The Temple of the Muses

Description:

Available for pre-order…

📚 A richly imagined literary historical novel set in Georgian London, based on a true story.

A vision realised from one woman’s belief that knowledge belongs to everyone.

Volume 2 of The Chiswell Street Chronicles: the story continues…

London, 1780. As the city smoulders in the aftermath of the Gordon Riots, booksellers James and Dorcas Lackington resolve to fight despair not with charity, but with books. Convinced that reading is the surest path out of poverty, they launch a daring experiment to price books so low, even apprentices and servant girls might afford them.

Their prospects are uncertain, and Dorcas knows that life with James and his unshakable optimism will be anything but smooth. But Dorcas is no mere helpmeet. She is his compass, his conscience, and often the sharper mind.

In a modest corner of Moorfields, Lackington’s bookshop sparks a quiet revolution. Customers step through its door and discover philosophy and politics, and read about liberty, reason and love. But not everyone welcomes this awakening. The Junto, a powerful circle of men who believe books breed dangerous ideas in the minds of the poor, move to crush the Lackingtons’ venture.

As intimidation and threats mount, Dorcas understands survival won’t come from retreat, but from growing too large to be silenced. And so she imagines a cathedral to literature, not for kings or scholars, but for every woman and man who has ever been told knowledge is not theirs to claim – The Temple of the Muses.

‘Dorcas blazed a trail, not with torches but with words.’ ~ JJ Marsh, author of Salt of the Earth

‘A moving and sympathetic portrayal of quiet heroism. Dorcas triumphs on her own terms.’  ~ Lorna Fergusson, Author 

‘Having loved The Bookseller’s Wife, I was not disappointed. Jane has introduced more rich characters, more intrigue, and upped the emotional involvement for the reader to another level.’ ~ Will Poole

📚 Perfect for readers who enjoy books by Maggie O’Farrell, Tracy Chevalier, Hilary Mantel, Sarah Waters, or who love:

• Women’s historical fiction set in the 18th century
• Historical fiction set in London
• Literary historical fiction with strong female protagonists
• Book club fiction that sparks discussion
• Novels about the hidden women of history
• Feminist historical fiction
• Stories set in bookshops and literary worlds
• Novels about books, reading, and the lives they change.

🔍 Also ideal if you’re searching for:

• Character-driven historical novels
• Emotionally rich, immersive storytelling
• Historical fiction with themes of identity and resilience
• Stories about forgotten voices and untold histories
• British historical fiction with strong sense of place
• Thought-provoking fiction for reflective readers
• Historical novels with powerful female leads
• Literary fiction that blends history with emotional depth

‘One woman’s quiet revolution in a time of flux and ferment.’ ~ Lorna Fergusson, author of The Chase

‘Most historians agree that James Lackington invented the bookshop as we know it today. But few will talk about the woman who worked tirelessly at his side.’ ~ Davida Chazan

‘Close to perfection, I loved every sentence.’ ~ Dawn Gill

‘I laughed with them, and cried with them, but most importantly, I loved this story.’ ~ Bronwyn Kotze

‘A historical novel with a timely, modern message.’ ~ Diane Reid Stevens

‘I love a novel set in Georgian London with a strong, complex female lead.’ ~ Sophie Artemis

‘Some great twists and a rich portrayal of the trials of life in 18 Century England.’ ~ Agnes Holland

‘Each page bursts with detailed descriptions.’ ~ Patricia Collins

Add The Temple of the Muses to your collection today. 

Read my guest blog, Why Candlelight Made 18th Century Reading a Shared Experience.