Once Upon a River Synopsis
'I was completely spellbound' - Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things
'Setterfield is a master storyteller' - Madeline Miller, author of Circe
Some say the river drowned her... Some say it brought her back to life
On a dark midwinter's night in an ancient inn on the Thames, the regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open and in steps an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a child.
Hours later, the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.
Is it a miracle?
Is it magic?
And who does the little girl belong to?
An exquisitely crafted historical mystery brimming with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Victorian age.
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Praise for Diane Setterfield:
'An absolute feast of a book, which will keep you engrossed' RED magazine
'Brimming with folklore, intrigue and romance, this is a story to savour' Woman & Home
'Once Upon a River continues to demonstrate [Setterfield's] mastery of the Gothic genre in a way that will appeal to modern readers' The Independent
Readers are captivated by Once Upon a River:
***** 'Pure escapism, a beautifully written story.'
***** 'It felt as comforting as the fantastical stories you read as a child yet with a darker edge.'
***** 'I was entranced from the beginning to the end.'
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781784163631 |
| Publication date: |
29th August 2019 |
| Author: |
Diane Setterfield |
| Publisher: |
Black Swan an imprint of Transworld |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
527 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Historical Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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Diane Setterfield Press Reviews
Once Upon a River is one of the most pleasurable and satisfying new books I've read in a long time. Setterfield is a master storyteller, her language flowing with a dark magic very like the river at the heart of her tale: swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful.
Give yourself a treat and read it!
-- Madeline Miller,Orange Prize-winning author of
The Song of Achilles and Circe
This is magical, bewitching story telling - and so cleverly structured...it possesses all those narrative values I have always cherished...: high prose expressed with rare clarity, story for the unashamed sake of story, a kind of moral dreaminess.
-- Jim Crace, author of Man Booker shortlisted Harvest
I was completely spellbound by this book. Numerous strands of the same story are skilfully woven into a magical web from which I, as a reader, had no desire to escape. Setterfield's prose is beautiful, dark and eerily atmospheric, and her rich cast of characters convincingly illustrate the best and worst of humanity. Utterly brilliant!
-- Ruth Hogan,bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
Diane's masterful storytelling draws you in to a beguiling tale, full of twists and turns like the river at its heart, and just as rich and intriguing. It lures you into its depths and carries you along in its vividly evoked world.
-- M L Stedman, bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans
Once Upon a River is a delight, just marvellous. I devoured it in gulps.
-- Jo Baker, bestselling author of Longbourn
About Diane Setterfield
Born in Berkshire, Diane Setterfield was educated at Theale Green Comprehensive School and Bristol University. Her degree in French literature led her to teach in universities in England and France, where she lived for several years. Diane's previous publications have been in the field of 19th and 20th century French literature, specialising in the writings of André Gide. After returning to the UK, Diane ran a business teaching French to those intending to live in France. She lives in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with her husband.
More About Diane Setterfield
