Makepeace Towle - highlights spring 2011

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Romanzo russo, the extraordinary epic novel of post-communist Russia by the Strega-Prize-winning Allesandro Barbero, translated into English by Allan Cameron as The Anonymous Novel. Sensing the Future Torments.

Chosen as one of the Observer’s Best Books of 2010, and for the Review of the Year in the Scotsman.

“As in a vast Russian river, thousands of rivulets and currents intersect with each other in Barbero’s novel, which provides us with an amazing snapshot of the reality of yesterday and today with all the endless nuances, and holds our attention with the events of a police investigation.” —Sergio Trombetta, L’Indice

“Barbero uses the diabolic skills of an erudite and professional narrator to seek out massacres of the distant and recent past.” —Franco Cardini, Il Giornale

“Barbero is an absorbing and eloquent narrator who is very capable at continuously juggling an abundance of stories and a great number of characters, whose frenetic movements judiciously evolve with a complicit suspense...” —Barberi Squarotti, La Stampa

“An astonishing novel, both in its provenance and its quality. It floats on a sea of wonderfully varied, expressive and tremendous speech... If you have any feeling for Russia or for the art of the novel, then read this one.” —Allan Massie, The Scotsman

“...a vivid novel about Russians coping with the transition from communism to capitalism... combines echoes of Bulgakov with elements of a thriller.” —Eric Hobsbawm, The Observer

“[Barbero] writes in a bright and breezy, satirical style... which leads the reader to believe that some Russian master has been leaning over his shoulder, guiding his hand. It is a deeply rewarding pleasure to be lost in this novel.” —Joe Farrell, The Herald

I feel privileged to be representing this work with its truly distinctive narratorial voice, and any house should be proud to publish it.

—Edwin, MTLA

The Anonymous Novelchampioning books that matter

www.makepeacetowle.com [email protected]

Trongate 103, Glasgow, G1 5HD Scotland +44 (0)141 404 6423 fax: +44 (0)141 280 1423

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Born in Turin, Alessandro Barbero is a historian, novelist, essayist and cultural commentator. He is the author of over fifteen historical books. He was awarded the Premio Strega, Italy’s most prestigious literary prize, for his first novel Bella vita e guerre altrui di Mr. Pyle gentiluomo, which has been translated into seven languages. Romanzo russo is his second novel.

LITERARY FICTION UK PUBLISHER Vagabond Voices (2010), 464pp RIGHTS French: Gallimard (Editions) Italian: Mondadori

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Nathan Fox Books 1 & 2Lynn Brittney

They stood there, sodden and shivering, as the rain and wind whipped themselves up into a fury: then, as quickly as it had started, it died, and there was a silence. Nathan stepped forward to comfort his horse but, as his hand touched the horse’s neck, he felt the point of a knife press into the side of his own neck.

"Make no move, or you will die," said a quiet voice in Dutch.

“Expect furious swordplay, tremendous chases, atmospheric journeys and wince-inducing reminders that this was an age before anaesthetics.” —The Telegraph on Traitor’s Gold

Nathan Fox is a fourteen-year-old actor in the same company as William Shakespeare. A skilled acrobat and fearless on horseback, he catches the eye of England’s Spymaster General, who recruits him as an agent for Queen Elizabeth I. Along with his sister Marie, Nathan takes on secret missions that will bring him to the heart of historical battles and reveal secrets about his own family.

Recommended by the UK School Library Association as part of its 2010 “Everyone’s Reading” campaign

See the promo trailer at: www.thepremise.co.uk/promos/nfox

YOUNG ADULT UK PUBLISHER Macmillan (2006, 2008), 284pp, 338pp RIGHTS US rights: Feiwel & Friends German rights: Oetinger Spanish rights: La Factoria de Ideas German radio: WDR

A former drama and theatre teacher, Lynn Brittney is currently working on her first adult novel Schism, about the subterfuge and hypocrisy in the Vatican during World War II, in addition to Book 3 in the Nathan Fox series.

Talk about a book for boys of all ages! I’m not surprised that this is just as popular with adult fencers as it is with teens. Gritty! —Edwin, MTLA

championing books that matter



25,000 hardback Sold in German

A powerful book: formal experimentalism pushed to its limits, combined with possibly the most difficult

subject of the twentieth century. —Edwin, MTLA

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How to write about Auschwitz in the 21st century, in a time when the last generation of survivors is soon to be lost?

Look, here I am at Auschwitz. Here now but

after the event, this can only ever be after

the event. Look, here I am already. Already

collecting. My head to the ground, En’s

laughing at me chasing a small grey feather

for Moinous, digging in the path for some

small stones some clue, yes, here I am already

collecting small mementoes for Moinous as I

said I would, asking myself if as a child I was

short-changed on tragedy.

Angela Morgan Cutler lives in Cardiff with her two teenage sons and husband Ian. She worked for ten years as a psychiatric nurse, trained as a fine artist and completed a PhD in Critical & Creative Writing at Cardiff University. Auschwitz is her first novel.




“ Her voice is refreshing, shocking and commanding, and represents an exciting departure for contemporary fiction.” —New Welsh Review

“ This remarkable novel creates a category of its own... a new voice of the post-Holocaust generations... Her sophisticated and highly individual poetic style... turns Cutler’s debut into a superb novel on writing.”

—Scottish Review of Books

LITERARY FICTION UK PUBLISHER Two Ravens (2007), 372pp RIGHTS All other rights available

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Cabinet

Curiosity

The

Catherine Czerkawska’s first poetry book, A Book of Men, won a Scottish Arts Council New Writing Award. She has created numerous plays for the stage and for radio, contributing more than a hundred hours of drama to BBC Radio 4. Her television writing credits include Shadow of the Stone, starring Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson. Her account of the people of Gigha, God’s Islanders, was published by Birlinn in 2006.

Shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize

“ Heartwarming, realistic and page-turning.” —Lorraine Kelly, GMTV

“ A powerful story about love and obligation, set in the Western Isles… a persuasive novel, very well written.” —John Burnside, The Dundee International Book Prize

HISTORICAL FICTION UK PUBLISHER Polygon (2005), 246pp RIGHTS English Language Audio: Oakhill All other rights available

When Alys returns to the beautiful Hebridean island of Garve after an absence of twenty-five years, she is enchanted by the embroidered cabinet on display in her hotel. She discovers that it belongs to her childhood playmate Donal, now a creel fisherman, and soon they resume their old friendship.

Three hundred years earlier, a young woman named Henrietta is kidnapped by the fearsome Magnus McNeill and held on Garve against her will.

The two women are linked by the curiosity cabinet, by the tug of motherhood and by the island itself. But Garve has its secrets. Donal must learn to trust Alys enough to confide in her and, like Henrietta before her, Alys must earn the right to belong.

I keep coming back to this exquisitely crafted miniature masterpiece: I’ve read it from cover to cover three times now... —Edwin, MTLA

Winner: 2009 Robin Jenkins Award – Scotland’s major new literary

award for nature writing

11THE LAST BEAR

See promo trailer at: www.thepremise.co.uk/promos/last bear

This book moved me on a deep, primal level. I can’t imagine how anyone with a feeling for history won’t love this elegy to all things lost. —Edwin, MTLA

Set 1000 years ago in the remote north-west Highlands of Scotland, The Last Bear is the dramatic tale of ecological and spiritual crisis told from the viewpoint of one extraordinary woman.

Taking the tragedy of the extinction of the brown bear in Scotland as its focal point, a story of love, jealousy, family and faith unfolds as Brigid, the last in a long line of Medicine women, tries to live out her life in a time of upheaval whilst staying true to her cultural roots.

Her struggle is set against a transforming world, as powerful Viking families clash with Celts, and old pagan beliefs are challenged the steady rise of a radical new religion: Christianity...

Mandy Haggith left academia a decade ago to pursue a life in writing and revolution. The Last Bear is her first novel.

HISTORICAL FICTION UK PUBLISHER Two Ravens (2008), 200pp RIGHTS All other rights available

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Hema Macherla was born in the rural village of Atmakur, Andhrapradesh, India. She came to the UK in 1977, speaking very little English. She now lives with her husband in London. She has published 25 short stories and a number of articles in Indian magazines. Breeze from the River Manjeera is her first novel.

Second Prize in the 2009 Big Red Read Shortlisted in the 2008 Richard and Judy Book Club Competition

Breeze from the River ManjeeraHema Macherla

Breeze from the River Manjeera tells the story of the engaging Neela, who arrives in England as a bride for the brutal Ajay.

The life that awaits Neela is a far cry from her hopes and expectations. Treated as worse than a servant by her in-laws, and unwanted by her husband, she finally escapes

in search of independence and freedom.The novel explores in a personal, moving way the issues around the deep-rooted

traditions of arranged marriages and the struggle for young women like Neela to find love and happiness.

A wonderful story with a wonderful story behind it. I’m delighted to bring this tiny Edinburgh publisher out into the wide world.

—Edwin, MTLA

COMMERCIAL FICTION UK PUBLISHER Linen Press (2008), 316pp RIGHTS French: Gallimard (Mercure de France)




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“...crime and punishment among ex-pat alcoholics in Rome. This is Scotland’s Stendhal at his best: clipped but sympathetic to his fragile characters in their fragile wood.” —Christoper Harvie, The Sunday Herald

“The dark brilliance of Massie’s style... Surviving may be an instant classic in the alcoholic literary canon.” —The Spectator

How well do we know other people – even when we all belong to a small ex-pat

community in a foreign capital? Allan Massie’s edgy and disturbing study of

English-speaking alcoholics living in Rome examines this great literary theme –

through a surprisingly tender and affectionate lens.

SURVIVINGAllan Massie

He’s a murderer, yes? – a killer, and

you’ve invited him here, actually to

stay with you in your apartment,

and you say you’re not mad. My

poor sweet, you’re raving.

Funny, poignant and beautifully written: a rare combination. For me, it’s the characters that make this – they’re all real, and all alive. —Tim, MTLA

LITERARY FICTION UK PUBLISHER Vagabond Voices (2009), 208pp RIGHTS French: De Fallois




Allan Massie is perhaps Scotland’s best known man of letters. For the last 25 years he has been the chief fiction reviewer for The Scotsman. He is the author of nearly 30 books, including 20 novels, is the winner of numerous awards including the Saltire Society’s award for Best Book.

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Makepeace Towle - highlights spring 2011