A spell-binding fantasy novel set in the Blitz, from the author of Golden Hill ... 'THE BOOK OF THE CENTURY' - RICHARD OSMAN

'ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL MINDS IN CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE' - NICK HORNBY

'A TREMENDOUSLY VARIED AND SURPRISING WRITER' - GUARDIAN

It's the summer of 1939. London is on the brink of catastrophic war. Iris Hawkins, an ambitious young woman in the stuffy world of City finance, has a chance encounter with Geoff, a technical whizz at the BBC's nascent television unit.

What was supposed to be one night of abandon draws her instead into an adventure of otherworldly pursuit - into a reality where time bends, spirits can be summoned, and history hangs by a thread. Soon there are Nazi planes overhead. But Iris has more to contend with than the terrors of the Blitz. Over the rooftops of burning London, in the twisted passages between past and present, a fascist fanatic is travelling with a gun in her hand.

And only Iris can stop her from altering the course of history forever.

'What a joy! A novel with endless ingenuity and enormous heart.' - Kaliane Bradley

'One of the finest prose stylists of his generation.' - The Times

'My God can he write.' - Richard Osman

Details

ISBN13: 9780571397174
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 496
Edition: Export - Airside ed
Publication Date: 03 Mar 2026
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 23.4(H)x15.3(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Francis Spufford is the author of three novels and five highly-praised works of non-fiction which are most frequently described by reviewers as either 'bizarre' or 'brilliant', and usually as both. His debut work of fiction was the historical novel Golden Hill, whichwon the Costa First Novel Award, the RSL Ondaatje Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize, and was shortlisted for four others. His second novel, Light Perpetual, was awarded the Encore Award and longlisted for the Booker Prize. His third novel, the alternative history Cahokia Jazz, was recognised by the Science Fiction community when it was awarded the Sidewise Award in 2023. He teaches writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and lives in Essex.

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