The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

Set in England between 1895 and 1919, The Children’s Book is a sprawling story centered on the family and acquaintances of Olive Wellwood, a successful writer of fairy tales for children. Olive lives in what first appears to be a bohemian paradise with her husband, sister, and children. But the decadent, free-spirited façade of the Wellwood household conceals dark secrets about the family, which are unveiled over the decades as her children grow older and struggle to move into adulthood unscathed. Throughout, we see the damaging effects of art on its subjects, and on those who are unable to negotiate the differences between fantasy and life. With its enormous cast of characters and microscopic attention to detail, The Children’s Book gathers weight and importance as history takes its toll on the living.

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Recommended by Sara D.