The Book of Forgotten Authors, Christopher Fowler
The Book of Forgotten Authors, Christopher Fowler
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The Book of Forgotten Authors

Author: Christopher Fowler

Narrator: Christopher Fowler

Unabridged: 8 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: riverrun

Published: 10/05/2017


Synopsis

'Joyous . . . fascinating' Cathy Rentzenbrink
'I love it! A real gem' Joanne Harris
'Will have the inevitable effect of sending readers in search of these intriguing lost names' Barry Forshaw

Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder. It makes people think you're dead.

So begins Christopher Fowler's foray into the back catalogues and backstories of 99 authors who, once hugely popular, have all but disappeared from our shelves.

Whether male or female, domestic or international, flash-in-the-pan or prolific, mega-seller or prize-winner - no author, it seems, can ever be fully immune from the fate of being forgotten. And Fowler, as well as remembering their careers, lifts the lid on their lives, and why they often stopped writing or disappeared from the public eye.

These 99 journeys are punctuated by 12 short essays about faded once-favourites: including the now-vanished novels Walt Disney brought to the screen, the contemporary rivals of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie who did not stand the test of time, and the women who introduced us to psychological suspense many decades before it conquered the world.

This is a book about books and their authors. It is for book lovers, and is written by one who could not be a more enthusiastic, enlightening and entertaining guide.

(P)2017 Quercus Editions Ltd

About Christopher Fowler

Christopher Fowler is a British thriller writer of more than forty novels and short-story collections. He is best known for his Bryant & May mystery series, which chronicles two Golden Age detectives in modern-day London. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Dagger in the Library award. Fowler splits his time between London and Barcelona.


Reviews

Goodreads review by mark

Very enjoyable as both a resource and a fun whirl through the mind of an ardent book-lover. Fowler is a highly successful author himself and one can see why. The man has skills; his conversational style makes his various points easy to agree with and he never comes across as hectoring. This should b......more

Goodreads review by Nancy

Warning: for truly serious readers who look beyond the NYT bestseller lists or the hottest book on the market, this book may just be deadly to your wallet and to the size of your tbr pile. Fortunately, I only bought three books mentioned in this one before I regained control of myself and started ma......more


Quotes

Christopher Fowler's cherishable book is as quirky and mesmerising as one of his novels; his detailed, loving excavation of a slew of unjustly neglected writers will have the inevitable effect of sending readers in search of these intriguing lost names.

Well researched and wide-ranging . . . The Book of Forgotten Authors is a bibliophile's treat written with verve and passion. It will have readers scurrying into secondhand bookshops in search of yellowing paperbacks. Guardian

Full of humour and pathos, Christopher Fowler's survey of authors who have fallen into obscurity is a bibliophile's dream. Financial Times

A real gem, filled with old favourites and new discoveries, and written in a light, snappy, erudite tone, as satisfying as a full English breakfast at your local art-house cafe.

A joyous saunter through the lives and words of yesterday's big names. Readers will love this fascinating book.

A treasure trove of trivia . . . Excellent . . . This colourful compendium of literary lives should be read by anyone who loves books. Evening Standard

The perfect guide to finding your next reading obsession . . . the perfect gift for a book-obsessed friend or if you simply want to uncover a hidden gem. Stylist, 50 unmissable books for autumn 2017

His services to rescuing other writers from oblivion deserve a medal . . . Splendid . . . He has a wonderful talent, actually rather rare among critics, for conveying just what it is about a book that makes it worth reading. Sunday Express

A godsend with the present season approaching . . . it's hard to believe that anyone who loves fiction of all genres wouldn't be completely won over by this treasure-filled book about books. Irish Independent

A sheer joy. This is a lovely but dangerous book as I've already added some new names to my wants list. Red Magazine