Book of Forbidden Words - Large Print by Louise Fein (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From bestselling author Louise Fein comes a new historical novel about an encrypted manuscript that unleashes a chain of consequences across 400 years, set in a world of banned books, fear of new ideas, and the dangers of censorship, perfect for fans of The Briar Club and Weyward.

"What power lay there in words on a page. And with that thought, Charlotte knew she would not rest until she had seen what was in the manuscript that Lysbette so desperately wanted to preserve in print."

1552, Paris: Against a backdrop of turmoil, suspicion, and paranoia, the printing press is quickly spreading new ideas across Europe, threatening the power of church and state and unleashing a wave of book burning and heretic hunting. When frightened ex-nun Lysbette Angiers arrives one day at Charlotte Guillard's famous printing shop with her manuscript, neither woman knows just how far the powerful elite will go to prevent the spread of Lysbette's audacious ideas.

1952, New York: Milly Bennett, lonely and unmoored, is a seemingly ordinary housewife with a secretive past. Balancing the day-to-day boredom of keeping house and struggling to find her way with the mothers at her children's school, she finds her life taking an unexpected turn as conspiracies spread amidst the paranoid clamors of McCarthy's America. When a relic from her past presents her with a 400-year-old manuscript to decipher, she is reluctantly pulled into a vortex of danger that threatens to shatter her world.

From the risky backstreets of sixteenth-century Paris to the unpredictable suburbs of mid-twentieth century New York, the stakes couldn't be higher when, 400 years apart, Milly, Lysbette, and Charlotte each face a reality where the spread of ideas are feared and every effort is made to suppress them.

Dramatic and affecting, and inspired by the real-life encrypted Voynich manuscript, Book of Forbidden Words is both an engrossing story about a timeless struggle that echoes through the ages and a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who dare to let their words be heard.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"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

"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