Esther Freud Books

An elderly artist and her six-year-old grand-daughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. As the two learn to adjust to each other's fears, whims and yearnings, a fierce yet understated love emerges - one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the very island itself.Written in a clear, unsentimental style, full of brusque humour, and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story.Tove Janssoncaptured much of her own life and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of her adult novels. This new edition, with a Foreword by Esther Freud, sees the return of a European literary gem - fresh, authentic and deeply humane.

'This book ranks alongside PADDY CLARKE HA HA HA as one of the very few great contemporary novels about childhood' William Sutcliffe, Independent on Sunday 'Everything was going to be different this year' - Tess is nine years old and wants her new family to work out, even though her brother Jake is not so sure. THE WILD is a brilliant, clear-eyed evocation of the collision of families and step families, adult and childhood worlds.

Sarah, an actress and single mother, learns that her family's former estate, Gaglow, has been returned. As she and her estranged father explore the house, memories surface, revealing a complex family history filled with intimacy and tragedy. Esther Freud intricately depicts their connections to the past.

Rosaleen, a young schoolgirl in the early Sixties, embarks on a secret affair with the renowned sculptor Felix Lehmann, a Jewish bohemian. As the rebellious daughter of Irish publicans, she finds herself swept away in a whirlwind of romance, art, and indulgence, modeling for Felix while they escape to France and Soho. However, their idyllic life shatters when Rosaleen discovers she is pregnant. Forced out of her home and job, she seeks refuge in a convent in Ireland, only to face a harsh reality that starkly contrasts her expectations. In present-day London, Kate struggles with her unfulfilled artistic aspirations and an unhappy marriage while raising her young daughter. She feels a stirring within her, prompting her to confront a mystery from her past linked to recurring visions of a tree that invade her dreams. On the brink of a breakthrough, she travels to Ireland, uncertain of what she seeks. Meanwhile, Aoife sits by her dying husband Cashell, recounting their life together, from their wartime courtship to their return from exile. Yet, a significant piece of their history remains unspoken. As time slips away, Aoife urgently needs Cashell to reveal the fate of Rosaleen. This beautifully written novel explores themes of love, motherhood, secrets, and the liberating power of truth.

A captivating new novel about the world of acting from the acclaimed author of Hideous Kinky and Love Falls

A multi-layered story of love, art, life, relationships - and place. The architect Klaus Lehmann loves his wife Elsa with a passion which continues throughout their married life. Half a century later, researching his life and work in the village of Steerborough where he once lived, Lily pores over Klaus's letters to Elsa. As she pieces together Elsa's story, she becomes aware of an absence in her own life and, with her partner Nick left behind in London, too busy to write or visit, she finds herself increasingly enthralled by this village by the sea and its unusual beauty.

When her mother decides to take her and her sister away from life as they know it and move to Morocco, a five-year-old English school girl embarks on an adventure-filled romp through northern Africa.

This novel interweaves the story of Sarah, a pregnant, out-of-work actress, with that of her ancestors in Germany at the time of World War I. For it is only now, as long-since confiscated estate of Gaglow is about to be returned, that the generations can be brought together across the decades.

Set against the backdrop of a vibrant Tuscan summer, this novel explores the intense emotions and complexities of young love. The author, known for their acclaimed work, weaves a narrative filled with passion and beauty, capturing the essence of youthful longing and discovery in a breathtaking landscape. The story promises to evoke deep feelings and resonate with anyone who has experienced the fervor of first love.