Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

Marie Joseph

Let bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph take you to another world and lose yourself in this beautifully written and mesmerising saga about love against all odds. Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Harris and Catherine Cookson will not be disappointed. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'I love Marie Joseph books and this one did not disappoint.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
 
*********************************************************************************** 
WORLDS APART, BUT DRAWN TO EACH OTHER... 
 
Their lives could not have been more different. Jenny was the girl from the meat shop, born into squalor and defeat. Paul Tunstall was a soldier and a gentleman, arrogant and charming, with his silver-light eyes and boyish smile. 
And yet from the moment they met there was a spark between them - and their separate lives of pain and loneliness seemed to beckon to each other. 
 
Will love win out, against all odds?

A Leaf in the Wind

an emotional, enthralling and incredibly moving love story from bestselling saga author Marie Joseph

Let bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph sweep you away with this captivating and enthralling saga about poverty, passion and an unquenchable desire for a better life. Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will not be disappointed. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' - WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
 'Another Marie Joseph page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Never ceases to pull at your heartstrings' -- ***** Reader review 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
 
********************************************* 
WILL SHE GET THE LIFE AND LOVE SHE'S ALWAYS DREAMED OF? 
 
Lancashire in the 1900s. Clara Haydock has the voice of an angel - but she lives in a time and place of poverty and hardship, where singing is for church and life for getting on with. As she sings hymns on a Sunday morning, she dreams of one day singing on stage, in front of a rapt audience, lost in the music she loves. 
 
Her unbreakable spirit, her passion for music and her will to live a better life make her shine against the bleakness of her life. 
 
Not one to give up on a dream, she knows where her destiny lies ... and she'll do anything to fulfil it...

The Clogger's Child

A beautiful and touching wartime romance from the pen of bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' - WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
'Typical Marie Joseph page turner.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
WILL SHE FIND LOVE WITH THE MAN SHE'S SET HER HEART ON? 
 
Despite the incredible pressure, and the imminent danger, it is Sally Barnes who preoccupies David Turner's thoughts whilst on a bombing mission over Germany. 
 
Deaf since childhood, Sally is young and vulnerable and David wishes he could be with her to protect her from the horrors of war. 
 
 But to Sally, David is just the boy from down the road. It is Lee, the young carefree American airman, who has won her heart. 
 
Will fate be kind and allow her to find happiness amidst the trials and tribulations of a world at war?

The Listening Silence

the uplifting and moving story of the search for love amidst the trials of the Second World War

When the exotic stranger walked into the loveless Clancy household, he brought a gift to innocent seventeen-year-old Annie that neither her five brothers, nor her brutal father, had ever given her ... tenderness. And, like many before her, Annie pays the price for its sweetness. 
 
An outcast from her home and adrift in a harsh world, it would take a long time for Annie to trust a man again ... 
 
Inspired by Marie Joseph's storytelling magic, and set in the wild and sweeping Lancashire countryside, The Travelling Man is another of her gripping, page-turning sagas.

The Travelling Man

Joseph

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Harris and Catherine Cookson will love this compelling and captivating saga by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. When you're a woman in a man's world, you've got to do everything you can to make a way for yourself... 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'Compelling' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another Marie Joseph page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Never ceases to pull at your heartstrings' -- ***** Reader review 
*************************************************************************************************** 
IN A MAN'S WORLD, WILL HER PASSION AND STEELY DETERMINATION BE A HELP OR A HINDRANCE? 
 
At the turn of the century, the North of England is a hard, bleak world. A world where joy and love are in short supply - where men are resigned and women oppressed. 
 
Strong-willed and spirited, rebellious and beautiful, Maggie Craig flies in the face of the harshness of that world... 
 
Will her passion cost her dearly?

Maggie Craig

a powerful and stirring turn-of-the-century northern saga about a woman’s determination from bestseller Marie Joseph

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will love being transported to another time and place by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph in this enthralling and heart-warming saga about one woman's desire for a glamourous and romantic life. Will she achieve her dreams? 
 
'Marie Joseph has the same rare, magical gift as Catherine Cookson for turning everyday people with everyday lives into the stuff of fascination' -- Kent Evening Post 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'The perfect cosy read... I have multiple copies of this book and read it every year' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************ 
ONE CHANCE ENCOUNTER WILL CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER... 
 
In a small Lancashire cotton town in the 1930s, Daisy Bell dreams her life away. At twenty-six, still a spinster and heiress to her mother's potato pie shop, she's resigned to a lonely old age. But toiling over the bake-house fire she dreams of a better world - a world of glamour and romance as seen on the silver screen. 
 
 Then she meets Sam a dashing Clark Gable look-alike and chauffeur to a wealthy London businessman - and suddenly her life is changed forever... 
 
Will Sam be the answer to her prayers? 
 
A Better World Than This won the Romantic Novelists' Award. Daisy's story continues in A World Apart.

A Better World Than This

an unmissable and uplifting Lancashire coming of age saga of love and life

If you like Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson, you will love this captivating and heart -warming saga by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. We meet Daisy Bell again (A Better World Than This) - in the aftermath of war, can she build a new life? 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'Marie Joseph has the same rare, magical gift as Catherine Cookson for turning everyday people with everyday lives into the stuff of fascination.' -- Kent Evening Post 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
********************************************************* 
IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, CAN SHE BUILD A NEW LIFE? 
 
1947: The war is over, finally. 
 
Life at Daisy Penny's Blackpool boarding house, Shangri-La, is good - as good as it can be when you've got to feed your family and guests on rations and your husband is sickly. But still she carries on... 
 
However, when tragedy strikes, the indomitable Daisy makes the difficult decision to cut her ties, sell her boarding-house in Blackpool and start a new life in the country. 
 
Has she the strength to start afresh? 
 
Daisy's story started in A Better World Than This, which won the Romantic Novelists' Award.

A World Apart

a moving and emotional Lancashire saga about one woman’s resolve to start afresh

David Pirie

Imprisoned in a dank cottage deep in the English countryside Arthur Doyle lies half-unconscious and at the mercy of his nemesis - Cream. Gathering all his dwindling strength he smashes a window and crawls to safety. With a sharp piece of broken glass he awaits his torturer's return, but the man has eluded him once more, leaving behind the rotting body of a local miser and thwarted in his attempt to obtain money for his 'deadly' cause.        Securing the help of the remarkable pioneering criminal investigator Dr Joseph Bell the two men return to the scene of the crime but find few clues. London reveals little more except the possibility that their archenemy has gone to the Suffolk coast under the name of Dr Mere. Full of legend the local community fear the 'Dunwich witch' has returned with her evil curse. A man has died in suspicious circumstances and it seems many are unwilling to talk about it. More hideous crimes are yet to come as Dr Bell and Doyle move closer and closer to confronting Cream: Bell to capture a notorious villain, Doyle to avenge himself for a crime which robbed him of his future happiness.        Dr Bell and Arthur Doyle are reunited once again in their quest to hunt down a criminal mastermind in a sinister tale of intrigue and violence, which reaches a terrifying and dramatic climax -

The Dark Water

Jean Plaidy

From one of the most distinguished English authors of historical fiction comes a series that explores the lives of eleven Georgian figures. Beginning with the beautiful Sophia Dorothea, darling of Celle, and ending with Victoria's rise to become Queen of England.

The tenth book in the Georgian series is an entertaining work of historical fiction. 
 
Like his brothers, William, Duke of Clarence, has had his share of romance and intrigue. And when he falls in love with Dorothy Jordan, the notorious Irish comic of the Drury Lane Theatre, gossipmongers are ecstatic, for William is not the only one with a shady past. Dorothy's notorious offstage life combined with William's less than decorous behaviour will make great copy for the scandal sheets, while their affair lasts. 
 
But everyone is surprised when the casual dalliance develops into a twenty year marriage in all but name. William’s penchant for living beyond his means ensures that Dorothy can never leave the theatre as her income is a necessity for the couple. This becomes a contentious issue as she wants nothing more than to be a full time mother. 
 
Eventually, William leaves the family and seeks to meet his obligations to the state. Meanwhile, Dorothy, abandoned by her lover and ignored by the many children she had fought so hard to raise, must live out the remainder of her days alone in France.

Goddess of the Green Room

(Georgian Series)

Journey through the reign of William the Conqueror and his sons as they fight to keep civil war at bay and their line on the throne.

Henry, the youngest of The Conquerer's sons assumes the mantle of The Lion of Justice. 
 
The death of The Conqueror left three sons to inherit his power and his wealth. Normandy for Robert, England for Rufus and for Henry, the youngest, five thousand pounds of silver. 
 
The three were natural rivals. The feckless Robert lost Norman dukedom in an orgy of impulsive extravagance. Red-haired Rufus scandalised the court with his perverse sexuality and contempt for the Church. 
 
And Henry-cleverest of all-awaited his chance to fulfil his father’s prophecy and assume the mantle of The Lion of Justice. 
 
 
‘Jean Plaidy, by the skilful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of characterisation has become one of the country’s most widely read novelists.’ Sunday Times 
 
‘Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting.’ Observer 
 
‘Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama.’ New York Times 
 
‘Outstanding’ Vanity Fair

The Lion of Justice

(Norman Series)

Unforgettable in its dramatic depiction of relationships between monarchs and families, this series delves into the scandal and betrayal behind the Stuart family during their reign.

Captivating in its historical detail, lush and sweeping in its scope, and unforgettable in its dramatic depiction of relationships between monarchs and families, The Three Crowns is the singular story of the only joint sovereigns in British history. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy has brought the past to life' -- Times Literary Supplement 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Jean Plaidy conveys the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity' -- Guardian 
'Absolute heaven' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another wonderful book from a brilliant writer' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fantastic' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************************* 
When an empire is at stake, one woman stands between the past and the future. 
 
 In post-Restoration England, King Charles II has fathered numerous children, but not a single legitimate heir. So it falls to his brother, James, Duke of York, to head the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland-the three crowns of Britain. But James's devout Catholicism, and desire to return Britain to the rule of Rome, does not sit well with his subjects and his time as king is sure to be short. 
 
 Born leader and brilliant soldier, William of Orange, has a plan... By marrying Mary, James' fifteen-year-old daughter and heir, he will position himself perfectly to seize the English crown. 
Mary must also decide how much power to cede to William, should she keep him as Consort or let him rule beside her as King? 
 
The Stuart saga continues with The Haunted Sisters.

The Three Crowns

(The Stuart saga: book 5): a compelling and powerful depiction of a pivotal moment in British history from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Diana Gabaldon

World War II nurse Claire Randall finds herself transported back to 1743 where she meets young Scottish soldier Jamie Fraser, and the two travel from Scotland to America taking part in some of the most momentous events of the time.

Read the first three books in the million-copy bestselling Outlander series that inspired the TV show. 
 
What if your future was the past? 
 
Book 1: Outlander 
1946, and Claire Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with her husband Frank. It’s a second honeymoon, a chance to learn how war has changed them and to re-establish their loving marriage. 
 
But one afternoon, Claire walks through a circle of standing stones and vanishes into 1743, where the first person she meets is a British army officer - her husband’s six-times great-grandfather. 
 
Unfortunately, Black Jack Randall is not the man his descendant is, and while trying to escape him, Claire falls into the hands of a gang of Scottish outlaws, and finds herself a Sassenach - an outlander - in danger from both Jacobites and Redcoats. 
 
Marooned amid danger, passion and violence, her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives. 
 
Book 2: Dragonfly in Amber 
For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the majesty of Scotland's mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, about a love that transcends the boundaries of time, and about James Fraser, a warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. 
 
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful daughter as Claire's spellbinding journey continues in the intrigue-ridden court of Charles Edward Stuart, in a race to thwart a doomed uprising, and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves. 
 
Book 3: Voyager 
Jamie Fraser is lying on the battlefield of Culloden, where he rises wounded, to face execution or imprisonment. Either prospect pales beside the pain of loss - his wife is gone. Forever. 
 
But sometimes forever is shorter than one thinks. In 1746, Claire Fraser made a perilous journey through time, leaving her young husband to die at Culloden, in order to protect their unborn child. In 1968, Claire has just been struck through the heart, discovering that Jamie Fraser didn’t die in battle. 
 
But where is Jamie now? With the help of her grown daughter, Claire sets out to find the man who was her life - and might be once again.

An Outlander Collection

Books 1-3

With King George III under lock and key suffering from perceived insanity and the Prince Regent in ill health, all eyes are on the Regent’s pregnant daughter. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens and both Charlotte and her baby die in childbirth, leaving the age old problem of succession. For though King George III has many children, all are middle-aged and none have legitimate heirs to secure the Hanoverian dynasty. 
 
The death of Charlotte causes a sudden enthusiasm for marriage among the sons of George III, as they compete to have children and secure their line of succession. William marries Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg Meiningen while Edward marries Victoria Mary Louisa of Saxe-Saalfeld-Coburg. Another son, Ernest, is already married and he too hopes to be the one to provide necessary children. King George dies, to be replaced by an ailing George IV, and Edward and Victoria succeed in having a daughter, also named Victoria. She waits patiently to become Queen, avoiding the plots, intrigue and danger that threaten to prevent her reaching maturity.

Victoria in the Wings

THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES - now a major TV series! 
 
'Outlander is epic, magical, and deeply romantic. A true gift to all readers.’ Ali Hazelwood 
‘A stone-cold classic' Katherine Arden 
'Scotland's answer to Game of Thrones' Herald 
___________ 
 
For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the majesty of Scotland's mist-shrouded hills. 
 
Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, about a love that transcends the boundaries of time, and about James Fraser, a warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. 
 
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful daughter as Claire's spellbinding journey continues in the intrigue-ridden court of Charles Edward Stuart, in a race to thwart a doomed uprising, and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves. 
___________ 
 
Readers love the Outlander series: 
 
'So intricately plotted and peopled that one is amazed she could conceive and write it in only seven years' Independent 
 
'Gabaldon is a gifted world-builder' Daily Telegraph 
 
'Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has brought a touch of Caledonian magic to millions around the globe' Ian Rankin 
 
'An unforgettable, unparalleled love story that will leave you craving more' Olivie Blake 
 
'A sweeping tale of love, honor, sacrifice and rebellion, Outlander has long defined truly epic storytelling' Cassandra Clare

Dragonfly In Amber

(Outlander 2)

Takashi Matsuoka

The year is 1311, in the highest tower of Cloud of Sparrows Castle, a beautiful woman watches from the window as the city is set alight and a mob runs riot destroying everything they can lay their hands on. She begins to write down the events unfolding around her and the secret history of the Okumichi Clan. 
 
Six centuries later the lost scrolls fall into the hands of American missionary Emily Gibson, a new arrival at Edo Harbour and racing from her tragic past. Emily quickly finds herself translating the text, caught up in the gripping tale of ancestry, heroism and forbidden love. At the same time Emily is desperately trying to unravel the complexities in her own life as two men fight for her love. 
 
As Emily sifts through the fragile scrolls, she begins to see threads of her own life woven into the ancient writings. As past and present collide, a hidden history comes to life, and with it a secret prophecy that has been shrouded for centuries and may now finally be revealed.

Autumn Bridge

Patricia Burns

Lose yourself in this heart-warming and captivating saga of love and heartache set in London's East End from much loved author, Patricia Burns. Fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Josephine Cox will not be disappointed... 
 
READERS ARE LOVING TRINIDAD STREET! 
'Thoroughly enjoyed it, got carried away with all the different family happenings' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Such a great read' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
LOVE AND WAR IN LONDON'S EAST END 
 
The Isle of Dogs at the turn of the century was a close-knit community and Trinidad Street was no different. The lives and loves of its residents often intermingled... 
 
When Tom Johnson, a union leader at the docks is sacked, his daughter Ellen has to leave school and forget her dreams of getting an office job. But she can still dream of Harry Turner... 
 
 But Harry, a young lighterman struggling to keep his battered family together, is bewitched by silver-tongued beauty Siobhan O'Donoghue. And Siobhan, ambitious for greater things, will use any weapon to repay the people of Trinidad Street for her disappointments. 
 
 And Gerry Billingham, set on bettering himself in pursuit of a retail empire, will be there to pick up the pieces ... 
 
 Through good times and bad, some will find what they are looking for - and others will realise too late what they have lost.

Trinidad Street

Plaidy's fabulous Georgian series continues with the courtship of Maria Fitzherbert ... 
 
The day the Prince of Wales set eyes on Maria Fitzherbert on the towpath at Richmond, she was twice widowed and eminently appealing. The Prince was in love. The more she resisted him, the more determined he became. 
 
The courtship of Mrs Fitzherbert, set against the backgrounds of the Brighton Pavillion, the court at Windsor and Carlton House, was to bring betrayal, scandal and the downfall of one of the greatest politicians of the day. 
 
It is a story full of the elegance and arrantry of the close of the eighteenth century, peopled with characters like the wily Charles James Fox, the coy Fanny Burney, and old George III, slowly descending into madness, while the balladmongers sang...

Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill

Let multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy transport you back in time with this beautifully evocative, enthralling and enchanting novel of murder and mystery. If you like Philippa Gregory, you will not be disappointed. 
 
'Jean Plaidy conveys the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity' -- Guardian 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Entertaining, intelligent and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
'Jean Plaidy is just a master storyteller. Absolutely brilliant!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Very well written, makes you feel like you are really an insider as to what most likely was taking place.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put it down...!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************** 
The dashing Robert Carr is a well-known favourite of King James I and he rises quickly through the ranks. A glorious future seems assured... 
 
But when he is married to the cunning and beautiful child-bride, Frances Howard, everything changes. 
 
 Frances emerges as a headstrong force of nature - determined to have her way, no matter what the cost. Her attempts to rid herself of an unwanted husband, and later to ensnare a lukewarm lover, lead her deep into the world of spell-makers and treachery. This is a woman to underestimate at great peril. 
 
When Robert finds himself ensnared in one of Frances's plots he finally learns what she is truly capable of... 
 
The Stuart saga continues in The Wandering Prince.

The Murder in the Tower

(The Stuart saga: book 1): passion and peril collide in this dazzling novel set in the 1600s from the Queen of English historical fiction

This is the third and final book in The Norman Trilogy and tells the story of the last days of the reign of Henry I. 
 
His son and wife are dead, and Henry hastily remarries a woman more than thirty years his junior in the hope of producing a male heir and securing the succession. 
 
If he fails, the throne will pass to Matilda, and Henry fears that his nobles will not willingly serve a woman. But after his death this feckless daughter becomes the focus of a line of would-be kings and soon the country is plunged into a bitter civil war that only a child can undo. 
 
‘Jean Plaidy, by the skilful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of characterisation has become one of the country’s most widely read novelists.’ Sunday Times 
 
‘Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting.’ Observer 
 
‘Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama.’ New York Times 
 
‘Outstanding’ Vanity Fair

The Passionate Enemies

Sheila Walsh

Ryan's Bakery is at the hub of Liverpool life in the late thirties: its driving force, Kathleen, who loves her quiet husband, Michael, and her family, and is fiercely ambitious for them all - Rita, soon to be a teacher; stage-stuck Shirely Anne; Chris, a baker like his dad, and carefee young Joey. 
 
Then a late and difficult pregnancy blunts Kathleen's ambition and presents her bright middle daughter, Liz, with a challenge. In meeting it, the enthusiastic sixteen-year-old discovers untapped creative talents, and a dream is born - that one day she will be Elizabeth Ryan, renowned for quality pastries and home-made chocolates. 
 
With her first small success, Liz makes an enemy - Alec Mannings, son of a rival baker. But she also finds an invaluable friend in Fritz Lendl, and Austrian confectioner, driven from his homeland by the Nazis. 
 
When Leigh, the dashing American flyer, first captures Liz's heart, he sees her only as an endearing gutsy kid, and she is enough of a realist to know it. Besides, there is Jimmy, the boy she has promised to marry. But during the Second World War, fate brings them together once more, and Liz is no longer a child. There are agonizing choices to be made, as time and again their love seems destined to be denied - until tomorrow.

Until Tomorrow

Bringing history to life, Plaidy tells the story of a young, idealistic Prince of Wales... 
 
The Prince of Wales develops a deep affection for a beautiful quakeress, Hannah Lightfoot, who catches his eye as he is riding through the streets. A first meeting is arranged, leading to several more, and eventually they discreetly marry in a secluded house where they live as man and wife. She is prepared to betray her beliefs for him, just as he is willing to defy the desires of various courtiers for her. Eventually, his mother’s lover Lord Bute uncovers the affair and Hannah mysteriously disappears. 
 
The novel explores the lasting question, did the future George III contradict royal protocol and marry a commoner? Shortly after his affair with Hannah, he becomes King George III. After a potential engagement to Sarah Lennox falls through, he marries Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The Prince and the Quakeress

Robert Harris

'A writer who handles suspense like a literary Alfred Hitchcock' Nelson Mandela 
 
April, 1964. The naked body of an old man floats in a lake on the outskirts of Berlin. In one week it will be Adolf Hitler's 75th birthday. A terrible conspiracy is starting to unravel . . . 
 
'Robert Harris has created the whole structure of a totally corrupt society in a way that makes the flesh creep' Sunday Times 
'Powerful and chilling . . . convincing in every detail' Daily Telegraph 
'Clever and ingenious . . . its breeding is by Orwell, out of P.D. James, a detective story inside a future shock' Daily Mail

Fatherland

The first book in the Norman Trilogy chronicles the life of William the Conquerer. 
 
This glorious novel chronicles the life of William the Conqueror, the bastard son of the Duke of Normandy, from childhood until his death in 1087. 
 
He is destined to succeed his father as the Duke of Normandy but questions about his legitimacy mean he consistently faces challenges from potential usurpers in the Duchy to retain the title. He marries Matilda, the equally intelligent and ambitious daughter of the King of Flanders, and together they have many children. 
 
In 1066, he crosses the channel from Normandy to England and seizes the crown from King Harold, Edward the Confessor’s popular successor. This is the roller coaster account of his efforts to become sovereign and the events in his life afterwards, including his turbulent relationships with various members of his family.

The Bastard King

Incredibly detailed, exciting and vibrant is Plaidy's thrilling Queen of England series which depicts the lives of each queen beginning with Queen Henrietta Maria.

The life of Jane Shore in Plaidy's thrilling Queen of England Series. 
 
Eighteen year old Jane Shore’s beauty is known around London. She is well-educated and intelligent, and when she catches the eye of a wealthy goldsmith her father sees in her an opportunity for an advantageous marriage. But the marriage is soon annulled and she becomes the favourite mistress of Edward IV. 
 
Her compassion for London’s poor brings her widespread popularity, and she uses her favour with the king to beg forgiveness for those who have angered him. When Edward suddenly dies, she seduces other men, namely Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset and William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. 
 
But when Hastings loses the new King's favour she is punished and imprisoned in Ludgate prison. There, away from the protection of her loves, she can only face the horrors of those she once protected. And pray for salvation.

The Goldsmith's Wife

(Queen of England Series)

From the pen of legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy comes an unforgettable true story of 
royalty, passion, and innocence lost. 
 
Born into an impoverished branch of the noble Howard family, young Katherine is plucked from her home to live with her grandmother, the Duchess of Norfolk. The innocent girl quickly learns that her grandmother’s puritanism is not shared by Katherine’s free-spirited cousins, with whom she lives. Beautiful and impressionable, Katherine becomes involved in two ill-fated love affairs before her sixteenth birthday. Like her cousin Anne Boleyn, she leaves her grandmother’s home to become a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII. The royal palaces are exciting to a young girl from the country, and Katherine's duties there allow her to be near her handsome cousin, Thomas Culpepper, whom she has loved since childhood. 
 
But when Katherine catches the eye of the aging and unhappily married king, she is forced to abandon her plans for a life with Thomas and marry King Henry. Overwhelmed by the change in her fortunes, bewildered and flattered by the adoration of her husband, Katherine is dazzled by the royal life. But her bliss is short-lived as rumors of her wayward past come back to haunt her, and Katherine’s destiny takes another, deadly, turn.

The Rose Without a Thorn

Scarred by her experiences on the battlefront, Aimée Buchanan, a young doctor, has come home to Liverpool. Exhaustion, fever and a tragic love affair leaves her depressed and apathetic - until she meets the Shaw family and sees the plight, firsthand, of destitute families. 
 
Apprenticed to the hateful Mrs Crawley, Matty Shaw dreams of becoming a famous designer until she is unfairly dismissed. But fate takes a hand, and Matty finds herself working as an alteration assistant at Madame Vincent's exclusive French modiste... 
 
In a story that crosses the barriers of class and social prejudice, Shelia Walsh, author of bestselling Until Tomorrow, brings to life her warm and moving novel of two women, both dedicated to their careers - both determined to succeed in a different world.

Remember Me

Leslie Thomas

They came on a distant, secret night, armed and ready to kill. Their ghosts are still with us today. 
 
In June 1942 a party of German saboteurs landed by submarine in the United States of America. They were betrayed and executed within eight weeks of their landing. Their treacherous leader served a prison sentence and then disappeared. 
 
Orders for New York takes this historical fact as its starting point and tells the story of Michael Findlater, a British journalist who is in the USA researching for a book. Invited to meet his ex-wife Madelaine for the first time since their divorce and to see his twelve-year-old daughter, Findlater finds he is in fact being recruited for a well-paid secret mission. 
 
Madelaine's father-in-law, a wealthy and successful newspaper proprietor, wants him to take on theassignment of finding the vanished Nazi saboteur, Peter Karl Hine, and writing his story. Spurred on partly by the huge reward on offer and partly by curiosity, Findlater embarks on his quest and rapidly discovers that there are ruthless parties involved, who will stop at nothing to prevent him. 
 
This is an enthralling and astonishing new novel, from the author of The Magic Army and The Adventures of Goodnight and Loving.

Orders For New York

Judith Saxton

On 21 April 1926, three baby girls are born. In North Wales, Hester Coburn, a farm labourer's wife, gives birth to Nell, while in Norwich, in an exclusive nursing home, Anna is born to rich and pampered Constance Radwell. And in London, Elizabeth, Duchess of York, has her first child, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. 
 
The future looks straightforward for all three girls, yet before Nell is eight she and Hester are forced to leave home, finding work with a travelling fair. Anna's happy security is threatened by her father's infidelities and her mother's jealousy, and the Princess's life is irrevocably altered by her uncle's abdication. 
 
Set in the hills of Wales and the rolling Norfolk countryside, the story follows Nell and Anna through their wartime adolescence into young womanhood as they struggle to overcome their problems, while watching 'their' Princess move towards her great destiny. Only when they finally meet do the two girls understand that each of them is 'someone special'.

Someone Special

The story of Caroline of Ansbach, part of the fabulous Georgian series. 
 
When Caroline of Ansbach arrives in England, King George is old and sour, his mistress ugly and his wife imprisoned at his own hand for over twenty years. She has grown up watching her mother Eleanor’s loveless and dangerous marriage, and is determined to avoid a similar situation. So she marries the Prince of Wales, George Augustus, and they are popular among the people, leading the King to resent them. 
 
In what will become typical Hanoverian style, father and son loathe each other and exist in a state of constant competition for power. She quickly realizes that her husband is unintelligent and sees that she will be able to control him to some extent. Despite plenty of obstacles, including her father-in-law’s control of her children, she refuses to lose sight of her aims.

Queen in Waiting

Plaidy has the abilty of making history accessible and a joy to read. 
 
Caroline’s long wait is up. George I is dead, and her husband is King. They immediately make the unfortunate discovery that most of the jewels and inheritance have been leaked away to mistresses of the old King. Catherine, with the assistance of Prime Minister Walpole, slowly begins to repair the damage done to England by previous sovereigns. 
 
She does her duty to the best of her ability, monitoring decisions made by her arrogant and insecure husband and stepping in where she feels it necessary. The book emphasises the importance of English Queens throughout history, as Caroline patiently dominates her husband and most of the court from behind the scenes. It is thanks to her that the House of Hanover survived, despite the unpopularity of its Kings.

Caroline the Queen

biblio.categories.code

biblio.publicationStatus

biblio.brand

biblio.workEditions.format

biblio.ageRange

biblio.series.seriesName

biblio.imprint.description

biblio.type

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

Search Results

The Fall of the West

Hunt the Villain

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight (Book 21)

The Mortons

Watch a trailer for The Spook's Blood

A photograph of Ben Barnes in character for Shadow and Bone Netflix series.

Interviews

Shadow and Bone’s Ben Barnes on tear-jerking books and what he’s reading

An image showing a selection of adventure stories for 9-12 year olds on a bright yellow background with orange doodles that include a hashtag, flag, danger sign and speech bubble

Children's reading lists

16 books for 9 to 12-year-olds that love adventures

An image of a selection of books for 9-12s on a blue background with a large splodge and striped print

24 must-read books for 9-12-year-olds

A picture of several different children's books on a pink to blue ombre background; each book has a bright yellow shadow

Showing results for: ‘joseph delaney’

Filters

Category

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter