Barry Unsworth Book order

A brilliant retelling of an ancient myth, The Songs of the Kings offers up a different narrative of the Trojan War, one devoid of honor, wherein the mission to rescue Helen is a pretext for plundering Troy of its treasures. As the ships of the Greek fleet find themselves stalled in the straits at Aulis, waiting vainly for the gods to deliver more favorable winds, Odysseus cynically advances a call for the sacrifice of Agamemnon’s daughter, Calchas the diviner interprets events for the reader, and a Homer-like figure called the Singer is persuaded to proclaim a tale of a just war to hide the corrupt motivations of those in power. But couched within the Singer’s spin is a message at once timely and timeless: “There is always another story. But it is the stories told by the strong, the songs of kings, that are believed in the end.”

Set in twelfth-century Norman Sicily, the story follows young Thurstan Beauchamp, a civil servant navigating the complex political landscape under King Roger. Amidst a fragile coexistence of diverse cultures, he is tasked with investigating a conspiracy that challenges his loyalties. As he reconnects with his childhood sweetheart and encounters a captivating dancer, Thurstan's ambitions collide with his personal desires. This narrative explores themes of ambition, politics, and innocence against the rich historical backdrop of medieval Europe, reflecting contemporary issues of cultural conflict.

When he receives a tip about some mines for sale in East Durham, Kemp sees the business opportunity he has been waiting for, and he too makes his way north, to the very same village that Sullivan is heading for...

1914, and an English archaeologist called Somerville is fulfilling a lifelong dream: to direct an excavation in the desert of Mesopotamia. And Somerville, whose intention is purely to discover and preserve the land's ancient treasures finds his idealism sorely tested.

The plot revolves around Kennedy, whose manipulative scheme leads to both expected and unforeseen outcomes. Meanwhile, Mitsos grapples with a haunting family tragedy and a deep-seated desire for vengeance over his parents' deaths. Barry Unsworth skillfully depicts complex characters, exploring themes of ambition and revenge against the backdrop of Western civilization's darker aspects.

The story follows Donald Cuthbertson, a once-focused educator who finds himself distracted as Degree Day and his wife Lavinia's extravagant birthday party approach. As Lavinia resists the onset of middle age, her costume party becomes a backdrop for a mix of dark humor, romantic entanglements, and political intrigue, leading to unexpected resolutions for the characters involved.

In a picturesque Cornish village, two partners navigate the complexities of their small business creating plaster pixies for tourists. Foley, the imaginative artist, dreams of greater creations, while Moss, the practical financier, manages production. The story unfolds through a cast of quirky locals, including a primitive painter and an ambitious outsider, culminating in a rift sparked by Gwendoline. This darkly humorous narrative explores hidden desires and the intricate, often unvoiced connections between people, revealing the fragility of partnerships.

"Losing Nelson" is a novel of obsession, the story of Charles Cleasby, a man unable to see himself separately from the hero--Lord Horatio Nelson--he mistakenly idolizes. While Cleasby is convinced Nelson is the greatest hero, Cleasby comes to a horrifying incident of brutality in Nelson's military career that simply stumps all attempts at glorification. A "New Your Times" Notable Book. A "Publishers Weekly" Best Book of 1999.

As he writes on Nelson, a British biographer re-lives his battles and romances. But he is obsessed by a black mark against his hero, Nelson's massacre of Neapolitans. The biographer undertakes a trip to Naples and receives an explanation.

Exploring themes of creativity and redemption, the narrative follows Benson, a struggling writer teaching creative writing while grappling with his stalled novel on Liverpool's slave trade. His interactions with a troubled group of students and two old army friends—a homeless man and a wealthy entrepreneur—ignite his imagination. As he attempts to confront past traumas, he devises a risky plan that could lead to unexpected consequences. The novel delves into the complexities of urban life, revealing deep emotional and social undercurrents.