Collection: Paula Byrne

Paula Byrne is the author of eight acclaimed works of non-fiction, most recently Hardy Women: Mother, Sisters, Wives, Muses. Earlier books include The Adventures of Miss Barbara PymThe Genius of Jane Austen, and Kick: The True Story of Kick Kennedy. Paula wrote a tie-in book to the award-winning movie Belle. In 2013, to coincide with the bi-centenary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice, Paula wrote an innovative biography The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things. Other books include Mad World (about Evelyn Waugh and the writing of Brideshead Revisited) and Perdita: A Life of Mary Robinson which was longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Award. She is the author of two novels, Look to Your Wife and Blonde Venus and was the historical consultant for PBS series Sanditon. She is founder of ReLit, a charity devoted to the mental health benefits of reading. She is married to Sir Jonathan Bate.

  • Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    Rebecca McDonnell

    For August 2026’s Fellowship selection, we wanted a story that showcases everything we love about the genre at its most ambitious: sweeping political intrigue, unforgettable characters, rich world-building, and the...

    Rebecca McDonnell

    Fellowship: August 2026 Revealed

    For August 2026’s Fellowship selection, we wanted a story that showcases everything we love about the genre at its most ambitious: sweeping political intrigue, unforgettable characters, rich world-building, and the...

  • The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    David H Headley

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment
    David H Headley

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment
  • Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    David H Headley

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment
    David H Headley

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment
  • Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    David H Headley

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

    David H Headley

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

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