Rachel Joyceová

'You'd think it should be the simplest thing. Walking. Just one foot in front of the other. But it never ceases to amaze me how complicated things can be.'Harold Fry never meant to be a hero. An ordinary man in an ordinary life, until a letter from a long-lost friend sends him out the front door… and he keeps on walking. Strangers turn into companions, kindness appears in unexpected places, and the road reveals more than Harold ever imagined. Back home, his wife Maureen begins her own journey, one that might bring them together again. Funny, profound and uplifting, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a joyous celebration of the human spirit, adapted by Rachel Joyce from her multi-million-selling novel, with music and lyrics by the chart-topping musician Passenger. Originally commissioned by Chris Harper Productions, it was first performed in a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025. The production transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, in 2026, directed by Katy Rudd, starring Mark Addy and Jenna Russell.

Family is everything, even when it falls apart. There is a heatwave across Europe. Goose and his three sisters gather at the family's house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy. Their father, a famous artist, has recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his masterpiece. Now he is dead and there is no sign of a painting. Although the siblings have always been close, as they search for answers over that summer, the things they learn - about themselves, their father and their new stepmother - will drive them apart before they can come to any kind of understanding of what their father's legacy truly is. Extraordinarily compelling, at heart this is a novel about sibling relationships and those hairline cracks that can appear within a family: what what happens when they splinter, and what it would take to mend them.

Family is everything, even when it falls apart. Discover the brand-new novel from the multi-million-copy bestselling author. AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!‘The perfect holiday read ...There’s a new heft and grandeur, not only in the sophisticated characters and the fancy Italian real estate, but in the hidden darkness that can exist in a family ... Rachel Joyce is firing on all cylinders.’ THE TIMES'A masterly and deeply satisfying exploration of art, grief and familial bonds.' OBSERVER'Warm and emotionally astute.' MAIL ON SUNDAY'A sharp, absorbing and emotionally intelligent novel.' GUARDIAN‘A beautifully written family drama ... Long after I finished the last page, I found I missed these characters – always the sign of a special book’ - GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A thoroughly engaging examination of familial truths that define and endanger the precious, ever-precarious sibling bond. The beautiful writing, unforgettable characters, and stunning setting make this a must-read.' - Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in ChemistryThere is a heatwave across Europe. Goose and his three sisters gather at the family's house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy. Their father, a famous artist, has recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his masterpiece. Now he is dead and there is no sign of a painting. Although the siblings have always been close, as they search for answers over that summer, the things they learn - about themselves, their father and their new stepmother - will drive them apart before they can come to any kind of understanding of what their father's legacy truly is. Extraordinarily compelling, at heart this is a novel about sibling relationships and those hairline cracks that can appear within a family: what what happens when they splinter, and what it would take to mend them. 'It made me laugh, it made me cry and I couldn’t put it down. If you are a fan of Maggie O’Farrell you must read this.' - Louise Minchin, TV presenter and author of Isolation Island’The renowned artist - the emotionally starved children - what an inspired subject! Joyce writes with her trademark vitality and compassion and there is such colour here. So much at stake. I couldn’t put it down.’ - Esther Freud, author of Hideous Kinky and Mr Mac and Me'Lyrical, shrewd and, ultimately, as indecently satisfying as a four course Italian lunch. My life is a little emptier now it's over.' - Patrick Gale, author of A Place Called Winter'Sparkling and addictive … Rachel Joyce is so incredibly good and wise on families and siblings. I couldn’t love it more.' - Harriet Evans, author of The Garden of Lost and Found‘A triumph of insight and empathy!’ - Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures'Joyce is a fearless explorer of emotional landscape.' – Sunday Times'If only there were more novelists like Rachel Joyce' – Telegraph

Tíz évvel ezelőtt Harold Fry egy hatszáz mérföldes sétára indult, hogy megmentse egy barátját. De a történet itt még nem ért véget. Most a feleségének, Maureennak kell elindulnia a saját zarándoklatára. Csak ő fejezheti be az utat, amit a férje kezdett meg. Maureen és Harold élete elcsendesedett, de amikor kapnak egy északról érkező váratlan üzenetet, az megzavarja nyugalmukat. Maureen ráébred, hogy ezúttal rá vár egy sorsfordító út. De ő nem olyan, mint a jókedélyű, barátságos férje. Néha túl erélyes, majd sebezhető, és nehezen találja meg a közös hangot az emberekkel, ráadásul egyre ismeretlenebb vidékeken jár. Maureennek fogalma sincs, mit fog az út végén találni. Csak azt tudja, hogy oda kell érnie. Maureen érzelmekkel teli története bemutatja a szeretetet, a veszteséget, és azt is, hogyan lehet feldolgozni a múltat, hogy a jelenünk jobbá válhasson.

Harold Fry nemrégiben vonult nyugdíjba, napjai szinte egyformán telnek, egészen addig, míg levelet nem kap egy régi ismerősétől, Queenie Hennessytől. A nőtől, akit 20 éve nem látott, és aki most a halálos ágyából írt neki. A férfi gyors választ fogalmaz, majd a levéllel elindul a sarki postaládához, amivel kezdetét veszi egy valószínűtlen utazás. Harold Fry elhatározza, hogy majd kilencszáz kilométert gyalogol Kingsbridge-től a Berwick-upon-Tweedben található otthonig, mert hisz abban, hogy amíg ő gyalogol, Queenie Hennessy élni fog. Vitorláscipőben és könnyű kabátban vág neki a tájnak és a sürgető küldetésnek. Útközben varázslatos figurákkal találkozik, akik felszabadítják régóta szunnyadó lelkét és benne a reményt. Megrohanják az emlékek: ahogyan először táncolt feleségével, Maureennal, az esküvőjük, az apaság öröme, és miközben emlékezik, lassan megbékül a veszteségekkel, a mulasztásokkal is.

Londýn, 1950. Mesto sa spamätáva z druhej svetovej vojny, keď sa jedného dňa hlavná hrdinka príbehu, Margery Bensonová, rozhodne pre obrovskú životnú zmenu. Opustí prácu učiteľky a vyberie sa na tajuplnú a dobrodružnú expedíciu do Novej Kaledónie, aby si splnila svoj veľký sen z detstva. Z celého srdca túži objaviť zlatého chrobáka, o ktorom nie je isté, či vôbec existuje. Keď uverejní v novinách inzerát na asistenta, ktorý by sa spolu s ňou zúčastnil tejto netradičnej výpravy, spozná sa so ženou, ktorá ju priam šokuje. Zábavná Enid v priliehavom ružovom kostýme a sandáloch so strapcami už na prvý pohľad vyzerá, že kamkoľvek príde, pritiahne nejaký problém. Nakoniec sa však spoločne ocitnú na vzrušujúcom výlete za oceánom, ktorý prekoná všetky očakávania a prinesie im do života niečo, v čo ani jedna z nich na začiatku nedúfala - ohromujúcu silu skutočného priateľstva.

It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist. Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves. This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries. 'A girl's own adventure...This is Rachel Joyce's best book yet ...Exciting, moving and full of unexpected turns.' THE TIMES 'Brilliant and elegant and wise...powerful and moving...I can't recommend it enough.' JOANNA CANNON 'A beautiful portrayal of female friendship in all its frailties, contradictions and strengths.' RAYNOR WINN WOMAN & HOME BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; DAILY MAIL BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; BOOKMARK BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020; GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020

Margery Benson's life ended the day her father walked out of his study and never came back. Forty years later, abandoning a dull job, she advertises for an assistant. The successful candidate is to accompany Margery on an expedition to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist. Enid Pretty is not who she had in mind. But together they will find themselves drawn into an adventure that exceeds all Margery's expectations, eventually finding new life at the top of a red mountain. This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story and it is also a tender exploration of a friendship between two unforgettable women that defies all boundaries.

BBC Radio 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME from 17-28 July. From the author of the world-wide bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a new novel about learning how to listen and how to feel; and about second chances and choosing to be brave despite the odds. Because in the end, music can save us all ... 1988. Frank owns a music shop. It is jam-packed with records of every speed, size and genre. Classical, jazz, punk - as long as it's vinyl he sells it. Day after day Frank finds his customers the music they need. Then into his life walks Ilse Brauchmann. Ilse asks Frank to teach her about music. His instinct is to turn and run. And yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with her pea-green coat and her eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems. And Frank has old wounds that threaten to re-open and a past he will never leave behind ... LISTEN WHILE YOU READ! You can find specially collated The Music Shop playlists for Father Anthony, Kit, Maud and Hector on Spotify. This hardback edition is beautifully produced, with stunning decorated insides.

As read on Radio 4, seven linked stories set in the Christmas holidays - all as funny, joyous, poignant and memorable as Christmas should be: A Faraway Smell of Lemon: The School Term has ended. It is almost Christmas but Binny, out last-minute shopping couldn't feel less like wishing glad tidings to all men. Ducking out of the rain she finds herself in the sort of shop she would never normally visit. The Marriage Manual: Christmas Eve. Two parents endeavour to construct their son's Christmas present from a DIY kit and in the process find themselves deconstructing their marriage. Christmas at the Airport: A glitch in the system, travellers stranded and all sorts of lives colliding in the face of a sudden birth...The Boxing Day Ball: Maureen has never been out with the local girls before. Who knew that a disco in the Village Hall could be life-changing? A Snow Garden: Two little boys, dumped with their divorced father for his share of the Christmas holidays and none of them with a clue how to enjoy it. I'll Be Home for Christmas The most famous boy in the world comes home hoping to escape the madness with a normal family Christmas. Trees: As if Christmas wasn't wearing enough, now his elderly parent is asking for a hole in the ground ...Father and son break old habits and plant a tree to mark the start of the new year

Summer, 1972: In the claustrophobic heat, eleven-year-old Byron and his friend begin 'Operation Perfect', a hapless mission to rescue Byron's mother from impending crisis. Winter, present day: As frost creeps across the moor, Jim cleans tables in the local cafe, a solitary figure struggling with OCD. His job is a relief from the rituals that govern his nights. Little would seem to connect them except that two seconds can change everything. And if your world can be shattered in an instant, can time also put it right?

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking. To save someone else's life.