It is 1792 and Europe is seized by political turmoil and violence. Lizzie Fawkes has grown up following every step of the French Revolution with interest, but she has recently married a man who has everything to lose from social upheaval and the prospect of war. As her husband believes that her independent, questioning spirit must be coerced and subdued, Lizzie soon finds herself dangerously alone.

What the book club thought: Sadly, Helen Dunmore’s final novel, but possibly her finest! Although not much seemed to happen in this story, the well-developed characters were an absolute joy to read about and gave the novel a special spark.