11th July 2025
Our expert
Caroline Sanderson
Caroline worked as a Waterstones bookseller, and as a book publicist before becoming a freelance writer in 1997. The Bookseller’s non-fiction previewer since 2000, she has judged numerous book prizes, including chairing the panel for the 2022 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. Programme Director of Stroud Book Festival, Caroline is also a Royal Literary Fund Writing For Life Fellow, supporting writing skills within the NHS.
New Titles: Non-fiction October
Previews
Books to get you through the long autumn evenings
With titles about the legacy of the slave trade and arguments for reparations, books full of puzzles and a new title from the youngest-ever Nobel laureate, October is full of books to make you think
I 12
n Merlin Holland’s fascinat- ing book After Oscar (Europa), about the posthumous reputation of his grandfather
Oscar Wilde, Holland recalls the time a friend excitedly intro- duced him to Harold Pinter at a party. “‘Harold, this is Merlin Holland; he’s Oscar Wilde’s grandson.’ ‘So what?’ said Pinter.” This story made me laugh because it is a salutary reminder not to get too dazzled by celebrity. As I reflected in last month’s preview, the celebrity names attached to books are merely the headlines; what is inside being far more important, perhaps even when it is Sylvester Stallone, The Steps (Seven Dials). When it comes to authors with a bankable track record,
we are blessed once again this month, with new books by Michael Morpurgo, Marie Kondo, Zadie Smith, Rory Stewart, Hollie McNish, Donna Ashworth and, of course, the mighty Charlie Mackesy. And with the gift market in mind, it is exciting to be welcoming back two past masters of that genre. Mark Forsyth (he of The Etymologicon et al fame) returns with Rhyme & Reason (Allen & Unwin), while Ben Schott (creator of Schott’s Original Miscellany) offers up Schott’s Significa (Michael Joseph). After a year of hard reading, I am a sucker for a smart dip-in gift book come Christmas Day. Ditto books with lots of interest-
ing pictures. In this vein, I am very excited about Adventurous Vents: A Journey Through the
Books New Titles: Non-Fiction
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
