Discover the fascinating stories behind famous styles and cinema icons

Discover the fascinating visual histories behind two world-famous style brands – Omega watches and fashion designer Calvin Klein – and two influential film directors in beautifully created pocket-sized gift books full of stunning photographs and intriguing facts

Omega: The Story Behind the Style
Rachael Taylor

DISCOVER the time-honoured story of luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Omega, creator of some of the world’s most coveted and collectible watches. From the founding of the brand in 1848 to its rise to global domination, author Rachael Taylor takes us on a spectacular illustrated journey through almost two hundred years of quality, innovation and style. Packed with photographs and information covering the company’s impressive history, the book reveals how Omega created the first minute-repeating wristwatch (a groundbreaking innovation in horology), its crucial role in military timekeeping during both World Wars, how the Omega Speedmaster Professional became the first watch on the moon, its role as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games… and how it became James Bond’s watch of choice in every movie from Golden Eye to No Time To Die. With an exploration of everything from Omega’s iconic Hollywood appearances and the thriving collectors’ market to the brand’s efforts to raise awareness of environmental issues, there could be no better time than Christmas to gift this to your own Omega fans.

Calvin Klein: The Story Behind the Style
Jessica Bumpus

MARVEL at the amazing story of the legendary designer who created one of the world’s most understated and iconic fashion brands. In a book packed with photographs and information covering the brand’s entire history, author Jennifer Bumpus reveals how Calvin Klein’s journey started with coats, how his line took off and how he used attention-grabbing adverts to help increase the reach of his fashion empire. Discover how the talented man – who was born into a Jewish immigrant family in 1942 and brought up in New York’s Bronx district – built on his success and expanded his business into fragrance and underwear, how celebrities such as Kate Moss, Jeremy Allen White and Bad Bunny came to model for the brand, and how his minimalist aesthetic became a modern fashion staple. With an exploration of everything from the iconic Nineties years to today’s attention-grabbing underwear adverts, this is the perfect gift for Calvin Klein lovers and all fashion fans.

Icons of Cinema: Greta Gerwig
Laura Venning

FROM the moment she stepped behind the camera to write and direct Lady Bird in 2017, Greta Gerwig announced herself as an extraordinary new filmmaking talent and a chronicler of the last years of girlhood. Now one of the world’s most celebrated movie directors. Gerwig’s storytelling is legendary and her films have become touchstones for young women wanting themselves and their experiences to be taken seriously. Her ability to make women feel seen is much admired but it was her directorial work on Barbie that made her a household name. With London-based film critic Laura Venning as guide, readers discover how Gerwig embraced her interest in theatre before turning her attention to Hollywood, explore her mumblecore films (characterised by naturalistic acting), understand why she focuses on key themes such as coming of age and female relationships, and take an in-depth look at her creative process for each major film. Fully illustrated throughout with stunning photographs and movie stills, a chapter is dedicated to each major motion picture. Relive the stories of Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie… and discover what awaits with Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia films!

Icons of Cinema: Wes Anderson
Emily Maskell

MEET the iconic – and eccentric – movie director behind The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom. In this fascinating illustrated book, author and film critic Emily Maskell takes readers through four decades of cinematic excellence, from Anderson’s directorial debut Bottle Rocket to The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More. Along the way, she explains what makes a Wes Anderson film, from textures and palettes to compositional tendencies and the people he chooses to collaborate with time and again. Take an in-depth look at his creative process for each major film, the themes he revisits, how his work has developed over four decades – collecting many awards along the way – and examine his influence on contemporary cinema, and pop culture in general. Fully illustrated throughout with stunning photographs and movie stills, the book also has a chapter dedicated to each of his major motion pictures including  other successes like The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr Fox and Asteroid City. Take your seats for movie magic!
(Studio Press, hardback, £13.99 each)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Inspire youngsters with the Christmas gift of knowledge

Knowledge is power so give your children the best start in life – and some truly spectacular, informative and innovative non-fiction books – to make this year’s Christmas gifting extra special

Age 5 plus
The Great Bear
Annie Booker

INSPIRE your children to treasure our precious but fragile natural world with this stunning, prize-winning debut picture book from Annie Booker, a Carlisle-based author and illustrator with a love for wildlife and a passion for protecting endangered species. An exciting new talent in the world of children’s books, Booker brings us the spectacular mythical tale of The Great Bear, a hope-filled and moving celebration of the wonder of nature and the power of storytelling. Since the dawn of time, the wise, all-seeing Great Bear has patrolled the oceans, protecting the Earth and her animals and overseeing the delicate balance of life. But now, one creature is changing everything and the Great Bear is unhappy and cannot stand by. Published in a large hardback format, and filled with epic, hand-painted illustrations depicting a world of snowy mountains, towering waves and deep, cold water, Booker captures nature in the raw and includes inspiring facts about real-life polar bears, and humanity’s ongoing efforts to restore the nature of the Arctic, protect animals from extinction and regenerate the oceans. A tale of our times with all the hallmarks of a future classic…
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)

Age 8 plus
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children
Illustrated by Lauren O'Hara and
foreword by Colm Tóibín

WHAT better way could there be to introduce a new generation of young readers to Oscar Wilde’s classic children’s tales than this stunningly illustrated luxury gift edition? Oscar Wilde has enchanted readers young and old alike for over a hundred years. In 1888, he published a collection of bedtime stories for children and this beautiful new book contains six of these classic tales, including The Happy Prince, The Selfish Giant, The Young King and The Nightingale and the Rose. For the first time, these much-loved stories from the great Irish author are being published in a major new edition by an Irish publisher. With high-quality paper, a linen-effect cover, gold foil details, a ribbon bookmark and classic binding touches, this keepsake hardback edition, printed and bound in Italy, is carefully crafted to be treasured and shared. Feeling both classic and fresh, timeless and modern, Dublin-based illustrator Lauren O’Hara’s delicate and richly colour artwork bring this cornerstone of children’s literature to life for readers of all ages. A must-have for youngsters this Christmas!
(Little Island Books, hardback, £19.99)

Age 8 plus
The Amazing Book of World Mythology
Stella Caldwell

FEED young senses and imaginations with this unique celebration of myths and culture, created by artists from across the globe. The Amazing Book of World Mythology features retellings of myths, brought to life in an engaging style by a host of talented illustrators. The book contains 20 stories as wide-ranging as Theseus and the Minotaur to Thor’s Hammer to the Journey of the Monkey King. They are split thematically into six chapters and include In the Beginning, Gods and Goddesses, Journeys and Quests, Fantastic Worlds, Monsters and Mythical Creatures and Magic and Trickery. Each of the stories is interspersed with beautiful illustrations which bring together different myths in an interesting unifying theme. Among the items featured are the many weapons used by the gods, the amazing objects collected by heroes and heroines on their quests, and the different relics found in the underworld. All the myths are brought to life by Stella Caldwell’s engaging and immersive storytelling and each is illustrated by an artist from the culture where the story takes place, creating a unique artistic account that is culturally sensitive to all featured tales. A picture perfect way to learn!
(Buster Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 8 plus
The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together
Susie Dent and Harriet Hobday

PREPARE to be totally betwittered! Bestselling author, broadcaster and much-loved word expert, Susie Dent, is on a mission to find 100 joyful words and phrases that bring people together. There are times when the world feels more divided than ever but it is important to remember the things that unite rather than divide us. Dent, who recently celebrated 30 years as the resident etymologist on Channel 4’s Countdown, has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases – old, new, and long-forgotten – that celebrate harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the world. Whether you want to conjobble (chat with a friend over some food), to be goodwilly (kind, generous, and cheerful), to atone for a mistake (become ‘at one’ with someone again) or simply head off on a coddiwomple (a journey with no destination), this heart-lifting collection of words celebrates the things in life that bind us together, from friendship, love and peace, to community, music and even the stars. These are the roots we share....
(Puffin, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus
Head to Toe: An Introduction
to the Human Body
Pui Lee

WHAT makes your heart beat, how does your brain store memories, and why do we all look different? From bones to blood, and senses to skin, discover what makes you, YOU with the first in a stylish new series from Post Wave Children’s Books which explores key curriculum topics. Discover the human body from head to toe through vibrant graphic artwork and fun facts. Did you know women tend to have shorter tongues than men, or that the human eye can detect over 10 million colours? This visually stunning and colourful book is the work of talented illustrator and graphic designer Pui Lee and shows just how fascinating the human body can be! Head to Toe presents a collection of weird and wonderful facts about the human body, starting at the top of the body and moving all the way down to the bottom, with illustrations that will amuse and delight young readers.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus
Mythical Tales
Laura Sampson and Lilla Bölecz

MEET amazing creatures and magical objects in this spellbinding treasury which whisks away youngsters to an exciting array of mythical worlds. This breathtaking and colourful compendium brings together a collection of 18 stories from all over the world… from Polynesia to Scotland, Africa, India, Japan, Croatia, France and more! Disappear into imaginary worlds full of fantastical creatures and colourful characters, from gods and goddesses to creators and tricksters. Find out why the hero Sosruko was humbled by a giant, how Mäui slowed the sun, and which mighty gods are thought to control the seasons. The ancient tales are retold for a young audience by storyteller and vocal performer Laura Sampson, with beautifully intricate artwork by Hungarian graphic artist and illustrator Lilla Bölecz. Mythical Tales is a timeless classic and the perfect way to introduce different cultures and traditions to readers of all ages.
(Templar Publishing, hardback, £16.99)

Age 6 plus
Build Your Own Solar System
Lauren Fairgrieve and Anja Susanj

DISCOVER our amazing solar system… and then build your very own 3D planets! No child could resist this creative and beautiful introduction to the universe around us, published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. Discover the wonders of our universe, from planets, comets and asteroids to galaxies, nebulae and black holes, in pages full of fascinating facts and Anja Susanj’s stunning, full-colour illustrations, and then turn to the back of the book to find ten more pages of eight press-out planets and the Sun which can be slotted together, hung up and displayed for everyone to enjoy. Written by Lauren Fairgrieve with expert consultation from Dr Matthew Bothwell, of Cambridge University Institute of Astronomy, this inventive and educational book includes a QR code linking to helpful videos showing how to assemble each planet. Who said learning was boring?
(Nosy Crow, board book, £12.99)

Age 6 plus
Super Great Kids’ Stories
from storytellers around the world
Kim Normanton

ENJOY the world’s wildest and most wonderful adventures at the turn of a page with this treasure trove of a book which is simply bursting with magic, mischief and merriment! These thirty expertly-curated and sensational stories – many of them told here for the very first time – come from the award-winning podcast Super Great Kids’ Stories. In West Africa, you’ll meet Anansi as he takes on the King’s hot pepper soup, in Ireland, you’ll meet a girl who tries to outwit a leprechaun, in Australia, you’ll discover how the Lyrebird got its voice, and in North America, you’ll laugh out loud at the story of the ghost who needs a plaster! Including timeless classics and hidden gems, each tale in this collection is told by a skilled storyteller and includes notes on the culture and history of the story, painting a vivid picture as to why each tale has stood the test of time. And, with the help of Story Owl, you can even become a star storyteller yourself! Curated by podcast hosts Kim Normanton and David Smith – who boast half a million downloads a month of their hit podcast – and illustrated by Sally Agar, Camila Carrossine, Tinuke Fagborun, Melissa Greenwood, Kaley McKean and Terri Po, this beautifully illustrated treasury will delight and inspire children everywhere.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 6 plus
A Poem for Every Question
Brian Bilston and Joe Berger

DISCOVER how poems can be both fun… and informative! This brilliant, fact-filled book from much-loved poet Brian Bilston presents a hilarious, non-fiction adventure through the medium of one hundred poems, all gloriously illustrated by the irrepressible Joe Berger. The collection has subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids and technology while the questions include how many stars in the universe exploded today, who invented football, who is the champion weightlifter of the animal world, and how did the ancient Egyptians make a mummy? Each fascinating question about the world around us is answered with one of Bilston’s unforgettable, witty and characterful poems. Sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes poignant and sometimes downright silly, the poems are accompanied by an extra non-fiction explainer, filled with facts and written with just as much humour and heart as the poems. And each page is brought to life with bright and characterful artwork of Bristol-based illustrator Berger. So prepare to be amazed… and find some amazing stories and information to share with your family, teachers and friends!
(Red Shed, hardback, £16.99)

Is That You, Beth Cherry?

Lucy Dillon

EVERYONE deserves a second chance at love! Step into the troubled world of Beth Cherry and join her as she digs deep into her hidden reserves to take her life by the scruff of its neck… and become the hero of her own story. Is That You, Beth Cherry? is the latest warm, wise and witty romance from Lucy Dillon (pictured below) who grew up in Cumbria and is now the bestselling author of eleven novels set in the fictional market town of Longhampton.

Beth’s life, like the unfinished screenplay on her laptop, is stuck between chapters. Since her break-up with Fraser – which was not part of the script – she has retreated into a lonely working from home world of sweatpants, disordered hours and comfort eating. The one luminous constant in her life is her love for her rescue dog, Tomsk, and his for her.

When Beth’s house-share falls apart, she is thrown a lifeline by the least likely person… Fraser’s mother Martine who offers Beth and Tomsk a temporary space above her garage in which to start over.

Returning to Longhampton, scene of her happiest memories with Fraser and his family, feels like a second chance… might this be a sign that she and Fraser are meant to be?

But when Beth is recruited as a writer for a project called The Story of Your Life, she starts to gain more perspective on her own life. Run by the local retirement community, some of the stories she hears are heartwarming, some are heartbreaking. All of them, Beth notes, reveal a little more than the teller realises. And when she is sent an anonymous story of first love that threatens to destroy more than one family’s identity, Beth has to decide… is it sometimes better to keep a secret than reveal the truth? With its enchanting premise, a leading lady whose self-loathing cannot help but tug at the heartstrings, and a story of love and hope that crosses the generation divide, this gentle, insightful and thoroughly uplifting story will leave readers with the warmest of glows.
(Hodder & Stoughton, hardback, £20)

The French Guesthouse

Isabelle Broom

AS winter tightens its grip, take an unforgettable journey to sun-soaked France with this epic and drama-packed romance from Isabelle Broom (pictured below), acclaimed author of The Orange House. 

An emotive and richly compelling tale of complex relationships, generational trauma and the cathartic nature of forgiveness, The French Guesthouse features a vibrant cast of characters and a backdrop that will transport you into the beating heart of summertime.

On the night Fliss loses everything – her beloved hotel ravaged by fire and fiancé exposed as a cheat – she receives devastating news… her estranged mother has died. They hadn’t spoken for fifteen years and Fliss has stayed away for her own self-preservation.

Summoned to a dilapidated guesthouse in France for the reading of the will, Fliss is stunned to discover she has been left all her mother’s possessions. But the inheritance comes at a price… both literal and emotional. 

Sharing the house is Etienne, her mother's grief-stricken, wine-soaked partner, and his guarded yet magnetic nephew, Benoit.

As Fliss begins restoring the guesthouse, she unearths long-buried secrets about her mother, their past and the true cost of her long absence. But to move forward, cure her guilt and claim the love and happiness she has never thought she deserves, Fliss must first reckon with the hardest question of all… can she forgive?

Sometimes the only way to rebuild the future is to face the past you tried to escape and that is the message that speaks loudly and clearly in Broom’s heartfelt, wise and beautiful story which is guaranteed to uplift the soul and add warmth and colour to your winter blues.
(Hodder & Stoughton, paperback, £10.99)

Christmas at the Home Farm Vets

Suzanne Snow

CAN a young vet’s broken heart be mended amidst a snowy winter in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales? Spend Christmas in rural splendour as Lancashire-based author Suzanne Snow delivers a fun, festive and heartwarming romance set in her fictional Hartfell Village. 

Loved for her contemporary and uplifting novels which come with a vibrant sense of setting and community and connect the lives of her characters, Snow (pictured below) is inspired by her passion for landscape, romance and rural life.

Here we meet Erin Hardy who, ten years ago, had her heart broken by fellow vet student Oli Sterling. Now, he has returned on locum at Home Farm Vets and she is his landlord. 

All Erin wants is independence and security. All Oli does is travel the world in between working as locum at practices for a few months. So when he comes back into Erin's life, she knows it’s temporary, no matter the lingering looks he gives her.

With Christmas approaching, the vet practice is busier than ever, and Erin is surprised at how well she and Oli work together to help the animals of Hartfell. From sharing meals in her cramped cottage to meandering to the village fayre, the wall Erin has built around her heart begins to crumble.

But Oli’s contract is coming to an end and he has shown no sign of wanting to stay. Has she set herself up for another broken heart by the only man she has ever loved? Or will she realise that being independent sometimes means relying on others, and security comes with taking risks?

With a cast of both human and animal characters to enjoy, a picture perfect wintertime setting, a slow-burn romance, and themes of family, single parenthood and rural life, this is escapist reading with a warm heart and a wise head.
(Canelo Romance, paperback, £8.99)

Chef’s Kiss at the Chalet

Sookie Snow

TUCK into one of the tastiest Christmas treats you’ll find this festive season as Sookie Snow – the queen of small-town, seasonal romance and self-confessed lover of all things cosy, sweet and spiced – dishes up a fabulous feast of food and fun. 

Chef’s Kiss at the Chalet follows an ambitious young chef’s journey from London to the snow-covered charms of Maplewood Creek in America… only to find herself falling in love and torn between two worlds.

When Elle Evans lands a spot at London’s most prestigious culinary school, her dreams finally feel within reach. Desperate to scrape together the cash for her tuition, she accepts a last-minute agency position as a chalet girl, a job which whisks her away to Maplewood Creek, a quaint town nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Hired by the affluent Hawthorne family, Elle finds herself in a world of wealth, luxury and big egos, far removed from her humdrum everyday life. As she navigates the challenges of her new job, mastering gourmet dishes and catering to the whims of her discerning employers, she realises there’s something she hadn’t accounted for… Charles Hawthorne, the family’s charming and undeniably sexy eldest son.

Charles soon becomes an unexpected distraction for Elle… she can’t deny the sizzling chemistry between them. But, with Elle’s career aspirations hanging in the balance and Charles’s carefree lifestyle and family expectations putting a strain on their blossoming relationship, can this unlikely duo survive the season?

Slow-cook romance is the number one ingredient in this Christmas cracker which puts love on the menu and guarantees the feelgood factor from first course right through to the delicious dessert!
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)

Just a Taste

Anise Starre

SERVING up those much-loved flavours of the Christmas season is a fun, fresh and flirty kitchen romance from Anise Starre, best known for love stories with a seductive hint of steam and spice.

The only thing personal chef Noelle Jones loves more than cooking is Christmas. She has a roster of extremely wealthy clients, including the elusive and stoic Alexander Hoxton, the kind of man women dream about… but who shatters the daydream when he opens his mouth. 

When he asks her to cook a last-minute business meal he’s having, offering triple her pay for the short notice, Noelle jumps at the chance. It’s easy money, one of her favourite dishes and she'll still have plenty of time to get to her family’s annual Christmas reunion. 

But, when a sudden blizzard leaves Noelle snowed in with Alexander, she quickly realises he wants absolutely nothing to do with anything festive. Stuck with a veritable grinch, she’s sure this Christmas is about to become one of her worst… With delicious dialogue, a large serving of angst, and heaps of sizzling seasonal skirmishes, feelings are definitely boiling over in this hot Christmas romance… and you wouldn’t want to miss it!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

The Cat Share

Angela Jariwala

CAT lovers will be purring with delight when they meet up with greedy feline Oscar, star player in a warm and joyful rom-com from author Angela Jariwala (pictured below) who sadly died in December of 2021 before finishing this novel. 

Her legacy is this delightful tale, inspired by a true story, of two neighbours – strangers to each other – who find love courtesy of one sassy cat.

Sometimes it’s as simple as meeting the boy next door. Jenni lives alone with her cat Oscar – yes, she’s single but, after breaking up with her boyfriend, she’s more than content to be living alone. 

Sometimes she worries she might be playing things too safe but she’s had enough of taking risks. Ben is a firefighter and, if he’s honest, he’s finding life hard. 

The arrival of a small tabby cat, who Ben decides to call Fred, helps him feel less isolated. But then, one day, Ben decides to take a chance. Wanting to reassure Fred’s owner he’s not stealing their cat, he attaches a note to the cat’s collar. 

As the two neighbours start corresponding via the cat, their notes to each other reveal the truths they are hiding from even their closest friends… and themselves.

With themes of mental health and the healing power of love and friendship, this romantic feel-good romp is a perfect winter warmer. 
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

A Lively Midwinter Murder

Katy Watson

IT was supposed to be a spectacular high society Christmas wedding at an ancient castle which stands proudly on a stretch of land between loch and sea in a remote corner of the wild and wonderful west coast of Scotland.

But trouble is brewing, snow is falling thick and fast, and dark secrets and family feuds fester beneath the surface of the celebrations. And when one of the guests is found dead in the snow outside the castle’s family chapel, it will need three amateur sleuths to track down the murderer.   

If you’re looking for that perfect wintertime read, pour yourself a glass of mulled wine and cuddle up with this delightful contemporary murder mystery feast which dishes up the vibes of the Christmas season and the va-va-voom of the much-loved Golden Age of crime writing. A Lively Midwinter Murder is the fourth wickedly clever book in Katy Watson’s (pictured below)  entertaining Three Dahlias debut series which delivers vintage-style mysteries, and stars three rival actresses who have all played fictional 1930s detective Dahlia Lively on screen and are now making a name for themselves as the Three Dahlias and solving real-life murders.

So meet national treasure Rosalind King from the original movies, Caro Hooper, the TV Dahlia for thirteen seasons, and ex-child star Posy Starling who came fresh out of the fame wilderness and took on the Dahlia mantle for a brand new movie.

The three women and their partners have travelled north for what they hoped would be an exciting winter getaway at Dunwick Castle in the the Scottish Highlands where their friend, Libby McKinley, is to marry the new laird, Duncan Alexander, in a special service on Christmas Eve afternoon.

But all is not well at the castle... an unidentified body has washed up on a nearby beach and bride-to-be Libby is nervous after receiving an anonymous warning telling her to leave. And then there’s the long-standing feud between the Alexanders and the Blackwells, and the ‘invisible but inviolable’ line that is drawn between the neighbouring families. When a fierce snowstorm cuts off the castle from the mainland and tensions reach breaking point, the dead body of one of the guests is found in the snow outside the family chapel... a body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace.

The Dahlias had hoped for roaring fires and romance this Christmas but now they are on the trail of a murderer... and if their suspicions are correct, it looks like the wedding may be off. Can the three sleuths save the day, and ensure their friends get a happy ever after?

Watson, who spent her teenage holidays reading paperback Agatha Christies, always dreamt of writing her own crime novel and these delightful Three Dahlias tales – with their addictive mix of satirical humour, devilishly clever plotting and superbly drawn characters – are a dazzling celebration of the Golden Age crime she loved so dearly.

Add on the alluring and atmospheric backdrop of wintertime at a snowed-in castle – a formidable fortress perched uncertainly ‘between earth and water’ – and you have an exquisitely Christmassy setting for this festive feast of vintage-style mystery and murder with a delicious modern twist! Cosy crime with a glitzy, glamorous, seasonal glow!
(Constable, paperback, £9.99)

Small Acts of Resistance

Anita Frank

‘Sometimes in life, the greater courage is in realising the right thing is not always the best thing to do and altering your course accordingly.’

AS war rages across Northern France in May of 1915, brave soldiers put their lives on the line for king and country… but not all battles are fought on the frontline and sometimes courage, determination and the smallest acts of resistance can be found far from the front, and in the most unexpected places.

Anita Frank (pictured below) – who impressed both readers and critics with her stunning, award-winning debut, The Lost Ones, and followed up that success story with two more piercingly insightful novels, The Return and The Good Liars – sweeps us away to a small farmhouse in a rural French village where one all-female family must make impossible choices in their own perilous battle to save one young British airman’s life. Written in Frank’s impeccable, descriptive prose, delivering piercing insights into a tumultuous period of history, and tingling with the atmospherics that have become a hallmark of her novels, Small Acts of Resistance is a truly heart-rending and ultimately life-affirming story which explores love, loyalty, family relationships, fighting for survival, and heroism in all its different guises.

When his aircraft crash lands in Northern France in May of 1915, British airman Lieutenant Henry Farrier finds himself stranded behind enemy lines. He is not sure how long he can survive hiding out in woodland and has little choice but to try to set off on a dangerous course to the Dutch border.

What he hadn’t reckoned on was being discovered by schoolgirl Élodie who takes him back to the small farmhouse she shares with her older sister Marie and their grandmother Claudette Vaux who offers to hide him in a secret wall cavity that had once been used by her late husband when was smuggling tobacco over the border.

‘You won’t be the first person to be hidden within our walls,’ she tells Henry. ‘Not one of them has been found yet.’ From now on, Henry’s survival will depend on the courage and compassion of Claudette and her granddaughters, but Marie is far from happy with the plan, fearing that they will be shot by the Germans if Henry is discovered.

With their village already suffering under Occupation, and much of their food purloined by the enemy, Marie knows sheltering Henry will be immensely difficult and place the family in grave