Published on 2 April 2020 in hardback at £16.99
‘This is a strange and strangely touching novel – written with
great elegance and authority’ – Sara Maitland
‘Cleverly merges crime with Catholicism and piety with a
dangerous love. The novel is wonderfully original and
absorbing, from the halls of the Vatican to its explosive
conclusion’ – Mary Flanagan
What happens when everything you know is thrown into doubt…and you’re the Pope?
Highly acclaimed novelist Maggie Hamand returns with a beautifully written, emotionally
engaging and compulsive literary thriller which explores questions of gender, sexuality, morality and faith.
The recently elected Irish Pope Patrick has plans for his future Church. A gentle humanitarian, he is unaware of the subversive forces in the Vatican plotting against him. Then he is attacked by a woman in St Peter’s Square and the Cardinals turn against him. Shocking revelations threaten his traditional status and his faith. In this novel where nothing is at it seems, Catholicism and modern morality are held in tension. Pope Patrick must face challenges and make choices he could never have imagined.
Maggie Hamand is a London-based novelist, journalist, and non-fiction author. She was the winner of the first World One-Day Novel cup and her novel, The Resurrection of the Body, has been optioned for film and television. Maggie followed a degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Theology with a PhD in Creative Writing, and lectures at the University of Hull. Maggie has also taught at Morley College, Holloway Prison, and
London University of the Arts. She pioneered creative writing teaching in London through The Complete Creative Writing Course at The Groucho Club, and is the author of the best-selling Creative Writing for Dummies and Creative Writing Exercises for Dummies. As a publisher, Maggie founded and ran the acclaimed independent The Maia Press. Maggie’s home is in Hackney, while Normandy provides a writing retreat. For more information visit: http://www.maggiehamand.com.
Maggie Hamand is available for interview
Praise for Virgin & Child
‘This is a strange and strangely touching novel – written with great elegance and authority. Ittackles “head on” some of the most challenging issues for the Roman Catholic Church around gender and sexuality and at the same time has some of the loveliest, most persuasive, writing about personal prayer that I have ever encountered in fiction’
SARA MAITLAND
‘Virgin & Child cleverly merges crime with Catholicism and piety with a dangerous love. The novel is wonderfully original and absorbing, from the halls of the Vatican to its explosive conclusion’
MARY FLANAGAN
Praise for The Resurrection of the Body
‘A compelling, impressive tale’
THE TIMES
‘A rattling good read’
RICHARD CHARTRES, BISHOP OF LONDON
‘An assured tone and decidely bold denouement – a talent to watch’ FINANCIAL TIMES
‘Ingenious and provocative exploration of faith, fact and fantasy’
HAM & HIGH
`The story has mystery-thriller suspense as well as several
intriguing depths . . . terrifically impressive’
INDEPENDENT
Helen Richardson PR 