Book of Forbidden Words

“Fein boldly illustrates how history uncannily repeats itself…. Devotees of rich historical fiction and contemporary social discourse alike will be enthralled.” — Booklist (starred review) “Fein’s provocative story underlines the role of women in shaping society throughout time…. Fein thoughtfully conveys the slow progress toward women’s equality over several centuries.” — Library Journal “A towering historical novel, ambitious in scope and subject. Spanning 400 years, from 16th century France to mid-20th century New York, Louise Fein crafts a compulsive story of banned books, censorship and secrecy that always feels intimate and relatable. Bold, brave and beautifully told, Book of Forbidden Words is an incredible achievement of imagination and research, reminiscent of Kate Mosse's Labyrinth.” — Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of Before Dorothy “Louise Fein always delivers compelling and unique stories that completely capture me as I read, and Book of Forbidden Words is no exception—a gripping and compelling tale of powerful women who refuse to be silenced. This is exactly the kind of story the world needs right now.” — Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say “A taut, gripping story of three extraordinary women linked across centuries by an encrypted manuscript. Fein is brilliant at creating an atmosphere of creeping menace. It's hard to judge who to trust as the net closes in. I love her courageous characters, her immersive writing, and the vivid descriptions of printing and coding techniques. Book of Forbidden Words is a stunning achievement.” — Gill Paul, bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival “I absolutely loved Book of Forbidden Words. It’s as important and timely as it is a compelling page-turner. A huge feat executed perfectly by Fein, and a must-read during these unsettling times.” — Charlotte Levin, bestselling author of If I Can't Have You "In this gripping story of love and betrayal, loosely based on real-life figures and events, even the author’s note at the end is a riveting must-read.” — Library Journal (starred review), on The London Bookshop Affair “In Book of Forbidden Words Louise Fein takes us back to two moments in time separated by four hundred years, yet both characterized by social upheaval and widespread suspicion of radical ideas and technologies. Exploratory, tender, and human, the novel, through its vivid depictions of the past, forces us to consider our present day challenges around the spread of information and women’s place in society. An utterly compelling read.” — Elizabeth Freemantle, award-winning author of Firebrand “A powerful and beautifully crafted story about the importance of the written word. I loved it!” — Nicola Gill, author of Swimming for Beginners “A fantastically gripping story which follows three women across different timelines on their quest to protect free speech and the power of the written word. Their narratives are so cleverly interwoven in this beautifully written and emotional read.” — Nikki Smith, author of They Had It Coming “I was gripped from the first page to the last. This timely novel is a resounding cry for freedom of thought and the courage of women. It is also a chilling reminder of how easily books and ideas can be suppressed and how fragile women’s hard-won freedom might be. The research behind it is impressive, giving a vivid life to the settings and characters from Henry VII’s court to 1950s America. This book is both important and engrossing—a rare combination.” — Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner’s Wife “Book of Forbidden Words is a daring, intelligent story about daring, intelligent women, woven together across time and space by the written word in a world gripped by censorship. Impeccable in its research, incredible in its scope, imperative in these times. I loved it.”  — Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House “A powerful, eloquent testament to the importance of free speech and the dangers of censorship. Fein expertly pitches the paranoia of 16th century Paris, as new ideas that challenge church and state are printed in secret, against the life-destroying witch-hunts of McCarthy’s 1950s America. A richly depicted, memorable story with themes so relevant right now that I’m still thinking about it days after reaching the end. Both historical fiction, and Louise Fein, at their very best. Highly recommend.” — Eleni Kyriacou, A Beautiful Way to Die “Historical fiction at its best, shining a light on the present as well as the past. Cleverly plotted and completely compelling, with utterly relatable characters who come to life from the first page.” — Frances Quinn, author of The Lost Passenger "Fantastically researched, brilliantly and atmospherically evoked. A gripping and thought-provoking read." — Tracy Rees, author of Amy Snow