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Kate Atkinson won the Whitbread (now Costa) Book of the Year prize with her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, and has been a critically acclaimed writer ever since. Her four bestselling novels featuring former detective Jackson Brodie became the BBC television series Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs. Her latest novel Life After Life was shortlisted for several prestigious literary prizes including the Women’s (formerly Orange) and the Costa Novel Prize. She was appointed MBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Kate Atkinson was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh.
'An unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller' Observer The magnificent new novel by bestselling award-winning Kate Atkinson In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country's most exceptional writers. 'How vehemently most novelists will wish to produce a masterpiece as good' Telegraph
A God in Ruins relates the life of Teddy Todd - would-be poet, heroic World War II bomber pilot, husband, father, and grandfather - as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have. This gripping, often deliriously funny yet emotionally devastating book looks at war - that great fall of Man from grace - and the effect it has, not only on those who live through it, but on the lives of the subsequent generations. It is also about the infinite magic of fiction. Those who loved the best-selling Life After Life will recognise Teddy as Ursula Todd's adored younger brother - but for those who have not read it, A God in Ruins stands fully on its own. Few will dispute that it proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the most exceptional novelists of our age.
In A God in Ruins, Atkinson turns her focus on Ursula's beloved younger brother Teddy - would-be poet, RAF bomber pilot, husband and father - as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have.
Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2013. Winner of the Specsavers UK Author of the Year 2013. Chosen by the prestigious Kirkus Reviews as one of 10 titles in 2013 that ‘will sweep you off your feet’ Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2013. With wit and compassion, Kate Atkinson finds warmth even in life's bleakest moments, and shows an extraordinary ability to evoke the past. Here she is at her most profound and inventive, in a novel that celebrates the best and worst of ourselves. Click below to listen to an extract from the audiobook edition of this title. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson by Random House Audiobooks
Winner of the Specsavers UK Author of the Year 2013. Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2013. Chosen by the prestigious Kirkus Reviews as one of 10 titles in 2013 that ‘will sweep you off your feet’ Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2013. What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right? During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath. During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale. What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to? Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again.
One of our Great Reads you may have missed in 2011. February 2011 Book of the Month. Shortlisted for the Galaxy UK Author of the Year 2010.Another outing for Jackson Brodie in Atkinson's next crime novel. She seems to really be getting in to her stride with this series and as each book can be read as a stand alone has not tied herself down to any set rules, but then when does she ever? Told with all her usual quirkiness and entertaining characters this is another must read.
Shortlisted for the Galaxy UK Author of the Year 2010. Another outing for Jackson Brodie in Atkinson's next crime novel. She seems to really be getting in to her stride with this series and as each book can be read as a stand alone has not tied herself down to any set rules, but then when does she ever? Told with all her usual quirkiness and entertaining characters this is another must read. September 2010 Good Housekeeping selection. The Goodhousekeeping view... The fourth title in the bestselling series sees former detective Jackson Brodie on the trail of thebirth family of an adopted girl who officially doesn’t exist. Atkinson’s novels have so far sold two million copies in the UK and this is another sharply observed piece of storytelling.
Shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger 2009. CWA Judges’ comments: ‘A multifaceted and thought-provoking exploration of the aftermath of a savage family killing.’ Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read 2009. Reviewed on Richard & Judy's Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 11 February. When this literary author turned crime writer something very special happened to her work. The Guardian believes it has made her a better writer, I feel that her lovely style adds an extra dimension to a fascinating tale. Characters intercept and react, there are many coincidences, twists and turns and it all comes racing together at the end, a bit like a runaway train except, of course, Jackson and Louise’s stories which remain open for the next book. Comparison: Ian McEwan, Morag Joss, Hilary Mantel.
Atkinson’s crime novels just keep getting better and better. Great characterisation, brilliant plotting and an excellent story teller. One of the best crime novels you’ll read this year.
A queue at the Edinburgh Festival witness a supposed act of “road rage” so begins a wonderfully convoluted plot with twists and turns, humour and surprises which, very satisfactorily, goes round and round. It is the second outing for Jackson Brodie (Case Histories being the first) and it is irresistible, really very good indeed. Intelligent, addictive, beautifully written and thrilling.Similar this month: None.Comparison: Charlotte Mendleson, Donna Tartt, Susanna Jones.
A 2011 World Book Night selection. Wow! You are in for a treat here. Kate has a tremendous reputation but in my mind she has never really lived up to Behind the Scenes at the Museum, her Whitbread winner. Well now she has, and surpassed it. More plot-driven than is her norm, it has her expected trademark of glorious language and subtle humour, here all wrapped in the cloak of a literary detective story with a warm, original and totally believable private investigator, Jackson Brodie. It was shortlisted for the recent Whitbread Best Novel prize and was only pipped to the post by Small Island (you must definitely read that too). Our Editorial Guru, Sarah Broadhurst, has suggested others book and authors that would be perfect for you to read next or to pass on the recommendation - so your gift will keep on giving enjoyment. Her selections for this title are: Louise Welsh, Reginald Hill
Kate Atkinson readers will devour this departure in her writing and a new audience will love it as well. Jackson Brodie, former police investigator, explores three previously unsolved case histories – and finds they reflect upon his own life, as he faces a mid life crisis.
Another story of family and telling stories. Effie and her mother Nora (who it turns out is not her mother) tell their tales to each other on a remote Scottish island. Full of humour and warmth and the usual quirkiness of her novels.
Follow the weird and wonderful history of the Fairfax family in this thoroughly enjoyable quirk novel from Kate Atkinson. Nothing is ever predictable in Atkinson’s novels but there is always plenty to feed your imagination.
March 2014 Guest Editor Jojo Moyes on Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I would, frankly, read Kate Atkinson's shopping list. This was the first book which really made me understand the importance of 'voice'. She's a writer who inspires as she's brave, and inventive, and you never know where her novels are going to go next, all too rare a trait, in my opinion. The Lovereading view... This is very special. Even with all she has written since and with her change of direction into crime mysteries this, her first novel, in my mind still stands out as her best. It is simply just the life of Ruby and her dysfunctional family. It’s warm, addictive, quite wonderful – and quite unlike anything else she has written. A "Piece of Passion" from the publisher... ‘I have a vivid memory of the first time I read the first page of Kate Atkinson’s first novel. It was nearly 10 years after I’d left York and in a page I was back there, in the streets around the Minster – transported by the voice of an unborn child to a world that was familiar but warped. Never mind its unusual developmental stage, the voice was immediately distinct, a little mad, a little caustic, and yet brilliantly true and completely hilarious. It was delicious. Behind the Scenes at the Museum is in a class of its own. The odd structure, tone, cast of characters all made it unique, exciting , a bit disturbing and utterly captivating. It made me laugh and it made me cry. I think it is a masterpiece.' Susanna Wadeson, Publishing Director at Transworld
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: THE RETURN OF JACKSON BRODIE, 'LIKE ALL GOOD DETECTIVES, A HERO FOR MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE' (The Times) 'Big Sky is laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny' (Observer) Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes. Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new literary crime novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: THE RETURN OF JACKSON BRODIE, 'LIKE ALL GOOD DETECTIVES, A HERO FOR MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE' (The Times) 'Big Sky is laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny' (Observer) Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes. Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new literary crime novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN OF JACKSON BRODIE, 'LIKE ALL GOOD DETECTIVES, A HERO FOR MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE' (The Times) 'Kate Atkinson never disappoints and Big Sky, her fifth Jackson Brodie novel, is the stand-out read of the summer. It's a masterclass in brilliant writing and whether you've read the earlier books in the series or not you'll enjoy it.' (Independent) 'Big Sky is laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny' (Observer) Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes. Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.
The highly anticipated return of Jackson Brodie, 'like all good detectives, a hero for men and women alike' (The Times) 'Big Sky is laced with Atkinson's sharp, dry humour, and one of the joys of the Brodie novels has always been that they are so funny' (Observer) Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village in North Yorkshire, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son Nathan and ageing Labrador Dido, both at the discretion of his former partner Julia. It's a picturesque setting, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes. Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, seems straightforward, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network-and back into the path of someone from his past. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking new novel, both sharply funny and achingly sad, by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today.
'An unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller' Observer The magnificent new novel by bestselling award-winning Kate Atkinson In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country's most exceptional writers. 'How vehemently most novelists will wish to produce a masterpiece as good' Telegraph
A dramatic story of WWII espionage, betrayal, and loyalty, by the #1 bestselling author of Life After Life In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever. Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of the best writers of our time.
Random House presents the audiobook edition of Transcription by Kate Atkinson, read by Fenella Woolgar.THE MAGNIFICENT NEW NOVEL BY BESTSELLING AWARD-WINNING KATE ATKINSON'Think of it as an adventure, Perry had said right at the beginning of all this.And it had seemed like one. A bit of a lark, she had thought. A Girls' Own adventure.' In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence.Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country's most exceptional writers.
'An unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller' - Observer *The magnificent new novel by award-winner Kate Atkinson* In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathisers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country's most exceptional writers. 'How vehemently most novelists will wish to produce a masterpiece as good' - Telegraph
'An unapologetic novel of ideas which is also wise, funny and paced like a thriller' - Observer *The magnificent new novel by award-winner Kate Atkinson* In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathisers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past for ever. Ten years later, now a producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of this country's most exceptional writers. 'How vehemently most novelists will wish to produce a masterpiece as good' - Telegraph
V vysshuyu ligu sovremennoj literatury Kejt Atkinson popala s pervoj zhe popytki: ee debyutnyj roman "e;Muzej moih tajn"e; poluchil prestizhnuyu Uitbredovskuyu premiyu, obojdya "e;Proshchal'nyj vzdoh mavra"e; Salmana Rushdi, a cikl romanov o chastnom detektive Dzheksone Broudi, uspevshij polyubit'sya i rossijskomu chitatelyu ("e;Prestupleniya proshlogo"e;, "e;Povorot k luchshemu"e;, "e;ZHdat' li dobryh vestej?"e;, "e;CHut' svet, s sobakoyu vdvoem"e;), Stiven King okrestil "e;glavnym detektivnym proektom desyatiletiya"e;. Itak, poznakom'tes' s Noroj i EHffi; Nora - mat', a EHffi - doch'. Na kroshechnom shotlandskom ostrovke, sredi vereskovyh pustoshej i torfyanogo mha, oni ukryvayutsya ot stihij v ogromnom polurazrushennom dome svoih predkov i rasskazyvayut drug drugu istorii. Nora celuet zhab, sobiraet krapivu na sup i govorit o chem ugodno, krome togo, o chem EHffi hochet uslyshat', a imenno - kto zhe ee otec. EHffi rasskazyvaet o svoem priyatele Bobe, kotoryj davno perestal hodit' na lekcii po filosofii, pochti ne vylezaet iz krovati, i dlya nego "e;klingony ne menee real'ny, chem francuzy i nemcy, i uzh kuda real'nee, skazhem, lyuksemburzhcev"e;. Tem vremenem kto-to, vozmozhno, sledit za EHffi; kto-to, vozmozhno, ubivaet starikov; i kuda-to propal zagadochnyj zheltyj pesVpervye na russkom.
N - N N N N N N N N N s N N N N . N N N N N N N N N N - N , N N N N N N , N N N N N N N N N N , N N N N N N N , N N N N N N N N . YN N N N N NZ N N N N N , N N N N N N N N N , N N N N N N N N , N N N N N NZN N N N N N N , N N N N N N N N N N N N .
Ovo je jedan od najboljih romana koje sam u ovom stoljecu procitala. Kate Atkinson je cudo. Nema dovoljno ushicenih epiteta kojima bih opisala "e;Zivot za zivotom"e;. Zanosan, duhovit, dirljiv, radostan, zaloban, dubok roman. -Gillian Flynn, autorica NestaleA to bi bilo da imamo priliku ponavljati vlastiti A ivot sve dok napokon ne ispadne kako treba? U snjeA noj oluji u Engleskoj 1910. raA a se djevojA ica koja A e umrijeti prije nego A to prvi put doA e do daha. U snjeA noj oluji u Engleskoj 1910. raA a se djevojA ica i kreA e u A ivot.A to bi bilo kad bismo dobili joA jednu priliku? Pa joA jednu? A toviA e, bezbroj prilika da ponovno proA ivimo A ivot? Bismo li kad-tad uspjeli spasiti svijet od sudbine koja ga A eka? Bismo li se uopA e odvaA ili?A ivot za A ivotom opetovano prati Ursulu Todd kroz burna zbivanja proA log stoljeA a. Kate Atkinson duhovito i suosjeA ajno nalazi toplinu i u najsumornijim A ivotnim trenutcima i nevjerojatno vjeA to oA ivljava povijest. Nikad nije pisala tako maA tovito i zahvatila tako duboko kao u ovom romanu koji slavi ono najbolje i najgore u nama.Dobitnik nagrade Costa za romanS engleskoga prevela: Vlatka ValentiA Kate Atkinson prvim je romanom Behind the Scenes at the Museum (u Hrvatskoj prevedenim kao Iza kulisa u muzeju) osvojila nagradu Whitebread (danas Costa) za knjigu godine, a istu je nagradu osvojila joA dvaput, u kategoriji romana, za A ivot za A ivotom (2013) i A God in Ruins (2015). U A etiri nedavna bestselera protagonist joj je privatni istraA itelj Jackson Brodie: Case Histories (Povijesti sluA ajeva), One Good Turn, When Will There Be Good News? i Started Early, Took My Dog. Od godine 2011. nositeljica je Reda Britanskog Carstva.
V vysshuyu ligu sovremennoj literatury Kejt Atkinson popala s pervoj zhe popytki: ee debyutnyj roman "e;Muzej moih tajn"e; poluchil prestizhnuyu Uitbredovskuyu premiyu, obojdya "e;Proshchal'nyj vzdoh mavra"e; Salmana Rushdi, a cikl romanov o chastnom detektive Dzheksone Broudi, uspevshij polyubit'sya i rossijskomu chitatelyu ("e;Prestupleniya proshlogo"e;, "e;Povorot k luchshemu"e;, "e;ZHdat' li dobryh vestej?"e;, "e;CHut' svet, s sobakoyu vdvoem"e;), Stiven King okrestil "e;glavnym detektivnym proektom desyatiletiya"e;. I vot za porazitel'nym mirovym bestsellerom "e;ZHizn' posle zhizni"e;, rasskazyvavshim, kak metodom prob i oshibok nakonec prozhit' XX vek pravil'no, sleduet ego prodolzhenie - "e;Bogi sredi lyudej"e;. I esli Ursula Todd prozhila mnogo zhiznej, to ee brat Teddi - lish' odnu, zato ochen' dlinnuyu. On izuchal v Oksforde poehziyu Uil'yama Blejka, a potom ubiral urozhaj v yuzhnoj Francii, on za shturvalom chetyrekhmotornogo "e;galifaksa"e; bombil Berlin, a potom uverilsya, chto sredi lyudej est' bogi: ved', po vyrazheniyu EHmersona, sam chelovek - ehto ruhnuvshee bozhestvo...
A God in Ruins relates the life of Teddy Todd - would-be poet, heroic World War II bomber pilot, husband, father, and grandfather - as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have. This gripping, often deliriously funny yet emotionally devastating book looks at war - that great fall of Man from grace - and the effect it has, not only on those who live through it, but on the lives of the subsequent generations. It is also about the infinite magic of fiction. Those who loved the best-selling Life After Life will recognise Teddy as Ursula Todd's adored younger brother - but for those who have not read it, A God in Ruins stands fully on its own. Few will dispute that it proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the most exceptional novelists of our age.
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