Andrew Miller

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free, by the Costa Award-winning author of PURE, is a stunning historical novel with the grip of a thriller, written in richly evocative, luminous prose. 'A writer of very rare and outstanding gifts' - Independent on Sunday One rainswept winter's night in 1809, an unconscious man is carried into a house in Somerset. He is Captain John Lacroix, home from Britain's disastrous campaign against Napoleon's forces in Spain. Gradually Lacroix recovers his health, but not his peace of mind. He will not - cannot - talk about the war or face the memory of what took place on the retreat to Corunna. After the command comes to return to his regiment, he lights out instead for the Hebrides, unaware that he has far worse to fear than being dragged back to the army: a vicious English corporal and a Spanish officer with secret orders are on his trail. In luminous prose, Miller portrays a man shattered by what he has witnessed, on a journey that leads to unexpected friendships, even to love. But as the short northern summer reaches its zenith, the shadow of the enemy is creeping closer. Freedom, for John Lacroix, will come at a high price. Taut with suspense, this is an enthralling, deeply involving novel by one of Britain's most acclaimed writers. 'One of our most skilful chroniclers of the human heart and mind' - Sunday Times

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free

* WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE * * SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE * The rapturously acclaimed new novel by the Costa Award-winning author of PURE, hailed as 'excellent', 'gripping', 'as suspenseful as any thriller', 'engrossing', 'moving' and 'magnificent'. One rainswept winter's night in 1809, an unconscious man is carried into a house in Somerset. He is Captain John Lacroix, home from Britain's disastrous campaign against Napoleon's forces in Spain. Gradually Lacroix recovers his health, but not his peace of mind. He will not - cannot - talk about the war or face the memory of what took place on the retreat to Corunna. After the command comes to return to his regiment, he lights out instead for the Hebrides, unaware that he has far worse to fear than being dragged back to the army: a vicious English corporal and a Spanish officer with secret orders are on his trail. In luminous prose, Miller portrays a man shattered by what he has witnessed, on a journey that leads to unexpected friendships, even to love. But as the short northern summer reaches its zenith, the shadow of the enemy is creeping closer. Freedom, for John Lacroix, will come at a high price. Taut with suspense, this is an enthralling, deeply involving novel by one of Britain's most acclaimed writers. 'His writing suspends life until it is read and is a source of wonder and delight' Hilary Mantel on Casanova in the Sunday Times

The Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2019

Moray Lyle McIntosh

It’s 1809 and John Delacroix has returned severely wounded in the Peninsular campaign. As his body slowly heals it becomes clear that his mind and heart are still haunted by the war and his role in it and when he receives a summons to return to his commission he takes flight to the Hebrides, whose culture and songs had enchanted his father. On his trail is the deliciously despicable Calley and Medina, a thoughtful Spanish officer, sent to hunt the man accused of a war crime.

The contrast between Delacroix’s growing peace as he finds a place with the eccentric Fender family on a remote island and the relentless, ruthless hunt of Calley is masterfully played, juxtaposing Miller’s most graceful, limpid prose with the coarse language of his antagonist. The tension grows, both from the chase and from Delacroix’s developing relationship with Emily Fender, whose sight is failing. It’s not often that a writer can accomplish character and plot so well, without privileging either, but Miller manages it. My heart was racing as the two journeys converged and the final few pages of stunning description and singing tension were breath-taking
And behind it all is the spectre of war, of atrocity and of accountability. Miller considers the price of violence for both victims and perpetrators and what it truly means to be free; from pain, from responsibility, from our mistakes and personal histories.

I honestly though that this beautiful, thrilling novel would have been a contender for the Man Booker Prize this year. It shows Miller’s remarkable range from lyrical landscapes, to rude humour, to delicate character relationships. His characters are removed from us in time only, though the shape of society is different they share our thoughts and fears so closely that it diminishes the distance between us to nothing.

Gary Homewood

Historical fiction, chase thriller/romance, impressively realised with authentic detail, vivid and exciting. Believable characters not what they at first seem. Some nice understated themes and motifs. Interesting to me quotidian detail of meals and diet.

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free

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