Matthew Kneale

Former cinematographer Julius Sewell journeys across Europe with his family to his sister's wedding in Rome. But this will be an unusual road trip. Meer

On the first morning of Rome's Covid-19 lockdown Matthew Kneale felt an urge to connect with friends and acquaintances and began writing an email, describing where he was, what was happening and what it felt like, and sent it to everyone he could think of. Meer

WINNER OF THE WHITBREAD BOOK AWARD 2000

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2000

'Deeply impressive. . . Every page fizzes with linguistic invention' Guardian

An electrifying modern classic - Kneale's sweeping adventure story vividly brings a past age to life

In 1857 when Captain Illiam Quillian Kewley and his band of rum smugglers from the Isle of Man have most of their contraband confiscated by British Customs, they are forced to put their ship up for charter. Meer

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Waterstone's Book of the Month, 2018
Nominated for the 2017 Pen Hessell-Tiltman

Mail on Sunday's the Best Paperback, 2018

A sweeping history of the city of Rome, seen through the eyes of its most significant sackings, from the Gauls to the Nazis and everything in between. Meer