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''A small masterpiece'' Colm Toibin, Daily Telegraph''I don''t know how many times I have reread the book, including several times in Catalan, with such effort that speaks volumes to my devotion to the novel'' Gabriel Garcia Marquez''The fierce beauty of Rodoreda''s writing makes it one of the masterpieces of modern European literature'' IndependentFirst published in 1962 as ''La Placa del Diamant'', this is considered the most important Catalan novel of all time. This is a new English translation. It has previously been published in English as The Time of the Doves.Barcelona, early 1930s: Natalia, a pretty shop-girl from the working-class quarter of Gracia, is hesitant when a stranger asks her to dance at the fiesta in Diamond Square. But Joe is charming and forceful, and she takes his hand.They marry and soon have two children; for Natalia it is an awakening, both good and bad. When Joe decides to breed pigeons, the birds delight his son and daughter - and infuriate his wife. Then the Spanish Civil War erupts, and lays waste to the city and to their simple existence. Natalia remains in Barcelona, struggling to feed her family, while Joe goes to fight the fascists, and one by one his beloved birds fly away.A highly acclaimed classic that has been translated into more twenty-eight languages, In Diamond Square is the moving, vivid and powerful story of a woman caught up in a convulsive period of history.''An extremely moving love story translated from the Catalan, which reveals much about the Spanish civil war as ordinary, non-political people had to live it'' Diana Athill''Go along with Natalia on her night out and you''ll soon find you''d follow her anywhere. Rodoreda''s writing pays such fierce and tender attention to the experience of being alive, and the tempest that ordinary life can be'' Helen Oyeyemi

THE DAZZLING LOST CLASSIC*A Lit Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2025*Acquired by Toni Morrison, championed by Gayl Jones, and almost forgotten for forty years, FISH TALES is a fierce, fearless modern classic for our own fragmented times.***''Candid, fast and alive'' RAVEN LEILANI''Fast, fearless, so full of life it practically vibrates in your hands'' JUSTIN TORRES''Wondrous and outrageous, real and incandescent and alive'' BRYAN WASHINGTON''Fish Tales will certainly dazzle you, and it might even scandalize you, but it never tells a lie'' ANGELA FLOURNOY''A novel of desire, pleasure, drugs and sex . . . We''ll all be better for it having been rediscovered'' LITERARY HUBLewis Jones is a party girl on the edge. Bankrolled by her husband Woody and accompanied by her fellow hedonist Kitty Kat, a hustler who knows all the best spots, Lewis bounces between the demimonde of 70s New York and affluent Black Detroit in a fractured haze of lovers, cocaine parties and champagne baths. But her wild pursuit of freedom is upended when she meets the handsome, erudite, cruel Brook - the only man who won''t allow her to take control.A kaleidoscopic swirl of sex and exploitation, selfhood and self-destruction, this lost classic is an unnervingly contemporary depiction of the collision between identity, freedom and female desire - perfect for fans of In the Cut, Oreo, Luster and I''m a Fan.

''Funny, funny, funny. She''s wicked and wise'' GRETA GERWIG''One falls for Sally Jay Gorce from a great height from the first sentence'' OBSERVER''Scandalous and entertaining . . . Both funny and true'' EVENING STANDARD''One of the best novels about growing up fast'' GUARDIANHere was all the gaiety and glory and sparkle I knew was going to be life if I could just grasp it . . . Sally Jay Gorce is a girl hellbent on living. It''s the 1950s and she''s an American in Paris: witty, headstrong and disaster-prone. She dyes her hair pink, wears evening dresses in the daytime and prowls the Left Bank in search of love, adventure and fame. But an education like this doesn''t come cheap. Will our heroine be forced back to the States to fulfill her destiny as a librarian, or can she keep up her whirlwind Parisian existence? As effervescent as a champagne cocktail, The Dud Avocado is a deliciously funny cult classic.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE With an introduction by her biographer, Mark Bostridge''Remains one of the most powerful and widely read war memoirs of all time'' GUARDIAN ''Vera Brittain''s heart-rending account of the way her generation''s lives changed is still as shocking and moving as ever'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ''A heartbreaking account of the impact of the First World War on a stout-hearted, high-minded young woman'' SUNDAY TIMES In 1914 Vera Brittain was twenty, and as war was declared she was preparing to study at Oxford. Four years later her life - and the lives of a whole generation - had changed in a way that was unimaginable in the tranquil pre-war era.Testament of Youth, one of the most famous autobiographies of the First World War, is Brittain''s account of how she survived the period; how she lost the man she loved; how she nursed the wounded and how she emerged into an altered world. A passionate record of a lost generation, it made Vera Brittain one of the best-loved writers of her time.

This was the freedom she wanted, an animal freedom exposed to the emptiness of sky and land and water. As she stepped forward, Ann flipped into the water and was gone. Evelyn Hall, running from her disastrous marriage of sixteen years, arrives in the neon-lit desert heat of 1950s Reno - the only place in America where she can apply for a quick divorce. Arriving at her guesthouse she meets free-spirited Ann Childs, a casino ''change girl'' fifteen years her junior. Overwhelmed by both the vast, lonely beauty of the Nevada desert and her magnetic attraction to Ann, Evelyn must gamble all her own certainties and conventions to win a new kind of freedom. Bold, witty and shimmering with desire, this groundbreaking 60s novel is an unforgettable queer classic.INTRODUCED BY JACKIE KAY''An undisputed lesbian classic'' SARAH WATERS''Intelligent and utterly believable'' JOYCE CAROL OATES ''Brave, bold and brilliant'' JACKIE KAY

'A small Gothic masterpiece . . . I have read it many times, and with every re-read I marvel again at its many qualities' SARAH WATERS'A wonderful and original novel' ALAN HOLLINGHURST'The strange off-beat talent of Barbara Comyns [whose] innocent eye observes with child-like simplicity the most fantastic or the most ominous occurrence' GRAHAM GREENE 'Quite simply, Comyns writes like no one else' MAGGIE O'FARRELLI comforted myself with the knowledge that at least I wasn't earthbound like most people. In a house full of screeching animals in Edwardian South London, Alice lives in the shadow of her domineering father. Longing to escape, she retreats ever deeper into a world of memories, fantasies and rapturous longings - until she discovers an extraordinary secret power of her own. But the strange events that unfold lead her, dressed in bridal white, to a scene of ecstatic triumph and disaster among the crowds on Clapham Common. Blackly funny and indelibly haunting, The Vet's Daughter combines shocking realism with a visionary edge. INTRODUCED BY JANE GARDAM

Harry Dresden, Chicago''s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day - but, in this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files, can he save himself?One year. 365 days. Twelve months.Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed to the ground, everything is different-and it''s not just the current lack of electricity.In the battle, Harry lost people he cared about. And that''s the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he''s doing his level best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild. But it''s a heavy load, and he needs time.But time is one thing Harry doesn''t have. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and taking out innocent civilians. Harry''s brother is dying, and Harry doesn''t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires-and Harry''s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.It''s been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard-but after loss and grief, is there enough left of Harry Dresden the man to rise to the challenge?

'A tale to savour and devour, one that gleams like starlight and cuts like a sword' Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals, on A Feather So BlackA Heart So Green is the enchanting conclusion to the Number One Sunday Times bestselling Fair folk trilogy, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and Fourth Wing. After the explosive finale of the Tournament of Kings, Fia and Irian manage to escape to the wildlands, dodging pursuit by Fia's cunning sister Eala. With Fia locked in her own mind, battling a powerful celestial entity; Irian must form new alliances to come up with a plan to defeat Eala's terrifying magic. With both the human and fae realm under threat, Fia and Irian must pursue their dangerous plan, no matter the cost. On Bealtain Eve, when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, they will finally face off against the swan princess and forge the ending to their love story that was written in the stars. Praise for the Fair Folk trilogy:'Dark and dangerous and teeming with romance, A Feather So Black is an exhilarating adventure that walks the edge of a blade. Truly enchanting' Rachel Gillig, NYT bestselling author of One Dark Window, on A Feather So Black 'Darkly enchanting and beautifully written, A Feather So Black is the perfect mix of atmospheric fantasy, heart-stopping action, and delicious romance' Thea Guanzon, author of The Hurricane Wars, on A Feather So Black 'Opulent and scorching, A Feather So Black transcends the genres of romance and fantasy into a tale that is timeless, blood-spattered, and rich with longing and magic' Roshani Chokshi, author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, on A Feather So Black 'Immersive world building, whimsical prose, gripping adventure, and heart stopping romance, A Feather So Black will definitely be a new romantasy favourite!' A.K. Mulford, author of The High Mountain Court, on A Feather So Black 'With a breathtaking, sizzling romance, A Feather So Black weaves a twisted fairy tale of thorns and teeth' K.M. Enright, author of Mistress of Lies 'By turns seductive and heart breaking, this enthralling journey heralds a new era of fantasy' Breanne Randall, author of the Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, on A Feather So Black 'Lyra Selene's writing is a feast for the senses, made of velvet and wild vines and moonlight' Ryan Graudin, award winning author of Wolf By Wolf, on A Feather So Black

HOW TO LOSE A GOBLIN IN TEN DAYS is a comfort read fantasy romance between a halfling and a goblin: imagine a classic opposites-attract romcom taking place in a cosy fantasy setting. Expect romantasy, magical forests, interfering wizards, lots of home cooking and maybe even a kiss at the Harvest dance...When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they''ve inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they''ll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.But when the cottage - and their communities - are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.What if cottagecore and goblincore fell in love? This debut is perfect for all fans of cosy fantasies such as The Spell Shop, Legends and Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea, as well as any reader who really wishes they could live in the world of The Lord of the Rings.

Kathleen Richards was just 17 when she and her sister Deirdre found themselves on the doorstep of 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, seeking lodgings from a seemingly friendly local couple: Fred and Rose West. While growing up in poverty-stricken Dublin in the 1960s, Kathleen was abused from a young age. A move to England allowed her to escape, but even so life remained difficult, forcing her to seek refuge. At first, Cromwell Street provided freedom for the sisters who were entertained by Fred's quirky behaviour. Kathleen was also happy to make a new friend in her fellow lodger, Shirley Robinson. But then, things took a sinister turn: Fred began to abuse Kathleen with his wife's encouragement. And, when Shirley suddenly disappeared too, Kathleen's world began to grow very dark... This is a chilling account of what it's like to come face-to-face with Britain's most notorious serial killers, but it is also an inspiring account of the resilience of women and how to find happiness after trauma.

A dazzling and deeply moving story about humans turning into trees - for fans of Love and Other Thought Experiments and Never Let Me GoWhat makes a person want to be a tree?Bren and his partner Caelyn are feeling at a standstill in their lives. One day they come across a video of people in the forest who believe that if they stand still for long enough they will transform into trees. The idea is absurd. But it''s spreading. Soon, people start to go missing and trees appear in unlikely places.As cities decay and the world becomes greener, Caelyn becomes more and more convinced that arborescence is exactly what will save the planet from human destruction. Bren isn''t so sure. Drifting apart, Bren and Caelyn are forced to question what it really means to be human - and if they are ready to stand still.''A dazzling blend of cosmic eco-horror and arthouse sci-fi... one of the most profound and beautiful books you''ll ever read'' Chris Flynn, author of Orpheus Nine''Original, mind-bending and uplifting'' Inga Simpson, author of The Thinning''Reads like a thriller but has the tenderness and insight of poetry'' Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline

A VIVID, SWEEPING SAGA OF QUEER LOVE AND POLITICS IN ANCIENT GREECE, FROM THE QUEEN OF HISTORICAL FICTION'Renault's eye for intimacy is amazing' DOUGLAS STUART'Arresting and beautiful and moving . . . decades ahead of its time' LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKSYour love made me. Do not take it away; for without love I am a temple forsaken by its godAthens and Sparta, the mighty city states of ancient Greece, have been locked together in conflict for a quarter of a century. Alexias the Athenian comes of age in these turbulent times, as the golden age fractures into uncertainty and chaos. No longer protected by his family's noble status, he is drawn to the controversial teachings of Socrates - and to another of the philosopher's young followers, Lysis. The two young men form a passionate bond, becoming both friends and lovers. Together, they learn to hunt and to love, to debate and to wrestle, to grapple with family and loyalty. But all the while, fate leads Alexias to the moment he must stand alongside Lysis in the last great battle of the Peloponnesian War. 'A remarkable novel, vivid and moving . . . a glowing work of art' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'Of her Greek fictions, The Last of the Wine [is] her most moving' EMMA DONOGHUE

Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi''s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef''s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

THE TWISTY NEW THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORSecrets only survive in the darkWhen journalist Ben Harper is asked to help re-examine an unsolved murder case from thirty years ago, he immediately agrees. It''s not just that the victim was also a journalist, murdered after she''d published a series of shocking interviews with victims of domestic abuse. It''s also that he understands all too well the need of victim''s daughter, Doctor Uma Jha, for answers. But it''s not long before their investigation leads to threats being made on Uma''s life. Ben needs to unravel this crime before it''s too late, but instead he finds himself tangled in a web of lies and deception. After all, a crime like murder has implications for many people.People who have been keeping secrets for thirty years, and will do whatever it takes to protect them.

AN ODYSSEY OF ART AND POWER, BY THE CLASSIC QUEEN OF ANCIENT GREEK RETELLINGS'Mary Renault is an exceptional storyteller' CHARLOTTE MENDELSON'A song of praise, a work of love, a serene, deliberate book, full of wisdom, rich in character, incident and description' WALL STREET JOURNALEach generation has its own dream of beauty. I have lived long enough to watch it change. At a local wedding on the isle of Keos, farmer's son Simonides is mesmerised by the performance of a renowned Ionian bard. Simonides' own voice is as beautiful as his appearance is ugly, yet his singing has been confined to hours spent alone in the mountains. But now, seeing a way to a new life, he begs to become the singer's apprentice. Before long, his fame propels him to the heart of classical Greece in fifth century BC - a time of political upheaval, of Athenian tyrants, Persian invaders and pirate kings. As art and power intertwine, Simonides must use all his wit and talent to compete with his flamboyant rival, Anacreon, and keep his songs alive. 'Her characters live vividly in their own time, and in ours' MADELINE MILLER'As a historical novelist witing about the ancient world, Mary Renault has few peers' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Twenty years ago Caitlin vowed never to return to her small Irish hometown. Now she drifts from temporary jobs to temporary men, trying to escape memories of the Hanging Woods. Of what happened to Roisin there.But with news of her estranged mother''s sudden death, Caitlin is forced to return home, back to the town where everyone knows each other''s business and old resentments run deep. Roisin''s sister Deedee, now a Garda, has never given up on finding the truth of what happened in those woods. And Caitlin''s return makes old wounds fresh, threatening to exhume secrets that have lain buried for two decades - while the Hanging Woods begin their siren call to Caitlin and Deedee once more . . .