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Madensky Square

By Eva Ibbotson
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Brief Description
A whip-smart observation of the passions and tragedies behind daily life, Eva Ibbotson's Madensky Square is a classic snapshot of Viennese life before WWI. Susanna Weber's dress shop stands in the picturesque Madensky Square, a quiet little world of its own, nestled in the heart of... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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A rich and witty classic novel of love, community and home. From the award-winning and best-loved Eva Ibbotson.

A rich and witty classic novel of love, community and home from the award-winning and best-loved Eva Ibbotson. Reissued with a new cover

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A whip-smart observation of the passions and tragedies behind daily life, Eva Ibbotson's Madensky Square is a classic snapshot of Viennese life before WWI.

Susanna Weber's dress shop stands in the picturesque Madensky Square, a quiet little world of its own, nestled in the heart of glittering pre-war Vienna.

As the winter of 1910 unfurls into spring, Susanna starts a journal about life in the Square, about the buildings and their colourful inhabitants. There's Frau Schumacher, with six daughters and a baby on the way, Professor Starsky and his menagerie of sickly reptiles, an aging bookseller, a teenaged Anarchist, and little Sigi — an orphaned child prodigy forced to play the piano all day, every day.

And then there's her dear friend Alice, the only person who has noticed the heartbreak that hides beneath Susanna's brisk kindness and brilliant talent...

Discover more of Eva Ibbotson's sweeping historical romances in Magic Flutes, The Morning Gift, The Secret Countess, A Song for Summer, and A Company of Swans.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781035047147

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 October 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Laura Wood

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 194g

Pages: 272

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Eva Ibbotson Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction Historical Romance Literary Fiction Romance

About the Author

Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to England with her father when the Nazis came into power. Ibbotson wrote more than twenty books for children and young adults, many of which garnered nominations for major awards for children's literature in the UK, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Whitbread Prize. Eva's critically acclaimed Journey to the River Sea won the Smarties Gold Medal in 2001. Set in the Amazon, it was written in honour of her deceased husband Alan, a former naturalist. Imaginative and humorous, Eva's books often convey her love of nature, in particular the Austrian countryside, which is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. Eva passed away at her home in Newcastle on October 20th 2010. Her final book, One Dog and His Boy, was published in May 2011.

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  • Magic Flutes
    Sweeping across countries, class, and music, Eva Ibbotson's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes, is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity. In the spring of 1922, young Austrian Princess Theresa-Maria - known to her ancient aunts as 'Putzerl' - abandons her crumbling castle and her royal duties. Disguising herself simply as Tessa, she enrols as under wardrobe mistress of...
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  • A Company of Swans
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    A Company of Swans is a sweeping tale of romance, freedom and the beauty of dance, from bestselling award-winner Eva Ibbotson. 'Elegantly written, witty and well-observed' - Nigella Lawson, The Sunday Times In the grey, scholarly world of Cambridge in 1912, Harriet Morton has lived her whole life under the strict rule of her widowed father and miserly aunt. When...
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  • Journey to the River Sea
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    Winner of the Smarties Gold Medal. Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award. A joyous Amazon adventure set in the lush nature of Brazil, Eva Ibbotson's Journey to the River Sea is a modern classic loved by adults and children alike. Maia, an orphan, can't wait to reach her distant relatives a thousand miles up the Amazon. She...
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  • The Dragonfly Pool
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    'Blending history and tragedy with an irresistible wit and verve.' - The Times The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson is an exciting story of friendship and determination during the Second World War, from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan. Illustrated with a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey. Tally Hamilton is furious...
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  • The Morning Gift
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    'Sophisticated, brilliantly plotted and gloriously funny' - Guardian 'Written with such a lightness of touch and extraordinary charm that they always change my mood to hopeful. Absolute balm.' - Marian Keyes 'Her books are utterly delightful' - Daily Mail The Morning Gift by award-winner Eva Ibbotson is a modern classic of unexpected love, independence and belonging during World War II....
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