Overview

'The storytelling is so addictive. This is sexy, witty, tense and touching - a terrific achievement' Patrick Gale 'Even Beyond Death is a remarkable achievement - passionate, witty, and moving. A smart, spirited and highly original historical novel, written with tremendous flair, humour and compassion' Antonia Hodgson 'Prepare to be seduced. Even Beyond Death is a ravishingly flamboyant, risque delight of a novel. This liaison dangereuse is an exquisite romance - but beware a broken heart' Essie Fox 'A feast of a book. Witty and bright. The tonic I needed with an addictive love story at its heart. Readers will be swept away by it' Molly Aitken 'Like the wicked child of Fleabag and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Knowing, hilarious, tragic and lust-filled - a gripping gay love story with a touchingly tender heart beneath the plumed hats and codpieces' Sofka Zinovieff It is 1657, and 24-year-old Marquis Jehan de Baudelaire - Avignon's most striking and sought-after bachelor - is in desperate need of a wife, an heir, and, most urgently, a new valet. Enter Jonathan Kryk, a vision of breath-taking beauty. Despite his immense wealth and high status, Jehan finds himself ensnared by the rigid constraints of his era and social rank. His longing for the man who tends to him daily, who dresses and bathes him, remains an impossible dream. Spies lurk everywhere - can he trust anyone in his household, even his own family? The ever-watchful eyes of God and the law put him in immense danger. Lavish and steamy, mischievous and dramatic, Even Beyond Death is the story of a man in love. Not for him a history of military battles and political allegiance, royalty and lineage. With the aid of his disapproving scribe, Jehan wishes to record a memoire of love and tenderness: a 'catalogue of desire'. Fiona Melrose's daring new novel is a passionate and heart-wrenching tale of the sacrifices we make for true love.

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9781472158789

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Reviews

'Prepare to be seduced. Even Beyond Death is a ravishingly flamboyant, risqué delight of a novel. This liaison dangereuse is an exquisite romance - but beware a broken heart' * Essie Fox * 'The storytelling is so addictive. This is sexy, witty, tense and touching - a terrific achievement' * Patrick Gale * A feast of a book. Witty and bright. The tonic I needed with an addictive love story at its heart. Readers will be swept away by it * Molly Aitken, author of Bright I Burn * Like the wicked child of Fleabag and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Knowing, hilarious, tragic and lust-filled - a gripping gay love story with a touchingly tender heart beneath the plumed hats and codpieces -- Sofka Zinovieff Knowing and witty, Fiona Melrose's third novel uses an ingenious narrative conceit to allow Jehan to tell the story of his passion ""even beyond death"" * Sunday Times * This novel is utterly brilliant and I loved it . . . Heart-stopping danger stalks the story, but heart-bursting romance even more so . . . The characters are wonderful and the atmosphere intense. I was completely swept away - and shattered -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail * The historical period and attitudes of the time are very well rendered and immerse the reader in 17th century Avignon... this is a very moving read about forbidden love and the impact of it upon Jehan and, to a lesser extent, Jonathan and also their families * Historical Novel Society * Even Beyond Death is a remarkable achievement - passionate, witty, and moving * Antonia Hodgson, author of The Raven Scholar *

'Prepare to be seduced. Even Beyond Death is a ravishingly flamboyant, risqué delight of a novel. This liaison dangereuse is an exquisite romance - but beware a broken heart' * Essie Fox * 'The storytelling is so addictive. This is sexy, witty, tense and touching - a terrific achievement' * Patrick Gale * A feast of a book. Witty and bright. The tonic I needed with an addictive love story at its heart. Readers will be swept away by it * Molly Aitken, author of Bright I Burn * Like the wicked child of Fleabag and Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Knowing, hilarious, tragic and lust-filled - a gripping gay love story with a touchingly tender heart beneath the plumed hats and codpieces -- Sofka Zinovieff Knowing and witty, Fiona Melrose's third novel uses an ingenious narrative conceit to allow Jehan to tell the story of his passion ""even beyond death"" * Sunday Times * This novel is utterly brilliant and I loved it . . . Heart-stopping danger stalks the story, but heart-bursting romance even more so . . . The characters are wonderful and the atmosphere intense. I was completely swept away - and shattered -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail * The historical period and attitudes of the time are very well rendered and immerse the reader in 17th century Avignon... this is a very moving read about forbidden love and the impact of it upon Jehan and, to a lesser extent, Jonathan and also their families * Historical Novel Society *

Author Information

Fiona Melrose is the author of three novels. Her debut Midwinter was long-listed for the Women's Prize and was followed by Johannesburg which was shortlisted for the RSL Encore award. Even Beyond Death is her third novel. Though born in South Africa, Fiona is an Irish national and spent much of her adult career in London and Suffolk. After fifteen years of planning and dreaming she now lives on a small farm in Italy, near Florence, were she grows flowers and food and runs writing and creative practice retreats.

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