A Special Edition of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink to celebrate Orion's 20th anniversary.

One of my favourite books of 1998, the sort that, on completion, leaves you stunned and really does stay with you for – well, in my case – years as it was 10 years ago that I read it. That sensation of admiration is still with me. Clever, beautifully written, short, stark and hard-hitting, it is a tale of sex, guilt and shame with the holocaust raising its ugly head in an original and alarming way.

Synopsis

Below is a video of Ben Twiston-Davies discussing the sculptures he made for the 20th anniversay edtions of the Orion classics, specifically The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.

For 15-year-old Michael Berg, a chance meeting with an older woman leads to far more than he ever imagined. The woman in question is Hanna, and before long they embark on a passionate, clandestine love affair which leaves Michael both euphoric and confused. For Hanna is not all she seems. Years later, as a law student observing a trial in Germany, Michael is shocked to realize that the person in the dock is Hanna. The woman he had loved is a criminal. Much about her behaviour during the trial does not make sense. But then suddenly, and terribly, it does - Hanna is not only obliged to answer for a horrible crime, she is also desperately concealing an even deeper secret.

Celebrating Orion's 20th Anniversary in chronological order by original publication date are:

1992    The Copper Beech by Maeve Binchy
The first novel published by Orion. A million copy seller from the world’s favourite storyteller.
1992    The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser
Narrative non-fiction from one of our leading historians. This ground-breaking title is still the definitive book on the subject.
1993    The Black Ice by Michael Connelly
The first Michael Connelly title published by Orion, showcasing our ability to build quality commercial crime brands.
1994     Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon
The original Horrid Henry book was the start of a massive multi-platform entertainment brand demonstrating the breadth of our Children’s list.
1995     Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
A publishing sensation which brought translated literary fiction to the mass market and formed the kernel of the W&N literary fiction list.
1997     Black and Blue by Ian Rankin

Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger, this novel cemented Ian Rankin’s status as the gold standard of British crime.
1997    The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Translated fiction which sold a million copies and became an award-winning film release, bringing recent history into sharp and unforgettable focus.
2000    A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
The original Misery memoir, Dave Pelzer’s story was shocking and controversial and founded a genre.
2000    Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Science fiction on the grandest and most commercial scale from Gollancz, redefining space opera for the new century.
2001     Tell No One by Harlan Coben

The event publication which made SUNDAY TIMES No.1 bestseller Harlan Coben a household name and cemented Orion’s ability to create commercial brands.
2003     Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Winner of the Best History Book at the British Book Awards 2004, this narrative character-based history broke new ground.
2004     The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A massive million plus bestseller in the UK and one of the bestselling books of all time in Spain – making translated fiction truly accessible.
2004     Himalaya by Michael Palin
Selling over half a million copies in hardback and staying at No.1 for 11 consecutive weeks, this is the book that proved Michael Palin was not only a beloved television and film personality, he was a formidable travel writer as well.
2004     Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
Selling over half a million copies at the height of the Harry Potter years and with massive rights sales internationally, this title is one of the stars of our impressive Children’s list.
2005     Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
A huge SUNDAY TIMES No.1 bestseller, this engrossing ‘time-slip’ novel combines brilliant storytelling and strong characters with a puzzle that has obsessed men for centuries: the secret of the Grail.
2007     Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
Winner of the PG Wodehouse Award, Torday is a unique and indefinable author whose debut won him a substantial, dedicated fan base.
2008    No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
A true must-read and a Richard and Judy favourite, this title announced the arrival of an exciting new thriller bestseller from Orion.
2009     Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
The first True Blood TV tie-in novel showing the diversity and commercial potential of the Gollancz list.
2010     Life by Keith Richards
This once-in-a-generation memoir of a true rock legend was a formidable No. 1 SUNDAY TIMES bestseller.
2011     The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
Winner of the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction, this debut novel has been almost universally praised as a triumph of modern literature and introduced a star of the future.

About the Author

Bernhard Schlink was born in Germany is 1944. A professor of law at Humboldt University, Berlin and Cardozo Law School, New York, he is the author of the major international bestselling novel and movie The Reader, short story collection Flights of Love and several prize-winning crime novels. He lives in Berlin and New York. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation