The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock the absolutely spellbinding Sunday Times top ten bestselling historical fiction phenomenon

In this spell-binding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit. "Wonderful... completely transporting" (Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles)."A brilliantly plotted story of mermaids, madams and intrigue in 1780s London and I wouldn't be surprised to see it become the Essex Serpent of 2018." - The Pool One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock finds one of his captains waiting eagerly on his doorstep. He has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock's marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society, where he meets Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on... What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the legendary destructive power a mermaid is said to possess?"Historical fiction at its finest, combining myth and legend with the brutal realities of the past...Comparisons will be drawn to the works of contemporary authors Sarah Waters and Michael Faber... but The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock has more in common with the novels of Dickens and Austen." - Irish Times 'wonderful...completely Transporting' Madeline Miller, Bestselling Author Of Circe Shorlisted For The Women's Prize For Fiction 2018 One September Evening In 1785, The Merchant Jonah Hancock Finds One Of His Captains Waiting Eagerly On His Doorstep. He Has Sold Jonah's Ship For What Appears To Be A Mermaid. As Gossip Spreads Through The Docks, Coffee Shops, Parlours And Brothels, Everyone Wants To See Mr Hancock's Marvel. Its Arrival Spins Him Out Of His Ordinary Existence And Through The Doors Of High Society, Where He Meets Angelica Neal, The Most Desirable Woman He Has Ever Laid Eyes On... What Will Be The Cost Of Their Ambitions? And Will They Be Able To Escape The Legendary Destructive Power A Mermaid Is Said To Possess? ________________ Praise For The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock: 'full Of Rich Detail' Stylist 'a Gloriously Assured Debut, Set In A Beautifully Drawn London' Red Magazine 'a Deliciously Salty Slab Of Historical Fiction' Daily Telegraph 'a Wonderful Read' Nina Stibbe 'a Dizzyingly Good Debut' The Times 'imogen Hermes Gowar Delights In The Feminine Fakery Of Mermaids, But As A Writer She Is The Real Deal' Hermione Eyre, Author Of Viper Wine THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Wonderful...completely transporting' Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock finds one of his captains waiting eagerly on his doorstep. He has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock's marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society, where he meets Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on... What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the legendary destructive power a mermaid is said to possess? ________________ PRAISE FOR THE MERMAID AND MRS HANCOCK : 'Full of rich detail' Stylist 'A gloriously assured debut, set in a beautifully drawn London' Red Magazine 'A deliciously salty slab of historical fiction' Daily Telegraph 'A wonderful read' Nina Stibbe 'A dizzyingly good debut' The Times 'Imogen Hermes Gowar delights in the feminine fakery of mermaids, but as a writer she is the real deal' Hermione Eyre, author of Viper Wine -- Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018.'Imogen Hermes Gowar is a soon-to-be literary star' - Sunday TimesOne September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock's marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on ... and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost. Where will their ambitions lead? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess? In this spell-binding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit This voyage is special. It will change everything ... One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock's marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on ... and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost. Where will their ambitions lead? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess? En septemberkveld i 1785 hører handelsmannen Jonah Hancock en voldsom banking på ytterdøren. En av kapteinene hans venter ivrig på trappa. Han har solgt et av Jonahs skip for å kunne kjøpe en havfrue. Ryktet om havfruen sprer seg ned til havna, til cafeene, butikkene og bordellene. Alle vil se Mr Hancocks havfrue. Det snur opp ned på livet hans og Mr Hancock lever et liv blant Londons rike og berømte. På en overdådig fest, treffer han den berømte kurtisanen Angelica Neal og en uvanlig romanse oppstår mellom de to. Hvor vil dette ende? Og vil de klare å flykte fra den destruktive kraften som havfruer sies å ha? «The mermaid and Mrs. Hancock" er Imogen Hermes Gowars debutroman. Omtalen er utarbeidet av BS Volume I Volume II Volume III Epilogue.