Sarah Waters

Nov 6, 2024 | thebookerprizes.com | A.S. Byatt |Sarah Waters |Sally Rooney |Ian McEwan

As a genre, romance can get a bad rap. Often dismissed as fluff or – worse! – smut, it suffers from the hangover of bodice-rippers and swoon-worthy covers of yesteryear that promised bored housewives happily-ever-afters. But recently, romantic fiction and erotica have had a long-overdue makeover, and sales have skyrocketed. US print sales more than doubled between 2020 and 2023, while in the UK, they surged by 110%, marking their highest figure in a decade, according to Nielsen BookData.

Oct 2, 2024 | thebookerprizes.substack.com | Sarah Waters

As the nights grow longer and Halloween draws near, it’s the perfect time for a chilling read. That’s why, this month, our Monthly Spotlight title is The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2009, The Little Stranger is Waters’ fifth novel – a chilling ghost story set in postwar Britain. The novel builds on her earlier explorations in the Gothic genre, this time adding a full-blown supernatural twist.

Oct 1, 2024 | thebookerprizes.com | Sarah Waters

I first saw Hundreds Hall when I was ten years old. It was the summer after the war, and the Ayreses still had most of their money then, were still big people in the district. The event was an Empire Day fête: I stood with a line of other village children making a Boy Scout salute while Mrs Ayres and the Colonel went past us, handing out commemorative medals; afterwards we sat to tea with our parents at long tables on what I suppose was the south lawn.

Oct 1, 2024 | thebookerprizes.com | Sarah Waters

In postwar Warwickshire, a doctor is called to Hundreds Hall, a mansion in decline. As he becomes involved with the Ayres family, he discovers they may be haunted by something far more sinister than a dying way of lifeWhether you’re new to The Little Strangeror have read it and would like to explore it more deeply, here is our comprehensive guide, featuring insights from critics and the book’s author, as well as discussion points and suggestions for further reading.

Oct 1, 2024 | thebookerprizes.com | Sarah Waters

Skip to main content Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2009, The Little Stranger is Sarah Waters’ chilling and vividly rendered ghost story, set in postwar BritainBrimming with rich atmosphere and psychological complexity, The Little Stranger builds on Waters’ earlier explorations in the Gothic genre, adding a supernatural twist.