathematiker und Universalgelehrte Thomas Harriot, der in seinem Hausmädchen Margaret eine verwandte Seele und kongeniale Assistentin für seine Versuche findet – bis Margaret beschließt, weiter zu gehen, als Harriot es jemals gewagt hätte … Washington, 2009: Der Historiker Henry Cavendish wird von einem dubiosen Antiquitätenhändler damit beauftragt, einen Brief aus dem frühen 17. Jahrhundert aufzuspüren, der zu einem verschollenen Schatz führen soll. Bei seinen Nachforschungen begegnet Henry der schönen Clarissa Dale. Den Spuren des Briefes folgend, stoßen die beiden auf das Geheimnis eines vergessenen Genies und seiner großen Liebe und geraten dabei in eine todbringende Verschwörung. Ein verschwundener Brief weist über Zeiten und Kontinente hinweg den Weg zu einer geheimen Bruderschaft, einem genialen Wissenschaftler und einer Liebe, die keine Grenzen kennt.
Political intrigue and family redemption are central themes in this gripping narrative. The story revolves around Eugène François Vidocq, a legendary investigator known for his complex character and tumultuous past. As the plot unfolds, it reveals a tapestry of treachery, cover-ups, and conspiracies, showcasing Bayard's skill in blending historical detail with compelling storytelling. The novel promises an engaging exploration of both personal and political conflicts, highlighting Vidocq's impact on the world around him.
From the critically acclaimed author of Mr. Timothy comes an ingenious tale of murder and revenge, featuring a retired New York City detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe. At West Point Academy in 1830, the calm of an October evening is shattered by the discovery of a young cadet's body swinging from a rope just off the parade grounds. An apparent suicide is not unheard of in a harsh regimen like West Point's, but the next morning, an even greater horror comes to light. Someone has stolen into the room where the body lay and removed the heart. At a loss for answers and desperate to avoid any negative publicity, the Academy calls on the services of a local civilian, Augustus Landor, a former police detective who acquired some renown during his years in New York City before retiring to the Hudson Highlands for his health. Now a widower, and restless in his seclusion, Landor agrees to take on the case. As he questions the dead man's acquaintances, he finds an eager assistant in a moody, intriguing young cadet with a penchant for drink, two volumes of poetry to his name, and a murky past that changes from telling to telling. The cadet's name? Edgar Allan Poe. Impressed with Poe's astute powers of observation, Landor is convinced that the poet may prove useful—if he can stay sober long enough to put his keen reasoning skills to the task. Working in close contact, the two men—separated by years but alike in intelligence—develop a surprisingly deep rapport as their investigation takes them into a hidden world of secret societies, ritual sacrifices, and more bodies. Soon, however, the macabre murders and Landor's own buried secrets threaten to tear the two men and their newly formed friendship apart. A rich tapestry of fine prose and intricately detailed characters, The Pale Blue Eye transports readers into a labyrinth of the unknown that will leave them guessing until the very end.
Welcome to the world of a grown-up Timothy Cratchit, as created by the astonishing imagination of author Louis Bayard. Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets. Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela. Spurred on by the unwavering enthusiasm of a street-smart, fast-talking homeless boy who calls himself Colin the Melodious, Timothy soon finds that he's on the trail of something far worse -- and far more dangerous -- than an ordinary killer. This breathless flight through the teeming markets, shadowy passageways, and rolling brown fog of 1860s London is wrought with remarkable depth and intelligence, complete with surprising twists and extraordinary heart.
"In his witty and beautifully written novels, Louis Bayard is establishing Washington D.C. as the District of Comedy."-Bob Smith, author of Openly Bob , and Way to Go Smith The Broome family is facing an uncertain future; however no one but youngest son Nick seems to notice. Driven by an inexplicable but driving certainty that they are on the brink of extinction, Nick vows to bring a child into the world by whatever means necessary. The problem? Nick is gay. The brave new world of parenting is explored as never before in Louis Bayard's new novel, which is full of the dry wit, snaking plot turns, and vivid, well-rounded characters that earned raves and fans for his first novel, Fool's Errand. Nick's quest for a surrogate mother will draw him to schizophrenics, Hispanic immigrants, body-pierced teenagers, female escorts, a God-fearing phlebotomist, an itinerant matchmaker, and an unbalanced but irrepressible young woman named Nattie, who ultimately may provide what he is seeking in the way he least expected. Alternately moving and very, very funny, Nick Broome's quest to leave a mark on the world drives straight to the heart of the evolving nature of love and family. Louis Bayard is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nerve.Com, Genre, Lambda Book Report, and the Washington Blade among others. He is the author of Fool's Errand, and lives in Washington, D.C.