Get your event tickets
Backstory is all about going beyond the book, getting the story behind the story. We’d love to give you a warm Backstory welcome at one of our in-person events soon (I promise you: our wine is worth the northern line).
Eleanor Steafel - The Art of Friday Night Dinner
THIS WEDNESDAY, 14th June, 7.30pm, Backstory
A social cook through and through, Telegraph writer Eleanor Steafel has perfected the art of celebrating the best night of the week. Join us for a fun evening of recipes and cocktails at Backstory.
Michael Reid - Spain: The Trials and Triumphs of a Modern European Country
Wednesday 21st June, 7.30pm, Backstory
There are few better guides to Spain than Michael Reid, a former columnist and senior editor who covered the country for decades for The Economist. As we contemplate heading back to Spain for summer holidays, he will talk us through its recent history from the death of Franco to the Catalan referendum.
Alice Vincent - Why Women Grow
Wednesday 28th June, 7.30pm, Backstory
Women have always turned to the earth, as gardeners, growers and custodians. Alice Vincent, a journalist, author, Substacker and publishing staffer, is on a quest to understand why.
Kenan Malik in conversation with Stephen Bush - Not So Black and White
Wednesday 5th July, 7.30pm, Backstory
Writer and lecturer Kenan Malik talks to Stephen Bush, FT columnist and ex-New Statesman newsletter writer, about today's heated debates on race, culture, whiteness and privilege.
Join the club(s)
Join our engaged reading community, wherever you are in the world.
Fiction book club (£15 a month or £22.50 for one-off; includes the book)
A book club with a twist - the author joins in, too. Members get the book four weeks in advance, then come together on Zoom. Like any other book club, we discuss what you made of the book with other members. Unlike other book clubs, the author then joins us for the final 40 mins: an interview by Backstory then your chance to ask them your questions directly.
Caleb Azumah Nelson, Open Water 18th July, 8pm, Zoom
Rachel Yoder, Nightbitch 15th August, 8pm, Zoom
Julia Armfield, Our Wives Under the Sea 12th September, 8pm, Zoom
Non-fiction book club (£15 a month or £22.50 for one-off; includes the book)
Same set-up as the fiction one above. Chaired by me, since non-fiction is my first love! We’ve had some amazingly high-calibre authors so far like Patrick Radden Keefe and Sathnam Sanghera. These sessions are so intimate; they feel like invitations to the author’s study. Do join us and give it a go.
Katherine Rundell, Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne 27th June, 8pm, Zoom
Edward Chisholm, A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City 25th July, 8pm, Zoom
Tim Marshall, The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World 31st August, 8pm, Zoom
This week’s bestseller
The fact that In Memoriam by Alice Winn is our book of the month may have something to do with it being this week’s bestseller, but largely it’s because we’re all banging on about it so much. It leaves such an impression. It makes Amy choked up whenever she talks about it (which she does, a lot). It’s our new favourite novel about war, about love, about public school, about coming of age. See what you make of it.
I'M WRITING THIS E-POSTCARD to you from Porto, so please forgive any Port-induced typos. This intro was meant to say something like ‘I'm on holiday, as will you be shortly, so here's our pick of summer reads’, but given the weather back home, it doesn't really matter whether you'll be away or not. So here is our selection, perfect for the beach… or just the common.
I asked all six of the Backstory team to pick out their absolute favourite reads for the summer, no matter whether they were published this year or two decades ago. I think it’s a pretty great list, so feel free to stock up and fill your suitcase…
Pop into the shop to browse them all (pair them with our new peachy gin cocktail, perhaps?), or click on the link to order any of them anywhere in the UK with free delivery.
Happy reading,
Tom x
Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews - new in paperback
Andrews is great on what it means to be young and living life precariously. Her descriptions of Barcelona are so good, you can taste them. Tom
A new country, a missing husband, and an old school friend mysteriously appearing out of nowhere. 1950s Morocco is the setting for this psychological thriller. Denise
A cutting retelling that spends as much time with grapes and wine under the Cretian sun as it does doing justice to Ariadne, a woman so wronged by the famous Theseus - he’s the worst. Rory
Never go to the beach without Deborah Levy. A daughter navigates relationships with her difficult mother and a smouldering lifeguard (of course!) under the Spanish sun. Tom
Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - new in paperback
For thriller buffs like me, a holiday isn't a holiday without a Robert Harris. His latest relates the tantalising chase for the men who signed Charles I's death warrant. Tom
Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova
Thrilling and chilling, this novel is for film lovers everywhere. A girl starts a new job at an indie cinema, and it becomes her entire life. Rory
A pacy 'Generation X' cult classic of a thriller set on a secret island in Thailand. Scary and brilliant. Denise
Rich in lyrical writing and intriguing characters, this short story collection is atmospheric, engaging, and powerful. Groff is a genius at blending stunning prose with meaningful stories. Darby
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
A larger than life comedy set in the Brooklyn projects of the late 1960s. Features a cast of fantastically named characters including Hot Sausage and Soup. Megan
The Forgiven by Lawrence Osborne
A hedonistic expats' weekend in Morocco goes awry when a guest runs over a young boy. A novel bursting with sin and sun. Tom
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Mandel weaves a story together like no other. In this beautiful mystery, featuring both an Edwardian exile and a space port, the eerie sound of a violin is seeping through time. Rory
Nina’s letters to her sister are laugh-out-loud funny as she navigates eccentric people, life in London, and how to use a washing machine. Amy
In this Greek myth retelling, Miller explores the life of Circe, who is often portrayed as an evil witch. Although this Circe does indeed turn men into pigs, she is also a dynamic character. A rich, atmospheric and cosy read. Darby
I read Ariadne on two Greek beaches last year and can confirm it’s a fab read for holiday! Especially in Greece.