Manilla Press, the literary imprint of Bonnier Books UK, is thrilled to announce The Household, the much-anticipated new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars, The Foundling, and Mrs England, Stacey Halls.
The title, along with a further two novels, were acquired by Sophie Orme, publishing director at Manilla Press, from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment.
The Household will be Halls’ first new novel in three years. Set against Charles Dickens’ home for fallen women and inspired by real figures from history, it is Halls’ most ambitious and captivating novel yet.
Stacey Halls said: “Nothing excites me more than discovering women’s stories that have been consigned to a dusty drawer of history, and when I came across Urania Cottage, the ‘house of fallen women’, I knew I had to write about it. What interested me was not the Charles Dickens connection but this attempt at an early refuge, a safe house for women who had been badly let down by society and wanted a second chance, and the microclimate that would create in an otherwise ordinary house in then-rural Shepherd’s Bush. On the surface, these young women were the opposite of what Victorian society expected them to be, and yet you had the eminent figures of Dickens and Angela Burdett Coutts supporting and funding “the experiment”, as they called it, in secret. When I found out about the house, my first question was why would they do it? And my second was did it go to plan? I’m thrilled to continue my publishing career with Bonnier Books UK, who have been so fresh, keen and passionate throughout. I can’t wait to bring The Household to life with them.”
Sophie Orme, publishing director, said: “Publishing Stacey Halls has been a highlight of my career. Her books perfectly marry irresistible storytelling, captivating characters and incredible descriptive writing as well as giving voice to women from history who lived on the very margins of society. I’m so excited to bring her many fans The Household next spring. It will be Stacey’s first new novel in three years, and is her very best to date. I’m also delighted to have signed up another two books from Stacey following The Household. Our partnership with Stacey and Juliet is a very special one and we can’t wait to see what incredible stories she comes up with next.”
Juliet Mushens added: “Stacey’s writing goes from strength to strength and The Household feels like her best book yet – I inhaled it in one sitting and was transported to the sights and sounds of this household of women and the gripping intricacies of their lives. We love working with Bonnier and I am thrilled to be building Stacey’s career even further with them.”
Stacey Halls has been a Sunday Times bestseller six times over her three novels and has sold over 900,000 copies of the UK editions alone since her debut The Familiars. The Familiars was the biggest debut novel of the year, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards’ Debut Book of the Year and won the Betty Trask Award. The Familiars is currently in development for TV.
Last year Halls was awarded the Women’s Prize x Good Housekeeping Futures Award for her third novel Mrs England, which confirmed her as one of the most exciting writers of her generation. Mrs England was further selected as a Waterstones Best Book of the Year and longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize and the Portico Prize.
The Household will be published Spring 2024 in hardback, eBook and audio.
