Brilliant author. Captivating and original plot. Kept me gripped right to the end. Loved this book. Would highly recommend.

A romantic biography of an English poet’s life—easy to read, captivating, and immersive.

This fresh and idiomatic translation of Andre Maurois‘ biography of Shelley makes a good introduction to the entire Romantic movement. The relations of the young poet with Godwin and Byron, for instance, are convincing and well-drawn. The shifts of scene within England and to the Continent are well drawn. Above all, the language of this translation is altogether more accessible than the previously available translation from the 1930s. Strongly recommended and especially for anyone new to Shelley‘s life story and poetry. It makes a great portal to the Romantics. The cover and the strikingly apt contemporary black and white Illustrations are another plus.

Being more familiar with his poetic works and not his actual life, I was keen to read a biographic piece on such a historic and beloved writer.
A truly moving life story that reads smooth in this new translation and punctuated by amazing artwork by the immensely talented 'Anwot'.
Highly recommended and a definite must share with fellow lovers of poetry, history and of course, love (however hard it can be at times).

Silent Riders of the Sea is a remarkable story of grief and struggle that seeps into your flesh and bones and lingers. It's a story that drags you through the coal mines and onto a freezing ship where sailors are sick and starving and the management are willing to let them die as they seek to earn as much as they can. It's told through the eyes of a miner-turned-sailor called Jack and reads like a fever dream. It's raising the bar on what I'll now expect from Scottish literature in the future, and with that being said, I can't recommend it enough.

I am a fan of the author and a big fan of his previous novel Fish Town. Silent Riders of the Sea is almost like a horror story but told in the most incredible way.

It is my book of 2024/25 so far. The struggle of Jack on the cold Scottish seas as he realises he should have stayed with his wife is heartbreaking.

I was recommended this book by a friend and I was glad they did. It broke my heart but I have only good things to say about it. Silent Riders of the Sea is phenomenal.

One of the ways I judge books is if I miss the characters when I’m finished.. and I miss Jack. It’s one of those stories that you can’t put down. A heavy story, but my favourite ones always are.

The Rioting of Inferno was a very gritting and intense story. I ended up reading the book incredible fast and found myself immersed on that grotesque scenario. I love horrors and these intense stories because it is something unusual to the norm, specially when well-written.
100% Recommend this book for those who seek thrilling readings.

Brutal, beautiful, and one of the most captivating stories I have ever read. Phenomenal writing.

I had no idea that this poem was what inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland. Lovely thought, indeed.🥰 I will it one day, I will get there.🤭

And oh, what a treat it was to discover this poem.

I scared myself a little when opening the book, looking at an even number page, I only saw French. And my French is rusty to put it mildly.
I thought, " I have not accidentally told these lovely people I read French, did I?"

Worry not, on the odd number pages, the poem is, indeed, perfectly translated into English. It is perfect for those who want to learn French or just to brush up at the same time as reading this lovely bit of poetry.
In hindsight, I probably should have connected the dots looking at the cover.😂

I took my good time, I actually read it loud inside, as if there was a child here I was reading this to.
Sometimes, I twisted my tongue, unlike the goblins. Out loud, I laughed. I assure you, the goblins would, too!

This was a wonderful experience, from the beautiful cover, the poem itself, to the lovely illustrations by Eva Vasileva.
What can I say? I loved this read on a quiet Saturday.

I actually thought these illustrations were the original ones. Aren't they amazing?

A translation of André Maurois’ 1910 ‘Ariel, ou La Vie de Shelley’, this really brings the life of the tragic Romantic to life for the widest possible audience. Alix Daniel makes the story skip lightly along, holding you to it. A real page-turner if ever there was one, whether, like me, you are a lover of the Romantics, or whether you are looking to learn more about the movement, you won’t be disappointed!

Readers will be more familiar with other works by Dumas, such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, so this little novella is often overlooked. Translated for the first time in 2023, it's worth a few hours of anyone's time.

Opening the book with a brief biography of Dumas to give the reader context, we then dive into the fairytale within a tale.

The story comes as a tale told by a traveller chatting with a fellow passenger on a steamer down the Rhine, telling him a story about a castle they are passing. Count Osmond and his wife Countess Berthe rebuild Wittsgaw Castle after it had fallen into ruin. The most notable traits of the Countess were her kindness and compassion. Always with a kind word and alms for the needy, the Count and Countess were beloved. And not just by the people living under their rule. For the castle was home to a colony of dwarves - the Cobolts. They loved and protected the castle, and rewarded good owners with their protection and support. As a thank you for their help in restoring the castle, and their ongoing protection, the countess decreed that every year, everyone was invited to partake of a meal, including a honey porridge.

The tale follows the story of the castle, as it is passed down through generations and conquered by opposing forces. Many of these did not follow the decree and did not see why they should be providing food to those that should be providing for their lords. Successive owners were incompetent or mean or cruel, and paid the price for their misdeeds, until a new owner is found that could restore kindness.

In a world that feels so mean sometimes, it's takes a novella from 1847 to see kindness be rewarded.

The translation is excellent, keeping the conversational tone of the writing, and the book is beautifully narrated by Jason Don. Listening to the audiobook took me back to being read to as a child again - we're never too old for a truly delightful fairy tale.