The Library Thief, Kuchenga Shenje
The Library Thief, Kuchenga Shenje
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The Library Thief
A Novel

Author: Kuchenga Shenjé

Narrator: Cora Kirk

Unabridged: 11 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/07/2024


Synopsis

A strikingly original and absorbing mystery about a white-passing bookbinder in Victorian England and the secrets lurking on the estate where we she works, for fans of Fingersmith and The Confessions of Frannie Langton

The library is under lock and key. But its secrets can't be contained.

1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence's father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame—and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester.

Intercepting her father's latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield's library is old and full of secrets—but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife.

Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realizes with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield's wife–which may hold the clue to her fate…

Evocative, arresting and tightly plotted, The Library Thief is at once a propulsive Gothic mystery and a striking exploration of race, gender and self-discovery in Victorian England.

About Kuchenga Shenjé

KUCHENGA SHENJÉ is a writer, journalistand speaker with work on many media platforms,including gal-dem, British Vogue and Netflix.She has contributed short stories and essays toseveral anthologies, most notably It’s Not OK toFeel Blue (and Other Lies), Who’s Loving You andLoud Black Girls. Owing to a lifelong obsessionwith books and the written word, Kuchengastudied creative writing at the Open University.Her work is focused on the perils of loving, beingloved and women living out loud throughout theages. The Library Thief is the ultimate marriageof her passions for history, mystery and rebels.She currently resides in Manchester, where sheis determined to continue living a life worthwriting about.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Katie

A really compelling read with fascinating themes. This is very much in conversation with 19th and early 20th century literature, which I of course hugely enjoyed.......more

Goodreads review by Karren

1896. Florence Granger’s father is a bookbinder, he returned to England when she was a baby from Jamaica and she grew up in Manchester. Florence didn’t understand why her hair was fuzzy, just another thing he didn’t like about her and when she’s involved in a scandal he throws her out of the house a......more

According to Florence‘s father, she committed something so immortal he couldn’t have her in his house anymore. He kicked her out, but not before she saw a letter from a man who needed his books rebound. Florence scooped up the letter and made her way to Mr. Belfield’s estate Rose Hall. When she arrived......more

Goodreads review by Amy

*I received a free preview copy of this book from NetGalley* Painfully anachronistic. Felt like the author knew nothing about Victorian England. Characters made strange and unrealistic choices - e.g. almost as soon as our heroine arrives at Rose Hall the gay footman invites himself to her bedroom to......more

The reviews are mad that this is too "woke." Sorry, history wasn't all straight white people! I thought this was a compelling read with lots of secrets and reveals. It doesn't have a queer main character, but it's a pretty queer book overall. I'll talk about it more on the May 7th episode of All the......more