The Bookman's Tale

‘A marvellous new Shakespearean mystery: an intelligent thriller that is also a love song for books and the people who relish them. Lovett knows his stuff about Shakespeare, rare books, and the passions that both inspire, and he weaves from these a delicious tale of love, loss, and the thrill of discovery… The only disappointment was that it came to an end.’ * Jennifer Lee Carrell, author of Interred with Their Bones *
‘With The Bookman’s Tale, Charlie Lovett tells us a terrific story — there’s mystery and suspense, murder and seduction — but more importantly, he shows us how it’s all connected, all of this: the reading and the keeping and the sharing of books. It forms a chain long and strange enough to tie a heartbroken young scholar from North Carolina back to the Bard himself, who might or might not have been William Shakespeare. Every link along the way is a bookman’s tale all its own, and Lovett tells them all, except the very last, of course: because that’s you, about to read this book right now.’ * Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore *
‘a gripping literary mystery that is compulsively readable until the thrilling end.’ * Library Journal *
‘For bibliophiles everywhere, this is a joyous mystery from the present day to Victorian England and back to Shakespearean England. Charlie Lovett’s The Bookman’s Tale is about the thrill of the chase, obsession, love, passion and the joy of discovery.’ – The Hoopla
‘Fans of mysteries, of love stories, and of rare books will all find moments in Lovett’s novel to treasure.’ * Booklist *
‘Lovett’s obvious love of books and deep understanding of the world of antiquarian bookselling and restoration is something that not only enriches Peter’s character but provides a point of strong interest for anyone interested in how books are constructed and repaired…The Bookman’s Tale is rooted in literary scholarship, full of fun gossip and historical play that makes the short chapters read very quickly and easily. Peter’s healing develops naturally through the chapters, and ultimately makes The Bookman’s Tale an immensely satisfying and pleasurable read that combines a range of genres and above all else, celebrates the beauty and wonder of the literary word.’ – The Compulsive Reader
‘Author Charlie Lovett meticulously merges love, despair and mystery in this enchanting ode to literature.’ * Limelight *
‘This book has it all: antiquarian books, deceit, love, murder, passion, Shakespeare, death…and (spoiler alert) a secret passage. What more could you ask for?’ * Herald Sun *
‘The Bookman’s Tale is a homage to antiquarian book collectors, a journey in grief, a whodunnit and more rolled into one.’ * Courier Mail *
‘One has to admire the author’s audacity in how he fits in dastardly Victorians, Dickensian maidens, present­-day outspoken American women, stereotypical British gents and families of vast fortune…It tells a great mystery and is hard to put down.’ * Otago Daily Times *
‘Author Charlie Lovett, a former antiquarian bookseller himself, dives effortlessly between centuries and characters as he tells the story of the portrait, and though this novel has a love story at its heart, it develops into an extremely well-plotted thriller. Highly recommended.’ * Weekend Herald *
‘The world of the antiquarian bookseller is rife with passions and obsessions, and Charlie Lovett, himself a former antiquarian book dealer, is well placed to put together a detailed plot that stretches all the way back through an elaborate tale of 19th-century forgery to the 16th century and life of Shakespeare…an intriguing tale.’ * Sydney Morning Herald/Age *

Charlie Lovett is a writer, teacher, and playwright whose plays for children have been seen in over 3000 productions worldwide. He served for more than a decade as writer-in-residence at Summit School in Winston-Salem, NC. He is a former antiquarian bookseller, and he has collected rare books and other materials related to Lewis Carroll for more than 25 years. He and his wife, Janice, split their time between Winston-Salem and Kingham, Oxfordshire.

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