Tag: Hodder

Pięć toastów Hannigana: WHEN ALL IS SAID by Anne Griffin out now in Poland!

Posted on Wednesday, August 14th, 2019

Pięć toastów Hannigana, the Polish edition of Anne Griffin‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel, WHEN ALL IS SAID is out now! Published in Poland by Wydawnictwo Czarna Owca, here’s the synopsis…

Historia jednej nocy. Opowieść o całym życiu.

Gdybyście musieli wybrać pięć osób, które podsumowałby wasze życie, kogo byście wybrali? W hotelowym barze w małym irlandzkim miasteczku 84-letni Maurice Hanniganzamawia pięć drinków. Przy każdym z nich wznosi toast za najważniejsze osoby w swoim życiu: ukochanego starszego brata, nietuzinkową szwagierkę, córkę, z którą spędził zaledwie piętnaście minut, syna mieszkającego w Stanach Zjednoczonych i za zmarłą, żonę, z której odejściem nie umie się pogodzić. Z historii ludzi, którzy go opuścili układa opowieść o swoim burzliwym życiu, o tym czego żałuje, o tragediach, miłościach i małych zwycięstwach.

Opowieść Maurice’a Hannigana rozgrzewa serce i budzi silne emocje, a jego głos rozbrzmiewa na długo po tym, gdy wszystko zostaje już wypowiedziane.

The novel is published in the UK and Ireland by Sceptre, in North America by St. Martin’s Press, and widely in translation (see below for some of the covers). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘The most impressive aspects of this first novel from the pen of prize-winning short-story writer Anne Griffin are its rich, flowing prose, its convincing voice, and its imaginative and clever structure. She has complete mastery of her quite complex plot, and manages to imbue her sizeable cast of diverse characters with life and energy… Griffin is a writer of unusual confidence and authority, and a welcome arrival to the literary scene.’ — Irish Times

‘Beautiful. Intimate. Tearful. Aching and lyrical. So simply and beautifully told.’ — Louise Penny

Polish edition of Anne Griffin’s WHEN ALL IS SAID on its way!

Posted on Friday, July 26th, 2019

We’re happy to report that Anne Griffin‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel, WHEN ALL IS SAID will soon get a Polish edition! Due to be published in Poland by Wydawnictwo Czarna Owca as Pięć toastów Hannigana. Here’s the synopsis…

Historia jednej nocy. Opowieść o całym życiu.

Gdybyście musieli wybrać pięć osób, które podsumowałby wasze życie, kogo byście wybrali? W hotelowym barze w małym irlandzkim miasteczku 84-letni Maurice Hanniganzamawia pięć drinków. Przy każdym z nich wznosi toast za najważniejsze osoby w swoim życiu: ukochanego starszego brata, nietuzinkową szwagierkę, córkę, z którą spędził zaledwie piętnaście minut, syna mieszkającego w Stanach Zjednoczonych i za zmarłą, żonę, z której odejściem nie umie się pogodzić. Z historii ludzi, którzy go opuścili układa opowieść o swoim burzliwym życiu, o tym czego żałuje, o tragediach, miłościach i małych zwycięstwach.

Opowieść Maurice’a Hannigana rozgrzewa serce i budzi silne emocje, a jego głos rozbrzmiewa na długo po tym, gdy wszystko zostaje już wypowiedziane.

The novel is published in the UK and Ireland by Sceptre, in North America by St. Martin’s Press, and widely in translation (see below for some of the covers). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘The most impressive aspects of this first novel from the pen of prize-winning short-story writer Anne Griffin are its rich, flowing prose, its convincing voice, and its imaginative and clever structure. She has complete mastery of her quite complex plot, and manages to imbue her sizeable cast of diverse characters with life and energy… Griffin is a writer of unusual confidence and authority, and a welcome arrival to the literary scene.’ — Irish Times

‘Beautiful. Intimate. Tearful. Aching and lyrical. So simply and beautifully told.’ — Louise Penny

Tomorrow: Lavie Tidhar’s acclaimed THE VIOLENT CENTURY re-issued in North America!

Posted on Monday, July 22nd, 2019

We’re very happy to report that a new edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s critically-acclaimed THE VIOLENT CENTURY is out tomorrow in North America! Published by Tachyon Publications, here’s the synopsis…

A bold experiment has mutated a small fraction of humanity. Nations race to harness the gifted, putting them to increasingly dark ends. At the dawn of global war, flashy American superheroes square off against sinister Germans and dissolute Russians. Increasingly depraved scientists conduct despicable research in the name of victory

British agents Fogg and Oblivion, recalled to the Retirement Bureau, have kept a treacherous secret for over forty years. But all heroes must choose when to join the fray, and to whom their allegiance is owed—even for just one perfect summer’s day.

From the World Fantasy and Campbell award-winning author of Central Station comes a sweeping novel of history, adventure, and what it means to be a hero.

Tachyon Publications has also published Lavie’s acclaimed, award-winning CENTRAL STATION and UNHOLY LAND.

THE VIOLENT CENTURY is published in the UK by Hodder, who also publishes Lavie’s award-winning A MAN LIES DREAMING.

Here are just a few of the great reviews THE VIOLENT CENTURY has received…

‘Like Watchmen on crack’ — io9

‘THE VIOLENT CENTURY, Tidhar’s latest book, is even darker than OSAMA. Think John le Carré dark… something like John le Carré, not as a matter of slavish imitation so much, but rather as an evocation of darkness, idealism turning to exhaustion, and moral ambiguity. The Old Man, Oblivion, Fogg, these are men who have been fighting in the shadows for far too long and whatever sense of right and wrong they started out with is now dangerously suspect… But this is also a novel of alternate history and the world these characters live in is not exactly ours. In fact it may have almost as much in common with the seedy world of Alan Moore’s Watchmen  for all of the characters mentioned so far are actually superhuman… It’s hard, but not impossible as Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey and others have shown, to create a morally complex, artistically ambitious story based on characters whose origins are not that far removed from the simplicity of Superman, Spiderman, and their ilk. Tidhar has succeeded brilliantly in this task. THE VIOLENT CENTURY is a masterful example of alternate universe science fiction and can only add to its author’s rapidly growing reputation.’ — Los Angeles Review of Books

‘A brilliantly etched phantasmagoric reconfiguring of that most sizzling of eras – the twilight 20th…  This book has it all:  time travel, political intrigue, hellacious history…  You’ve got superheroes in the guise of regular humans, you’ve got World War II … THE VIOLENT CENTURY is a torrid tour de force!’ — James Ellroy

‘THE VIOLENT CENTURY… may be his best yet: a blistering alt-historical retelling of a 20th century lousy with superheroes.’ — The Guardian, Best SFF of 2013

‘Vintage Lavie, and also I think his most fully accomplished novel yet. Nobody rides that fast-rolling wave separating schlocky pulp and serious literary sensibilities so deftly as Tidhar. He manages to make serious points about the benighted twentieth-century and its obsession with ‘supermen’ without ever letting the narrative slacken or the adventure pale. If Nietzche had written an X-Men storyline whilst high on mescaline, it might have read something like THE VIOLENT CENTURY.’ — Adam Roberts, author of Jack Glass

‘The level of detail with which Tidhar fills his novel ensures that the events he is using as his setting feel convincing. Like Le Carre’s best novels, the world of espionage isn’t glamorous or exciting; it’s a grim, cold and lonely place. The author does a lot with a relatively minimalist style, and he envelops us in Transylvanian forests with Count Dracula’s transformed descendant and the frozen battleground of Minsk without ever slowing down… it’s impressive how much ground Tidhar covers. At the centre of this is the question, ‘What makes a hero?’ The supermen of Tidhar’s novel are forced to commit terrible acts in the name of the greater good, and stand by and watch as terrible acts are committed for the same reason. As well as being a wonderfully drawn and detailed historical espionage tale, THE VIOLENT CENTURY is ultimately a very human story. It’s gripping, imaginative and, finally, moving.’ — SciFi Now

Anne Griffin interviewed for Audible Sessions! WHEN ALL IS SAID also a Waterstones Book of the Month!

Posted on Friday, July 12th, 2019

Anne Griffin — the author of the critically-acclaimed, best-selling debut WHEN ALL IS SAID — has been interviewed for Audible’s Sessions series of author interviews. You can get the interview, for free, direct from Audible (UK, US).

Joining us at Audible Studios is Anne Griffin, debut author of the next great Irish novel, When All Is Said.   

Griffin’s novel depicts an Irish farmer who orders five drinks over the course of one night to toast each of the five most important people in his life. His life is laid bare, in its loves and feuds, regrets and triumphs, all through the five people who have left him behind.   

We spoke about her inspiration for the book, her literary career so far and what her plans are for the future. 

WHEN ALL IS SAID was recently released in paperback in the UK and Ireland (Sceptre), and is a Waterstones Book of the Month!

It is also available in hardcover in the US (St. Martin’s Press). It is also, of course, available in audiobook formats in both territories. The novel has also been conquering other territories, and has been released in a number of translated editions (with more on the way!).

Here’s the synopsis…

Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime.

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

Here are just some of the great responses to the novel so far…

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘Beautiful. Intimate. Tearful. Aching and lyrical. So simply and beautifully told.’ — Louise Penny

‘Beautifully written, unhurried and thoughtful, a lonely man truthfully wrought and a character you love from the off, in spite of his flaws or maybe because of them… a terrific debut.’ — Kit de Waal, award-winning author of My Name is Leon

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Pitch-perfect prose… Moving and beautifully written, this is a wonderfully assured debut.’ — Mail on Sunday

‘It’s all beautifully done; a tale told in the plain but poetic prose of a man who recognises the tragic truths gleaned from a life of love and loss. A gem of a book.’ 5* — Sunday Express

‘A proper tear-jerker, but one that will ultimately leave you feeling hopeful.’ — Grazia

Όταν όλα έχουν ειπωθεί: Anne Griffin’s WHEN ALL IS SAID out now in Greece!

Posted on Monday, July 1st, 2019

We’re very happy to report that Anne Griffin‘s acclaimed, best-selling debut novel, WHEN ALL IS SAID continues its global conquest! A new Greek edition is now available, published by Εκδόσεις ΜΙΝΩΑΣ as Όταν όλα έχουν ειπωθεί. Here’s the synopsis…

Μόλις κυκλοφόρησε, από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας, το συγκινητικό και εντυπωσιακό βιβλίο της Ανν Γκρίφιν, το οποίο έχει χαρακτηριστεί ως το ντεμπούτο του 2019 από το περιοδικό Publishers Weekly. Το πρώτο βιβλίο της Ανν Γκρίφιν, Όταν όλα έχουν ειπωθεί, παραμένει από τις αρχές του 2019 το No 1 Best Seller στην Ιρλανδία, ενώ έχει συμπεριληφθεί στο Τοp 10 της Amazon.co.uk στη σύγχρονη λογοτεχνία και αποτελεί ένα από τα 43 πιο δημοφιλή αναγνώσματα του Goodreads.

Αν διάλεγες πέντε ξεχωριστά πρόσωπα που σημάδεψαν  τη ζωή σου, ποια θα ήταν αυτά; Αν σήκωνες το ποτήρι σου για να κάνεις μια πρόποση στο καθένα από αυτά,  τι θα τους έλεγες; Και τι θα είχες μάθει για τον εαυτό σου  όταν όλα θα είχαν ειπωθεί;

Στο μπαρ ενός πολυτελούς ξενοδοχείου σε μια μικρή πόλη της Ιρλανδίας κάθεται ο ογδοντατετράχρονος Μόρις Χάνιγκαν, έτοιμος να διηγηθεί την ιστορία του. Μόνος, ως συνήθως, σε μια βραδιά θα κάνει πέντε προπόσεις σε πέντε ανθρώπους που σήμαιναν πολλά για αυτόν και καθόρισαν την πορεία της ζωής του. Μέσα από τις ιστορίες που διηγείται –συναισθήματα που ποτέ δεν εκδηλώθηκαν, μια μυστική, καλά κρυμμένη τραγωδία, μια βαθιά αγάπη που ποτέ δεν εκφράστηκε– η ζωή ενός άντρα ξεδιπλώνεται με ένταση, ειλικρίνεια και γενναιότητα.

Συγκινητικό και συμπονετικό, το ντεμπούτο της πολλά υποσχόμενης νέας συγγραφέως της Ιρλανδίας είναι εντυπωσιακό. Η φωνή του Μόρις Χάνιγκαν θα συνεχίσει να αντηχεί ακόμα και όταν ολοκληρωθεί η ανάγνωση του βιβλίου, αφότου όλα θα έχουν ειπωθεί.

The novel is published in the UK and Ireland by Sceptre, in North America by St. Martin’s Press, and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘The most impressive aspects of this first novel from the pen of prize-winning short-story writer Anne Griffin are its rich, flowing prose, its convincing voice, and its imaginative and clever structure. She has complete mastery of her quite complex plot, and manages to imbue her sizeable cast of diverse characters with life and energy… Griffin is a writer of unusual confidence and authority, and a welcome arrival to the literary scene.’ — Irish Times

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘Beautiful. Intimate. Tearful. Aching and lyrical. So simply and beautifully told.’ — Louise Penny

WHEN ALL IS SAID now available in UK and Ireland paperback editions!

Posted on Thursday, June 27th, 2019

Two new paperback editions of Anne Griffin‘s critically-acclaimed, best-selling debut, WHEN ALL IS SAID are published today! The first, pictured above, is the new UK cover for the novel. The second, pictured below, is the cover that will grace the paperback in Ireland. Both editions are published by Sceptre. Here’s the synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

WHEN ALL IS SAID has been showered in praise since review copies went out, and there appears to be no end in sight for this incredible outpouring of excellent reviews. Here are just a few of them…

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Pitch-perfect prose… Moving and beautifully written, this is a wonderfully assured debut.’ — Mail on Sunday

‘It’s all beautifully done; a tale told in the plain but poetic prose of a man who recognises the tragic truths gleaned from a life of love and loss. A gem of a book.’ 5* — Sunday Express

‘A proper tear-jerker, but one that will ultimately leave you feeling hopeful.’ — Grazia

‘An intimate character study of a wealthy 80-year-old Co Meath farmer, WHEN ALL IS SAID is also a study of extreme reticence and self-sabotage, giving voice to a man who, in matters of the heart, has all too often chosen to remain silent… Griffin’s strength is in voice and in the rhythm of her prose, which is rich without being overwritten. A winner of the John McGahern Award for Literature, she fits into the Irish lyrical tradition… but WHEN ALL IS SAID feels like a bridge between the past and the present, Maurice’s belated loquacity breaking open that familiar Irish silence… a testament to Griffin’s talent that she paints such a complete portrait of a man whose contrariness disguises his stoicism. By the end of the novel his humanity is clear; he has made himself known.’ — Independent

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

The novel is also available in North America, published by St. Martin’s Press, and also in a growing number of translated editions.

New Paperback Editions of WHEN ALL IS SAID on the way!

Posted on Thursday, June 20th, 2019

Today, we are able to share with you the covers for two fantastic, upcoming paperback editions of Anne Griffin‘s critically-acclaimed, best-selling debut — WHEN ALL IS SAID! Above you can see the new UK cover for the novel, and below is the cover that will grace the paperback in Ireland. Both editions are due to be published by Sceptre, on June 27th. Here’s the synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual -though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice – the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

WHEN ALL IS SAID has been showered in praise since review copies went out, and there appears to be no end in sight for this incredible outpouring of excellent reviews. Here are just a few of them…

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘[An] impressively confident debut … Maurice Hannigan emerges as an engaging, compassionate creation’ — Guardian

‘Pitch-perfect prose… Moving and beautifully written, this is a wonderfully assured debut.’ — Mail on Sunday

‘It’s all beautifully done; a tale told in the plain but poetic prose of a man who recognises the tragic truths gleaned from a life of love and loss. A gem of a book.’ 5* — Sunday Express

‘A proper tear-jerker, but one that will ultimately leave you feeling hopeful.’ — Grazia

‘An intimate character study of a wealthy 80-year-old Co Meath farmer, WHEN ALL IS SAID is also a study of extreme reticence and self-sabotage, giving voice to a man who, in matters of the heart, has all too often chosen to remain silent… Griffin’s strength is in voice and in the rhythm of her prose, which is rich without being overwritten. A winner of the John McGahern Award for Literature, she fits into the Irish lyrical tradition… but WHEN ALL IS SAID feels like a bridge between the past and the present, Maurice’s belated loquacity breaking open that familiar Irish silence… a testament to Griffin’s talent that she paints such a complete portrait of a man whose contrariness disguises his stoicism. By the end of the novel his humanity is clear; he has made himself known.’ — Independent

‘Griffin’s portrait of an Irish octogenarian provides a stage for the exploration of guilt, regret, and loss, all in the course of one memorable night.’ — Kirkus

‘Maurice’s humor, his keen observations on class and family, and his colloquial language, as well as Griffin’s strong sense of place, create the feeling of a life connected to many others by strands of affection and hatred.’ — Publishers Weekly

The novel is also available in North America, published by St. Martin’s Press, and also in a growing number of translated editions.

Anne Griffin’s highly-anticipated debut, WHEN ALL IS SAID is out now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2019

The wait is finally over: Anne Griffin‘s highly-anticipated, already critically-acclaimed debut WHEN ALL IS SAID is out today in the UK! Published by Sceptre, here’s the synopsis…

Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime.

‘I’m here to remember — all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual — though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories — of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice — the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

As we mentioned at the top, the novel has already received an incredible amount of praise from far and wide: reviewers, bloggers and celebrated authors have taken to their websites, Twitter and interviews to mention how much they loved WHEN ALL IS SAID. Here is just a small selection from the reviews…

‘Anne Griffin’s debut novel is a must read. Beautifully observed, masterful story telling – stunning!’ — Graham Norton

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘Poetic and touching without being sentimental… something special.’ — Good Housekeeping

‘Warning: it is impossible to read the last chapter of this book without weeping copious tears… an ingenious narrative… Maurice’s toast to his late wife that will leave you reeling though. Here is a man who deeply loved a woman but just didn’t know how to show it (often held back by his own parsimony), stifling her in the process until one day she rebels in the smallest but most moving of ways. When you read that page, you might want to get the tissues at the ready…’ — Stylist

‘Beautifully written, unhurried and thoughtful, a lonely man truthfully wrought and a character you love from the off, in spite of his flaws or maybe because of them… a terrific debut.’ — Kit de Waal, award-winning author of My Name is Leon

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘Anne Griffin is a writer with a bright, bright future.’ — Janet Peery (National Book Award finalist)

WHEN ALL IS SAID is due to be published in North America by St. Martin’s Press, in March. The novel has also been sold in a number of other territories, and we’ll share details and covers as soon as we have them.

Waterstones Running a Competition for Anne Griffin’s WHEN ALL IS SAID! (UK only)

Posted on Friday, January 18th, 2019

To celebrate the upcoming release of Anne Griffin‘s critically-acclaimed debut, WHEN ALL IS SAID, Waterstones are running a great competition! Full details can be found on the bookseller’s website, but on offer is a bottle of Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey, a tasting set and six Master of Malt tasting glasses.

You may be asking yourself what prompted the competition. Well, during WHEN ALL IS SAID, main character Maurice Hannigan says:

‘Midleton, you can’t fault it. Majestic stuff.’

Does one need more of a reason? Didn’t think so. The competition is open to those aged 18+ residents of the UK, and closes on January 23rd.

WHEN ALL IS SAID is due to be published next week (24th) in the UK by Sceptre. The novel is due to be published in the US by St. Martin’s Press, in March (cover below). Here’s the synopsis…

Five toasts. Five people. One lifetime.

‘I’m here to remember — all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual — though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories — of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice — the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

WHEN ALL IS SAID, Anne Griffin’s hotly-anticipated debut out next year!

Posted on Thursday, December 6th, 2018

Above you can see the lovely UK cover for Anne Griffin‘s highly-anticipated and already-critically-acclaimed debut novel, WHEN ALL IS SAID. Due to be published in January by Hodder in the UK, here’s the synopsis…

‘I’m here to remember – all that I have been and all that I will never be again.’

At the bar of a grand hotel in a small Irish town sits 84-year-old Maurice Hannigan. He’s alone, as usual — though tonight is anything but. Pull up a stool and charge your glass, because Maurice is finally ready to tell his story.

Over the course of this evening, he will raise five toasts to the five people who have meant the most to him. Through these stories – of unspoken joy and regret, a secret tragedy kept hidden, a fierce love that never found its voice — the life of one man will be powerfully and poignantly laid bare.

Heart-breaking and heart-warming all at once, the voice of Maurice Hannigan will stay with you long after all is said.

The novel is also due to be published next year (March) in North America by St. Martin’s Press, with many translation editions on the way as well! We’ll keep you updated on these upcoming editions as soon as we have more information.

As we stated above, the novel has already been receiving some incredible reviews, from authors, reviewers and others. Here are just two examples, from Graham Norton and Cecelia Ahern…!

Here are some more early reviews…

‘An extraordinary novel, a poetic writer, and a story that moved me to tears… There is something special here.’ — John Boyne

‘Beautifully written, unhurried and thoughtful, a lonely man truthfully wrought and a character you love from the off, in spite of his flaws or maybe because of them… a terrific debut.’ — Kit de Waal, award-winning author of My Name is Leon

‘A hugely enjoyable, engrossing novel, a genuine page-turner. Maurice is a fabulous character, wonderfully flawed and completely engaging; his voice is familiar and real, full of sadness and regret and defiance, and unexpected tenderness.’ — Donal Ryan, award-winning author of The Spinning Heart

‘Anne Griffin is a writer with a bright, bright future.’ — Janet Peery (National Book Award finalist)

‘WHEN ALL IS SAID captures the texture of a night catching up with an old friend — the pleasures and comforts, the stories and surprises — one that you never want to end, and all the more bittersweet because you know, of course, that it must.’ — Kathleen Rooney, author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

A MAN LIES DREAMING in Hebrew…

Posted on Monday, April 30th, 2018

A MAN LIES DREAMING, the critically-acclaimed, Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Award-winning novel by Lavie Tidhar is available now in Hebrew! Published by Keter Books as איש שוכב וחולם, here’s the synopsis…

ווֹלף‭, ‬בלש‭ ‬פרטי‭ ‬כושל‭, ‬פועל‭ ‬בלונדון‭ ‬האפלה‭ ‬והרטובה‭. ‬הוא‭ ‬רדוף‭ ‬זיכרונות‭ ‬של‭ ‬עתיד‭ ‬שאולי‭ ‬התרחש‭ ‬ואולי‭
לא‭ ‬התרחש‭, ‬ונרדף‭ ‬על‭ ‬ידי‭ ‬הווה‭ ‬מסוכן‭, ‬מלא‭ ‬בפשיסטים‭ ‬ובנאצים‭ ‬שנמלטו‭ ‬מגרמניה‭. ‬כשמגיעה‭ ‬אליו‭
איזבלה‭ ‬רובינשטיין‭, ‬יהודייה‭ ‬עשירה‭ ‬שמחפשת‭ ‬את‭ ‬אחותה‭ ‬שהוברחה‭ ‬מגרמניה‭ ‬ונעלמה‭, ‬הוא‭ ‬לא‭ ‬יודע
לאיזו‭ ‬צרה‭ ‬הוא‭ ‬נקלע‭. ‬ באותה‭ ‬העת‭, ‬או‭ ‬שאולי‭ ‬בעת‭ ‬אחרת‭ ‬לגמרי‭, ‬שוֹמֶר‭, ‬כותב‭ ‬שוּנְד‭ – ‬רומנים‭ ‬קטנים‭
וסנסציוניים‭ ‬ביידיש‭ – ‬שוכב‭ ‬על‭ ‬דרגש‭ ‬במחנה‭ ‬ההשמדה‭ ‬אושוויץ‭ ‬וחולם‭ ‬על‭ ‬עולם‭ ‬אחר‭ ‬שבו‭ ‬הוא‭ ‬שוכב‭ ‬על‭
חוף‭ ‬ים‭ ‬טרופי‭, ‬כשבטנו‭ ‬מלאה‭, ‬והוא‭ ‬מחייך‭ ‬וכל‭ ‬שיניו‭ ‬בפיו‭, ‬ומשפחתו‭ ‬מאוחדת‭. ‬דמיונו‭ ‬מאפשר‭ ‬לו‭ ‬לחרוג‭ ‬מן
המקום‭ ‬המצמית‭ ‬ולדמיין‭ ‬עלילות‭ ‬על‭ ‬עיר‭ ‬אפלה‭ ‬ומעשים‭ ‬אפלים‭. ‬באורח‭ ‬פלא‭, ‬העלילות‭ ‬בדמיונו‭ ‬של‭ ‬שוֹמֶר
מסתבכות‭ ‬ונושקות‭ ‬לקורותיו‭ ‬של‭ ‬וולף‭.‬  בקצב‭ ‬מסחרר‭ ‬ומבריק‭ ‬ותוך‭ ‬שהוא‭ ‬משתעשע‭ ‬באלגנטיות‭ ‬בממדים‭
של‭ ‬זמן‭, ‬מקום‭ ‬ומסַפרים‭ ‬שונים‭, ‬לוקח‭ ‬לביא‭ ‬תדהר‭ ‬את‭ ‬הקורא‭ ‬למסע‭ ‬בהיסטוריה‭ ‬חלופית‭, ‬בפילם‭ ‬נואר‭
‬ובמחנה‭ ‬אושוויץ‭ ‬עצמו‭, ‬בלי‭ ‬לאבד‭ ‬אף‭ ‬לא‭ ‬לרגע‭ ‬את‭ ‬השליטה‭ ‬המושלמת‭ ‬בסיפור‭ ‬המבריק‭ ‬שהִנדס‭. ‬ לביא‭
תדהר‭ ‬גר‭ ‬בלונדון‭ ‬וכותב‭ ‬בעברית‭ ‬ובאנגלית‭.‬   “מהמם‭, ‬מצחיק‭ ‬וחריף‭… ‬לביא‭ ‬תדהר‭ ‬מזכיר‭ ‬לנו‭ ‬שבסופו‭ ‬של
דבר‭, ‬גם‭ ‬בנסיבות‭ ‬הקשות‭ ‬ביותר‭, ‬כל‭ ‬מה‭ ‬שיש‭ ‬לנו‭ ‬הוא‭ ‬סיפורים‭, ‬ובידיים‭ ‬הנכונות‭ ‬הם‭ ‬נשק‭ ‬מטיל‭ ‬אימה‭
הוושינגטון‭ ‬פוסט

The novel is published in the UK by Hodder and in the US by Melville House. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Deep in the heart of history’s most infamous concentration camp, a man lies dreaming. His name is Shomer, and before the war he was a pulp fiction author. Now, to escape the brutal reality of life in Auschwitz, Shomer spends his nights imagining another world — a world where a disgraced former dictator now known only as Wolf ekes out a miserable existence as a low-rent PI in London’s grimiest streets.

Here’s some of the aforementioned critical acclaim…

‘Comes crashing through the door of literature like Sam Spade with a .38 in his hand. This is a shocking book as well as a rather brilliant one, and it treats the topic of genocide with a kind of energetic unseriousness… Tidhar’s novel treats its grim theme not as a comedy, although there is plenty of caustic humour, but instead as a pulp-noir tale of seamy city streets, gumshoes and lowlifes… Tidhar gets the outre tone just right: outrageous sex and violence related in a briskly workmanlike style. And Tidhar’s Hitler is a striking reimagination of that endlessly reimagined individual: twisted with hatred, doing good almost by accident… Tidhar, who cut his teeth in the world of genre SF, understands how eloquent pulp can be… [OSAMA] won the World Fantasy award. I wouldn’t be surprised to see A MAN LIES DREAMING repeat that achievement… Like Tarantino, Tidhar may find that some people don’t take him seriously. But the joke’s on them. Seriousness is the least of it: A MAN LIES DREAMING is a twisted masterpiece.’ — Guardian

‘Wild, noir-infused alternative history from genre-bender Tidhar… A wholly original Holocaust story: as outlandish as it is poignant.’ — Kirkus (Starred Review)

‘…savagely funny… A MAN LIES DREAMING, by the Israeli-born novelist Lavie Tidhar, has not been published with the fanfare bestowed on Martin Amis’s The Zone of Interest or Howard Jacobson’s J, but it is their equal for savage humour… Those who enjoy laughter in the dark will relish Tidhar’s parade of mordant ironies… This novel is weird, upsetting, unmissable.’ 5* — Telegraph

‘No one can accuse Lavie Tidhar of being risk-averse… Tidhar reveals – as he did earlier in OSAMA and to some extent in THE VIOLENT CENTURY – that he’s really less interested in the mechanistic ‘‘what-ifs’’ of conventional alternate history than he is in the interpenetration of real and in­vented histories, or perhaps more grandiosely in the interpenetration of art and life – even the often-demeaned art of sensational fiction or (as in the case of THE VIOLENT CENTURY) comic books. This is what makes him such an interesting writer, and what makes A MAN LIES DREAMING quite a bit more complex than it at first appears… the novel is not without a fair amount of humor, and that might well be the boldest risk Tidhar is taking here…’ — Locus

‘Everything in this genre-bender works; intriguing historical characters are worked into expertly managed plots, and the visceral noir atmosphere is juxtaposed nicely against the drawing-room world of London’s political scene.’ — Booklist(Starred Review)

‘A Chandler-esque mystery… a jarring tale of a grim, gray alternative world… Seldom will readers come across fantasy as well conceived and well written as this exceptional novel.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

ALL THAT I HAVE BEEN sold to Sceptre!

Posted on Thursday, October 12th, 2017

We are very happy to announce that UK and Commonwealth rights for Anne Griffin‘s ALL THAT I HAVE BEEN has been acquired by Sceptre Editorial Director Emma Herdman, following a four-way auction! In a press release today, Sceptre announced that the novel will be published as the lead fiction title in early 2019.

Maurice Hannigan, a successful eighty-four-year-old Irish farmer, sits alone at a hotel bar talking in his head to his son in America. Over the course of the evening, he has five drinks, offers five toasts and relays five memories: one for each person who has meant the most to him over the course of his lifetime.  But this is no ordinary night. When the toasts are done, when the ghosts are laid to rest, Maurice’s final drink will be his last.

Offering a glimpse at the life of a flawed man who has trusted few but loved deeply, All That I Have Been is a heart-breaking love story with a beautifully crafted structure.

Here’s what Emma Herdman had to say of the acquisition, per the press release: ‘I read this submission overnight and haven’t stopped thinking or talking about it since, though it’s not just me who loved it. All That I Have Been spread through the office like wildfire, and has charmed us all. It’s warm, insightful, moving: a deeply human novel. Spending a few hours with Maurice will make you cry and nod and laugh, and want to pull up a pew with him at the nearest bar. Anne is a wonderfully talented author, and I can’t wait to launch her career.’

‘I am delighted and honoured to be signing with Sceptre, home to some of the greatest writing talents around,’ says Griffin. ‘To be joining a list that includes some of my favourite authors is humbling. I am excited at the prospect of working with Emma Herdman who shows exceptional passion and skill in her work.’

Huge congratulations to Anne! We also can’t wait to see the novel in print!

A MAN LIES DREAMING paperback out now in the US!

Posted on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017

Lavie Tidhar‘s award-winning, critically-acclaimed A MAN LIES DREAMING is out now in paperback in the US! Published by Melville House, here’s the synopsis…

The novel that stunned — and scandalized — Europe comes to America

Wolf, a low-rent private detective, roams London’s gloomy, grimy streets, haunted by dark visions of a future that could have been—and a dangerous present populated by British Fascists and Nazis escaping Germany. Shomer, a pulp fiction writer, lies in a concentration camp, imagining another world. And when Wolf and Shomer’s stories converge, we find ourselves drawn into a novel both shocking and profoundly haunting.

A MAN LIES DREAMING is published in the UK by Hodder, and has been published in Italy, Czech, Spain and France.

Lavie Tidhar’s VIOLENT CENTURY out this week in Poland

Posted on Monday, April 24th, 2017

Lavie Tidhar‘s critically-acclaimed THE VIOLENT CENTURY is out this week in Poland! Published on Wednesday by MAG, as STULECIE PRZEMOCY, here’s the synopsis…

Nie chcieli zostać bohaterami.

Bronili Imperium Brytyjskiego przez siedemdziesiąt lat. Oblivion i Fogg, nierozłączni przyjaciele powiązani wspólnym przeznaczeniem. Aż do pewnej nocy w Berlinie, kiedy rozdzieliła ich wojna i tajemnica.

Jednakże przeszłość potrafi dogonić każdego.

Wezwani ponownie do Biura Spraw Przestarzałych – instytucji, dla której żadna sprawa nie staje się przestarzała – Fogg i Oblivion muszą stawić czoło pamięci o straszliwej wojnie, nieupamiętnionych aktach heroizmu oraz życiu w dusznych korytarzach i zamkniętych pokojach, gdzie odbywają się potajemne spotkania. Muszą się z tym wszystkim zmierzyć, by znaleźć odpowiedź na pytanie ostateczne:

Co czyni bohatera?

THE VIOLENT CENTURY is published in the UK by Hodder. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

For seventy years they guarded the British Empire. Oblivion and Fogg, inseparable friends, bound together by a shared fate. Until one night in Berlin, in the aftermath of the Second World War, and a secret that tore them apart.

But there must always be an account… and the past has a habit of catching up to the present.

Now, recalled to the Retirement Bureau from which no one can retire, Fogg and Oblivion must face up to a past of terrible war and unacknowledged heroism — a life of dusty corridors and secret rooms, of furtive meetings and blood-stained fields — to answer one last, impossible question:

What makes a hero?

Here’s just a selection from the aforementioned critical acclaim the novel has received…

‘A brilliantly etched phantasmagoric reconfiguring of that most sizzling of eras – the twilight 20th…  This book has it all:  time travel, political intrigue, hellacious history…  You’ve got superheroes in the guise of regular humans, you’ve got World War II … THE VIOLENT CENTURY is a torrid tour de force!’ — James Ellroy

‘THE VIOLENT CENTURY… may be his best yet: a blistering alt-historical retelling of a 20th century lousy with superheroes.’ — The Guardian, Best SFF of 2013

‘While perhaps not as politically loaded as OSAMA, Tidhar’s THE VIOLENT CENTURY… is no less powerful. He imagines a world where superheroes are real. But while the Americans go for the brash costumes and public displays of power, Tidhar’s British heroes – primarily Oblivion and Fog – operate in the shadows, and bear witness to the major events of the 20th century in what is quite simply a stunning masterpiece.’ — The Independent

‘Vintage Lavie, and also I think his most fully accomplished novel yet. Nobody rides that fast-rolling wave separating schlocky pulp and serious literary sensibilities so deftly as Tidhar. He manages to make serious points about the benighted twentieth-century and its obsession with ‘supermen’ without ever letting the narrative slacken or the adventure pale. If Nietzche had written an X-Men storyline whilst high on mescaline, it might have read something like THE VIOLENT CENTURY.’ — Adam Roberts, author of Jack Glass

‘Something like John le Carré, not as a matter of slavish imitation so much, but rather as an evocation of darkness, idealism turning to exhaustion, and moral ambiguity… It’s hard, but not impossible as Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey and others have shown, to create a morally complex, artistically ambitious story based on characters whose origins are not that far removed from the simplicity of Superman, Spiderman, and their ilk. Tidhar has succeeded brilliantly in this task. THE VIOLENT CENTURY is a masterful example of alternate universe science fiction and can only add to its author’s rapidly growing reputation.’ — Los Angeles Review of Books

‘The level of detail with which Tidhar fills his novel ensures that the events he is using as his setting feel convincing. Like Le Carre’s best novels, the world of espionage isn’t glamorous or exciting; it’s a grim, cold and lonely place. The author does a lot with a relatively minimalist style, and he envelops us in Transylvanian forests with Count Dracula’s transformed descendant and the frozen battleground of Minsk without ever slowing down… it’s impressive how much ground Tidhar covers. At the centre of this is the question, ‘What makes a hero?’ The supermen of Tidhar’s novel are forced to commit terrible acts in the name of the greater good, and stand by and watch as terrible acts are committed for the same reason. As well as being a wonderfully drawn and detailed historical espionage tale, THE VIOLENT CENTURY is ultimately a very human story. It’s gripping, imaginative and, finally, moving.’ — SciFi Now

MAG have also published Lavie’s World Fantasy Award-winning OSAMA.