A BESTSELLING historical fiction writer and a prestigious non-fiction prize nominee are among the acclaimed authors set to speak at two popular Wye Valley book shops this month.
In a delightful blend of local literary celebration and poignant human interest, Rossiter Books in Ross-on-Wye is all set to welcome acclaimed author Polly Morland, whose evocative tome, ‘A Fortunate Woman’, has recently been shortlisted for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize 2022.
Following the day-to-day work of a Wye Valley woman doctor, it takes its cue from the legendary John Berger book ‘A Fortunate Man’, written in the 1960s about a St Briavels doctor.
The event will take place at the Ross shop on Thursday, June 8, adding a slice of intrigue for local bibliophiles and fans of Morland’s storytelling.
Morland’s ‘A Fortunate Woman’ is a heartfelt tribute to a landscape, a community, and a paradigm of dedicated medical practice.
The narrative unfolds when Polly, while clearing out her mother’s house, uncovers Berger’s book that unveils the life of a local country doctor working in the same remote, wooded valley that she has long called home.
The doctor’s empathetic approach to medicine, where she understands her patients’ lives and stories in depth, forms the crux of this extraordinary narrative.
The book’s intimate photographs by Richard Baker add another dimension to its compelling narrative, presenting it as a loving testament to the human connection in rural communities.
One of the Baillie Gifford Prize judges, Samanth Subramanian, endorsed ‘A Fortunate Woman’ for its captivating language and emotionally profound subject matter, making it an unmissable read.
The following week, Rossiter Books will shift their spotlight to Bridges Centre in Monmouth, where they will host another author night featuring the best-selling historian and author Alison Weir.
The focus will be on her latest work ‘Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown’ and will take place Wednesday, June 14.
In Weir’s new book, she weaves a dramatic tapestry of a boy prince’s dreams of knights and chivalry, the tragic death of his older brother Arthur, and his subsequent coronation as King Henry of England.
For more information, see http://rossiterbooks.co.uk