Miss Benson's Beetle

Name: Miss Benson's Beetle
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9780552779487
Price: 26.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

An uplifting story of female friendship against the odds

By Rachel Joyce

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4.08

( 60,168 ratings, 8,602 reviews)

Summary

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is a poignant tale set in post-war Britain, following Miss Margery Benson, a disgruntled schoolteacher who embarks on an adventurous expedition to the other side of the world. Accompanied by the unpredictable Enid Pretty, they search for a mythical golden beetle in the New Caledonian jungle. Along their journey, they encounter unexpected challenges, forge a unique friendship, and discover the transformative power of stepping outside one's comfort zone.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$26⁰⁰

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Miss Benson's Beetle

$26⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love stories about unexpected friendships and adventurous journeys. Set in the 1950s, it follows two women on an exotic expedition that tests their limits and reveals hidden strengths. Filled with humour and heart, this novel explores themes of self-discovery and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Miss Benson's Beetle

Regular print version previously published by: Dial Press.

Description

The bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry delivers an intoxicating adventure story about female friendship and having the courage to live your dreams, however unlikely they may be.

WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE | BEST PUBLISHED NOVEL
WOMAN & HOME BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR and A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'The perfect escape novel for our troubled times.' — PATRICK GALE

It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist.

Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves.

This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries.

'A girl's own adventure...This is Rachel Joyce's best book yet...Exciting, moving and full of unexpected turns.' — THE TIMES

'Brilliant and elegant and wise...powerful and moving...I can't recommend it enough.' — JOANNA CANNON

'A beautiful portrayal of female friendship in all its frailties, contradictions and strengths.' — RAYNOR WINN

WOMAN & HOME BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; DAILY MAIL BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; BOOKMARK BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020; GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020

Rachel Joyce's latest novel, The Homemade God is published in April 2025.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is heralded as an extraordinary adventure novel about unlikely friendships and second chances. Critics praise it for being exciting, moving, and full of unexpected twists, highlighting its rich characterisation reminiscent of Dickens. The story, set in the 1950s, is lauded for its humour and heartfelt exploration of women's lives and the enduring effects of war, described as life-affirming and joyously escapist.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780552779487

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Black Swan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 286g

Pages: 416

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Rachel Joyce

About the Author

Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North, The Music Shop, Miss Benson's Beetle, and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Rachel's books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The critically acclaimed film of the novel, for which Rachel also wrote the screenplay, was released in 2023. Miss Benson's Beetle won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize in 2021. Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards New Writer of the Year in December 2012 and was shortlisted for the UK Author of the Year in 2014. In 2024 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kingston University. Rachel has written over twenty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4. She lives with her family near Stroud.

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