Biographical Fiction

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He's a normal Italian teenager - obsessed with music, food, and girls....

It is 1936, and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca....

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world....

Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all....

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating and dramatic novel about an American heroine Frances Perkins....

Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, an Oxford garden shed in which her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary....

Her beauty saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee....

In 1580s England, during the Black Plague, a young Latin tutor falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman in this “exceptional historical novel” (The New Yorker) and best-selling winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction....

The New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie returns with a thrilling story of the five greatest women writers of the Golden Age of Mystery and their bid to solve a real-life murder.

The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the “wicked and sentimental” Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three sons—the impulsive and sensual Dmitri....

This is the story about the extraordinary partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune—a forbidden friendship that changed the world....

She found the literary voices that would inspire the world…. The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.

From the author of the number one best seller Beneath a Scarlet Sky comes a new historical novel inspired by one family’s incredible story of daring, survival, and triumph....

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne in 1509.

1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham's gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It's not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm....

When We Cease to Understand the World is a book about the complicated links between scientific and mathematical discovery, madness, and destruction....

Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia....

Inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love in a powerful and healing historical novel from the #1 bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley....

In the home where Arabella Godwin was raised it is forbidden to speak her name, and her picture is turned to the wall. But in the turbulent America of the 1850s, everyone knows her as "Belle Cora", madam of San Francisco's finest bordello. Judges and senators do her bidding....

From the author of The Other Einstein, the mesmerizing tale of what kind of woman could have inspired an American dynasty....

From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees, a magnificent novel about two unforgettable American women....

Dan Freeman, the “spook who sat by the door,” is enlisted in the CIA’s elitist espionage program. Upon mastering agency tactics, however, he drops out to train young Black Chicagoans to combat racism as “Freedom Fighters” in this explosive novel....

China, December 1941. Having left an unhappy life in England for a teaching post at a missionary school in northern China, Elspeth Kent is now anxious to return home to help the war effort. But as she prepares to leave China, a terrible twist of fate determines a different path....

An “extraordinary” (New York Review of Books) novel based on the true story of how German war profiteer and factory director Oskar Schindler came to save more Jews from the gas chambers than any other single person during World War II....

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight....

Euphoria is Lily King’s nationally bestselling breakout novel of three young, gifted anthropologists of the 1930s caught in a passionate love triangle that threatens their bonds, their careers, and ultimately their lives.

Sad Tiger is built on the facts of a series of devastating events. Neige Sinno was seven years old when her stepfather started sexually abusing her. At nineteen, she decided to break the silence that is so common in all cultures around sexual violence. This led to a public trial and prison for her stepfather, and Sinno started a new life in Mexico.

The story follows Esther Greenwood, a bright and ambitious college student who wins a prestigious internship in New York City. What begins as a promising experience quickly unravels as Esther feels increasingly disconnected from the glamorous world around her and begins to spiral into depression. Plath's prose is both lyrical and razor-sharp, capturing the nuances of Esther's internal conflict with remarkable precision. Through her protagonist's descent into mental illness, Plath explores themes of alienation, gender roles, and the suffocating pressures of perfectionism and conformity.

Amid the brutality of the Holocaust, one bright spot shone inside the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. In the shadows of the smokestacks was a wooden hut where children sang, staged plays, wrote poetry, and learned about the world. Within those four walls, brightly adorned with hand-painted cartoons, the youngest prisoners were kept vermin-free, received better food, and were even taught to imagine having full stomachs and a day without fear. Their guiding light was a twenty-seven-year-old gay, Jewish athlete: Fredy Hirsch.

Melbourne, 1927. The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. Zara is wearing a dress she has designed and made herself. White organdie over a short black slip, with black embroidery and a crimson taffeta sash. It is party season and the university crowd are celebrating end-of-year exams. Zara loves dancing with the boys and flirting with them, but it's a game to her. Nothing serious. Until Harry. He plans to be a politician once he finishes law. She, a fashion designer, if she can find a way to break out of the secretarial pool.

Le monde a oublié son nom. Il est temps de connaître son histoire. Harriet Constable voue son premier roman à la mise en lumière des artistes femmes oubliées de l'Histoire, en racontant l'histoire vraie d'Anna Maria della Pietà, violoniste vénitienne d'exception du XVIIIe siècle ayant largement contribué à l'œuvre de Vivaldi avant d'être effacée par son mentor.

Christine Orban invite le lecteur à plonger dans la déchirante confession de Diana, pauvre créature sacrifiée à la royauté, et l’invite dans les coulisses d’un mariage somptueusement raté.

It’s 1981. As a wave of mysterious infections sweeps across the United States, a doctor in Paris encounters something unexpected: a case of a disease long thought to have been eradicated. It matches what is happening across the Atlantic—and thus begins a race to make sense of a deadly virus, one that will define a generation. Miles away, in rural France, Anthony Passeron’s family is dealing with a crisis of their own. Their small village is gripped by another epidemic: heroin addiction. Anthony’s uncle Désiré, once the pride of the family, has become one of the “sleeping children.”

1931. As Thomas Edison was dying, he left test tubes of what he believed would be his final breath, until it was. His intent was to leave his “last breath,” for his protégé, friend, and confidant, Henry Ford. But forty-two tubes were lost after he died. Then, year after year, one of the tubes of Edison’s breath would arrive at Ford’s Florida winter home where Ford would open it and breathe in the breath of his dead friend. He thought it brought him strength and wisdom.

Daughter of the ambitious Earl of Warwick, Anne Neville is drawn into the ferocious war between Lancaster and York; a series of battles we now know as the Wars of the Roses. When Anne's father falls foul of Edward IV she is married without royal sanction to the Lancastrian heir, a man she has been taught to loathe.

Simonetta Agnello Hornby prende le mosse dalla domanda più semplice, più diretta, con cui ci interroghiamo quotidianamente: "Quello che sto facendo è giusto o sbagliato?". A partire da lì si toccano la giustizia dentro l'istituto famigliare, i fenomeni di ingiustizia sociale, lo spettro delle guerre (esistono guerre giuste?), l'amministrazione della giustizia, l'educazione di figli e nipoti. Agnello Hornby cerca esempi nella vita animale e indaga sulla rappresentazione della giustizia nella cultura popolare, nell'arte, nella letteratura, nelle storie che contribuiscono a creare una sensibilità civile.

Blending biographical fiction with the introspective intimacy of a modern woman’s diary, this novel delves into themes of growth, resilience, and the search for meaning in a life lived across generations. It’s a deeply personal exploration of self-discovery and reflection, perfect for listeners drawn to heartfelt stories of personal growth and the beauty of life's unfolding journey.

Vivienne Holland, an enormously talented yet mentally fragile woman, comes of age in mid-century America and dreams of becoming a famous writer. However, trapped by the restrictions of pre-feminist society, a scientifically limited medical system unprepared to cope adequately with her mental illness, and her own tragic family background, she faces daunting obstacles.

Beth Jannery's novel Unapologetic explores the life of Delilah Auburn, a woman at a crossroads in her middle age, seeking to break free from a past marked by upheaval and emotional distance. Finally, a novel that turns childhood trauma into truth and healing. Unapologetic stands as a testament to the resilience and courage required for personal healing and growth. In the same spirit as the works of Miranda July and Glennon Doyle, Jannery’s novel bravely exposes raw emotions and tackles real topics with a vulnerability that feels akin to walking through the world with no skin—exposed and raw.

Am 4. Oktober 1957 erreichen die ersten Satelliten die Erdumlaufbahn. Kurz darauf erblickt in Westberlin Sputnik das Licht der Welt. Er wächst auf zwischen den Geschichten von Sala, der geliebten Mutter, die der Wirklichkeit ihre eigenen Bilder entgegenhält, und den Büchern des Vaters Otto. Schon früh wird ihm die Welt zur Bühne, alle scheinen eine Rolle zu spielen, und wie sonst sollte man das Leben begreifen? Als Jugendlicher dann die Flucht nach Paris: in die Welt der Literatur und zu Annie, die ihn Begehren, Liebe und Eifersucht lehrt.

Sie weist den Astronauten den Weg zu den Sternen... Schon früh weiß Maureen, dass die Sterne ihr Lebensthema sind. Sie will unbedingt Astronomin werden und setzt sich gegen alle Widerstände durch. Selbst die Liebe kann sie nicht aufhalten. So schafft sie es bis ganz nach oben: Als erste Chef-Astronomin der NASA arbeitet sie federführend an der Entwicklung des bahnbrechenden Weltraumobservatoriums. Der Sternenhimmel – überwältigend, bezaubernd und letztlich unerklärlich – bleibt die Leidenschaft ihres Lebens. Aber ist der Preis, den sie für ihre Karriere zahlen muss, letztlich zu hoch?

Il romanzo trae ispirazione da un'esperienza autobiografica e narra la storia di un'intensa passione vissuta tra Pietro Brusio e Narcisa Valderi. L'uomo, attratto dalla trasgressione, conquista la donna, liberandola dal suo matrimonio, e si afferma come uno scrittore di grande successo, affrontando persino un duello per difenderla. La colpa diventa il filo conduttore che unisce i protagonisti. Il tema del matrimonio e dell'adulterio non si limita a essere una trasgressione o una conferma dei valori tradizionali, ma assume una sfumatura più complessa.

Pido perdón por lo que a continuación voy a relatar, pregunto. Aunque, ¿a quién podría ya pedirle perdón? No tengo inclinación a hablar con gente muerta, me espanta la posibilidad de que me respondan. Me rindo. Acepto que hay algo impúdico en contar la vida de quien mantuvo su intimidad bajo llave. Así que me aguanto. Y no pido perdón. Ni me perdono.

«Ho lavorato con le persone senza dimora per circa diciassette anni. Le storie che racconto sono vere, nel senso che si sono svolte nella trama della mia vita. Sono esperienze che ho vissuto, sentimenti che ho provato, persone che ho incontrato.» Il protagonista di questo romanzo è lui, o meglio il suo doppio giovanissimo: un ragazzo siciliano arrivato a Roma per studiare Sociologia pieno di ideali in testa, che sceglie di fare servizio civile nel più grande centro d'accoglienza della capitale per persone senza dimora.

Scritto più di 10 anni prima de Les Fleurs du Mal, La Fanfarlo e il Giovane Incantatore è l'unica opera in prosa di Baudelaire. Questo volume snello è un esercizio di autobiografia vagamente romanzata. Racconta la storia di un giovane poeta, Samuel Cramer, che nel cercare di aiutare la sua amica d'infanzia, la signora de Cosmelly - una donna il cui marito è affascinato da una carismatica e attraente ballerina, Fanfario - finisce per innamorarsene lui stesso.

Lola est biographe et prête sa plume aux autres pour les aider à écrire leur vie. Elle se perd avec eux dans leurs souvenirs et couche sur le papier ces fragments de vie ressuscités. Lorsqu'elle accepte de rédiger la biographie de la baronne Jeanne de Beaumond, elle est loin d'imaginer ce qui l'attend. Cette fois, Lola va aider la baronne à se libérer d'un terrible secret et se laisser emporter dans un tourbillon de rencontres et de révélations qui la mèneront de la Côte d'Azur à la République dominicaine.

« L'innocence volée de ma tendre enfance plane sur mon être depuis le début de ma vie, l'innocence violée et mes années de souffrance, lorsqu'un un père a volé ma fraîcheur et mes envies ! » De rendez-vous à l'hôpital en interrogatoires de police, Astrid fut bientôt prise en charge par la direction des affaires sanitaires et sociales qui a organisé son placement en famille d'accueil le temps de trouver une institution. Alors elle se revoit placée chez la voisine du dessus, chez des amis ou de simples relations, chez des oncles ou des tantes.

Nel 2015 a Roma, Dighei è una signora etiope dal carattere ribelle. Ha bisogno di prendere la cittadinanza. La nipote Saba aiuta la zia a muoversi nella burocrazia di una città faticosa e contraddittoria. Questo percorso frustrante alla ricerca della agognata signora Meraviglia – come in casa chiamano la cittadinanza italiana – si rivela decisivo per comprendere la natura di un turbamento che da nonna Abebech fino a Saba stessa ha infestato tutte loro.

In the second novel of the 'Choosing to remember' series, Jerome Clarkson takes a swan dive into his past and the trauma he's carried for far too long. Jerome grew up in a very toxic and unloving environment, unable to escape the torture. His mother had him at just 13 and went on to have seven more children, that she took her frustrations out on constantly. Jerome was berated as child for being different and his mother often abused him because she believed that he was gay. From the moment his mother first beat him, Jerome felt the need to please his mother and prove her suspicions to be wrong.

Zrezygnowana i rozczarowana postawą najbliższych, Rozalia porzuca dotychczasowe życie i przenosi się do upragnionego domu na wsi. Jednak nawet ta decyzja nie pozwala jej żyć spokojnie. Wkrótce Róża musi zdecydować, czy ulec presji i poddać się namowom córki, czy być wierną swoim postanowieniom. Fabuła powieści rozgrywa się w dwóch planach czasowych – teraźniejszości, kiedy to Rozalia walczy o niezależność, oraz w latach 70. i 80., w czasie, na który przypadły jej młodość, pierwsza miłość, rozbudzone nadzieje i obciążone konsekwencjami decyzje.