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Beyond Black

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( 9,963 ratings, 1,252 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel is a darkly comic novel that explores the life of Alison Hart, a spirit medium who confronts not only the ghosts that seek her help but also her own troubled past. Set in a modern, sometimes bleak suburban landscape, the story delves into themes of identity and the unseen connections between the living and the dead. This haunting tale blends supernatural elements with a keen observation of human behaviours and relationships.
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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're fascinated by stories that delve into the supernatural and explore the complexities of human emotion and relationships. The novel offers a darkly humorous yet poignant look at the life of a medium as she navigates the eerie and unsettling aspects of her work intertwined with moments of personal reflection. If you appreciate richly detailed narrative and a touch of the macabre, this might be the perfect choice for your next read.

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Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience – classics which will endure for generations to come.

A novel of suspense and secrets by the author of the Booker Prize-winning and bestselling Wolf Hall trilogy

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

Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience—classics which will endure for generations to come.

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel follows Alison Hart, a medium by trade, as she tours the dormitory towns of London’s orbital ring road with her flint-hearted sidekick, Colette, passing on messages from beloved dead ancestors. However, behind her plump, smiling persona hides a desperate woman: she knows the terrors the next life holds but must conceal them from her wide-eyed clients. Simultaneously, she is plagued by spirits from her own past, who infiltrate her body and home, becoming stronger and nastier the more she resists.

Shortlisted for the Orange Prize, Hilary Mantel’s supremely suspenseful novel is a masterpiece of dark humour and even darker secrets.

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?

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel is praised as a masterful ghost story filled with sharp wit and dark humour. Critics highlight its original plot, atmospheric storytelling, and penetrating observations of English life, often describing it as both chilling and funny. The novel is noted for its profound exploration of themes such as trauma, creating an enthralling and thought-provoking read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008609979

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 April 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd

Edition: Collins Modern Classics edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 310g

Pages: 464

About the Author

Hilary Mantel is the author of fourteen books, including A Place Of Greater Safety, Beyond Black, the memoir Giving Up The Ghost, and the short-story collection The Assassination Of Margaret Thatcher. Her two most recent novels, Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up The Bodies, have both been awarded the Man Booker Prize - an unprecedented achievement.

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