The Missing Pages - by Alyson Richman (Paperback)

About the Book

"1912: Harry Widener, a promising and passionate book collector, boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless volume he's just purchased in London. After catastrophe strikes the ship, Harry's last known words are that he must return to his cabin to retrieve his latest treasure. Neither the young man nor the book are ever seen again. Honoring her son's memory, Harry's mother builds the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard to house his extensive book collection and ensure his legacy. Decades later, Violet Hutchins, a Harvard sophomore recovering from her own great loss, is working as a page at the Widener Library. When mysterious things begin happening at the library, Violet wonders if Harry Widener's ghost is trying to communicate with her, seeking Violet to uncover a long-buried secret that the ardent young Harry took with him to the grave"--

Book Synopsis

A ghost in a library. A story waiting to be told. The Missing Pages is a rich, lyrical novel that reminds us that books are as eternal as the soul.

1912: Harry Widener, a promising and passionate book collector, boards the Titanic holding tight to a priceless volume he's just purchased in London. After catastrophe strikes the ship, Harry's last known words are that he must return to his cabin to retrieve his latest treasure. Neither the young man nor the book are ever seen again. Honoring her son's memory, Harry's mother builds the Harry Widener Memorial Library at Harvard to house his extensive book collection and ensure his legacy.

Decades later, Violet Hutchins, a Harvard sophomore recovering from her own great loss, is working as a page at the Widener Library. When mysterious things begin happening at the library, Violet wonders if Harry Widener's ghost is trying to communicate with her, seeking Violet to uncover a long-buried secret that the ardent young Harry took with him to the grave.

For fans of The Midnight Library and The Book Thief, bestselling author Alyson Richman has written a love story, a ghost story, and an elegy to the healing power of books.

Review Quotes

The Missing Pages is one of Library Journal's Best Books of 2025.

"Richman skillfully weaves together history and fiction as she revisits the sinking of the Titanic, relates the history of the Widener Library, and fictionalizes real-life figure Harry Widener"
--Library Journal, STARRED Review

"Packed with exciting revelations and rare book collecting, research, and historical detail...Richman probes the braiding of life and its sacrifices, the power of love to transform grief, and a mother's quest to honor her son, creating a gripping page-turner that amplifies the permanent fingerprint books make on our soul."--Midwest Book Review, Review

"A testament to the power of books and love; suggest to readers who enjoy Beatriz Williams or Lisa Wingate"--Booklist

"In this page turner, real elements of Widener's life are blended with pin-sharp fiction...Expect historical glamour [and] dark academic mystery"--Town and Country Magazine, Best Books of October

"Throughout the narrative, a passion for books is lyrically explored, highlighting their power to touch the heart and forge connections that transcend time. The Missing Pages is a book to savor. Recommended!"--Historical Novel Society

"The Missing Pages is a powerful reminder that it is not just the souls that were lost when the Titanic was gashed by an iceberg: it was their stories, too, that vanished that night."--Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Alyson Richman is a master storyteller at the top of her craft, and this is her best work yet. The Missing Pages is a celebration of the love of books and the enduring strength of the human heart. Lyrical, unexpected, and soul-stirring--I can't remember the last time I was so charmed by a novel."--Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller

"Alyson Richman's novels are always meaningful, both carefully researched and beautifully written. But The Missing Pages is, without question, Richman's most innovative and compelling book yet. Inspired by an often told, possibly true tale of Titanic victim and Harvard graduate Harry Elkins Widener's last-minute decision to return to his cabin for a mysterious book, The Missing Pages weaves stunning historical details, supernatural suspense, and a thoughtful exploration of one mother's grief and the memorial she creates to honor her son's memory. The Missing Pages is a ghost story, a love story, and a library story that every bibliophile will cherish."--Lynda Loigman, bestselling author of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

"Just when you thought you knew everything about the Titanic, along comes Alyson Richman's The Missing Pages, an exquisite story that is both the tender chronicle of a secret love and a love letter to everyone who adores books. . . . An ingeniously wrought masterpiece."--Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Family and Those Who Save Us

An unforgettable story about the power of love over loss, the extraordinary capacity of books to provide inspiration and solace, and the surprising--and sometimes supernatural--way in which the past exists alongside the present. Alyson Richman's The Missing Pages is a bibliophile's page-turner.--Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian

About the Author

Alyson Richman graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in art history and Japanese studies. She is an accomplished painter and her novels combine her deep love of art, historical research, and travel. Alyson's novels have been published in 25 languages and have reached the bestseller lists both in the United States and abroad. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children, where she is currently at work on her next novel.