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The Waterstones Round Up: September's Best Books
As summer blends into autumn, the year's big books begin to emerge, blinking, into the light. Not only does September hold the eagerly anticipated The Testaments, Margaret Atwood's stunning sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, but also literary treats from Salman Rushdie, Robert Harris and Malcolm Gladwell, to name but three. Dive into our tantalising selection below.
Fiction
£20.00
Hardback
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Usually dispatched within 10 working days
In this electrifying sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the question that has tantalised readers for 33 years: What happened to Offred? Since 1985, Margaret Atwood's vision has only grown in significance, becoming a rallying call around the world. Now The Testaments finally reveals, for the very first time, Margaret Atwood's vision of Gilead's future.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
A rumbustious picaresque that dissects modern America with merciless relish, Quichotte tells the surreal, satirical story of a television-obsessed travelling salesman and his imaginary son. Framed as a riotous road trip across the United States, Rushdie’s latest masterpiece is a hilarious, poignant and bitingly intelligent pastiche of Don Quixote.
£18.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Rich in metaphor and flawless in tone, The Dutch House sees one of the world’s finest living novelists at the top of her game. Shimmering with melancholy, this extraordinary book takes a scalpel to family dynamics and the irretrievable loss of youthful pride. A novel of jewel-like beauty and emotional insight.
£16.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Signed and exclusive edition, with sprayed edges and specially designed endpapers. The third novel from Jessie Burton glides elegantly through the Los Angeles of the 1980s and the present day, spinning a hypnotic tale of mystery and motherhood around a reclusive writer and her insecure protégée. The Confession is another singular triumph from one of the finest new prose writers of the past decade.
£16.99
Hardback
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Usually dispatched within 10 working days
Girl proves that, even in her 89th year, Edna O’Brien remains one of the greatest living prose stylists. The tale of a girl abducted by Nigerian terrorists, this masterly novel refines O’Brien’s signature concern with the social, sexual and religious oppression of women and speaks keenly to the most relevant issues of modern society.
£12.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Woozily atmospheric and ineffably creepy, Bone China is another mesmerising offering from the Queen of Victorian gothic, Laura Purcell. Quack cures on the Cornish coast and dark rumblings about evil faeries combine to lend this tale of mania and madness a deliciously sinister aspect.
Crime & Thrillers
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Having already tackled mystery and intrigue in imperial Rome and Nazi Germany, Robert Harris turns his attention to medieval England and the compelling story of a dead priest, ancient artefacts and suppressed religion. Another supreme achievement from a literary master craftsman, The Second Sleep fizzes with suspense, character and truly spectacular plot twists.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
The opening salvo in a new sequence, Nothing Ventured introduces the detective William Warwick. The fictional hero of the series written by Harry Clifton, protagonist of Archer’s Clifton Chronicles books, Warwick’s career is traced from green recruit to seasoned veteran. Archer once more mixes the crime thriller with the family saga in typically imperious fashion.
£12.99
Hardback
Out of stock
A literary thriller about the forbidden thrill of literature, Prescott’s astonishing debut sees a duo of CIA typists attempt to smuggle Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago back into Soviet Russia. Wholly original and brilliantly realised, The Secrets We Kept hymns the subversive power of great prose whilst ratcheting up the tension with masterly technique.
£16.99
Hardback
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Usually dispatched within 10-15 working days
Intertwining the stories of a down-on-his-luck heir hunter with a compelling and moving World War One secret, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing keeps readers following the cleverly laid breadcrumbs, discovering a compelling human drama in the process. A quite magnificent new novel from the author of The Other Mrs. Walker.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
The master craftsman spins an eerie tale of state sponsored research units and kids with supernatural abilities. Themes of revenge and betrayed childhood innocence hover ominously over a complex narrative about incarcerated youths with uncanny powers, as King proves his awesome storytelling mettle once again.
£14.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Following on from the events in Nevernight and Godsgrave, Darkdawn brings to a close a gripping story of fearful rivalry, undercover conspiracy and brutal retribution. Told with Kristoff’s blend of black humour and enthralling world-building, this is a breath-taking third act to a thrilling fantasy drama.
£18.99
Hardback
Out of stock
A brand new series from the critically lauded Joe Abercrombie, A Little Hatred finds a world caught between magic and industry and unsure which gods they are to worship. Introducing a saga of murder, intrigue and ruthless ambition, this is the perfect read for lovers of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Sport & Entertainment
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Leader of men, toppler of records and all-round thoroughly decent chap, Sir Alastair Cook is a cricketing icon and a sporting role model. Now, for the first time, England's former captain and most capped player reveals the challenges, events and people behind his journey to become one of the nation's elite sportsmen. An authentic British sporting hero in his own words.
£12.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Smith has proved to be as strong a prose writer as she is a lyricist and, in Year of the Monkey, she builds on the delicate cadences and bravura style of Just Kids and M-Train. A meditation on ageing, politics and the American Dream, this is another wondrous memoir from a rock music icon.
Home & Lifestyle
£25.00
Hardback
Out of stock
An ode to the oven, Diana Henry’s latest offering delivers delectable dishes which are hassle free and packed full of grains, pulses and seasonal vegetables. Diana shows that, by letting the oven do the work, making a delicious meal need not be time consuming and complicated.
£26.00
Hardback
10+ in stock
Available
A thoroughly immersive cookery book suffused not just with gastronomic delights but with the atmosphere and culture of 1900's Bombay. Culled from the menus of the iconic Dishoom restaurants, these mouth-watering recipes are placed in the context of the vibrant, bustling Indian metropolis.
£8.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Vegan lifestyle examined in the round in this invaluable new volume from those lovely people at BOSH. Much more than just a recipe guide, How to Live Vegan takes the reader through every facet of their life and demonstrates just how easy it is to live an ethical and sustainable – not to mention tasty – existence.
Biography
£20.00
Hardback
We can order this from the publisher
Usually dispatched within 10 working days
Few people know more about the different manifestations of fear than Special Forces point man Ant Middleton. But rather than being a negative energy, he uses it to drive him on. In The Fear Bubble, he outlines the philosophy that has seen him through tight spots around the world and which can also be utilised by mere mortals in everyday life.
The brilliant, inspiratio
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
An expert in coaxing his subjects to open up about themselves (frequently without their knowledge!), Louis Theroux is still something of an enigma to his viewing public. For the first time, the master interrogator reveals what makes him tick, the challenges he has faced and what he really thought of those he has interviewed. A must-read book for the autumn.
£12.99
Hardback
In stock
Available
Laying bare the emotional and physical toll of the medical profession Joanna Cannon’s heart-rending memoir of life as a junior doctor is a shocking and disturbing read. Balancing the compassion and commitment of those who work in the NHS with the appalling overwork and disillusionment that has become their reality, Breaking and Mending is an urgent, powerful read.
History, Politics and Philosophy
£25.00
Hardback
Out of stock
Boldly interrogating the accepted myths surrounding the iconic Dambusters raids of 1943, Hastings contrasts the bravery of the bombers and ingenuity of the engineers with the suffering and devastation the operation caused to the German public. Meticulously researched and compellingly argued, this is a masterful exercise in military revisionism from one of our greatest historians.
£30.00
Hardback
Out of stock
A riveting history of the East India Company, a private enterprise that became a de facto colonial power, the great William Dalrymple’s latest book thrills to the high drama of imperial expansion and conquest through trade. The Anarchy is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of unregulated corporate greed, that reads like a pulsating historical thriller.
£25.00
Hardback
Out of stock
One of our leading popular historians tells the enthralling story of the Crusades with all the brio and pace of a historical thriller. Populated by extraordinary characters and dramatically rendered set-pieces, Crusaders is page-turning narrative history at its very best.
£25.00
Hardback
Click & Collect only
Only available in some of our shops
As Prime Minister David Cameron oversaw an era-defining period of modern British politics. Frank, personal and unflinching, For the Record provides Cameron’s unique perspective on his time in politics and the country’s future in the light of Brexit. A major work of political biography, it promises to be a significant and controversial account of upheaval, power and leadership.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
The BBC’s US correspondent reflects on twelve months reporting on the most unorthodox of presidencies. Neatly themed by White House room, A Year at the Circus is a whirlwind tour from Comey to Kavanaugh and from Merkel to Mueller.
£14.99
Hardback
Out of stock
Sending the nation’s nicest man into a top secret surveillance state proves an inspired move, as the former Python turned explorer teases out revelations and trivia from his thoroughly charmed escorts. Probably the fullest and most enlightening account of the Stalinist society we are ever likely to get, North Korea Journal brings Palin’s piercing insight and flair for empathy to the fore.
Popular Science & Psychology
£14.99
Hardback
Out of stock
The God Delusion proved one of the most talked about books of recent years, and the arguments it propounded in favour of atheism continue to provoke heated debate. Now Dawkins presents his case for a younger audience, setting out with clarity and rigour his steps for living a completely secular life.
£20.00
Hardback
Out of stock
The acclaimed Malcolm Gladwell returns with a fascinating and, at times, alarming analysis of how we read the behaviours and motives of those people we don’t know. Collecting enlightening and apposite examples from across different disciplines and historical eras, Talking to Strangers is a life-changing account of the dangers and dilemmas of approaching the unknown.
£16.99
Hardback
Out of stock
The bestselling author of What If? and Thing Explainer returns with a collection of heroically overcomplicated solutions to everyday issues. From ageing his friends by testing the radioactivity of their teeth to getting to appointments on time by destroying the moon, the methods employed in this paean to pointlessness are mystifying, maddening and endlessly fascinating.
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