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Miss Benson's Beetle

A Novel
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
Set in 1950, Miss Benson's Beetle follows Margery Benson, a determined spinster who abandons her modest life in London to embark on an expedition in search of a mythical golden beetle in New Caledonia. Unexpectedly joined by the vivacious Enid Pretty, the pair confront challenges and societal expectations, discovering the transformative power of friendship amidst their extraordinary adventure.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4900

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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?

Ideal for readers who appreciate historical fiction rich in character development and tales of female friendship and empowerment. Suitable for those seeking uplifting, adventurous narratives with heart.

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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
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – “A beautifully written, extraordinary quest in which two ordinary, overlooked women embark on an unlikely scientific expedition to the South Seas.” —Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE – From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an uplifting, irresistible novel about two women on a life-changing adventure, where they must risk everything, break all the rules, and discover their best selves—together. She’s going too far to go it alone. It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist—the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship. Praise for Miss Benson’s Beetle “A hilarious jaunt into the wilderness of women’s friendship and the triumph of outrageous dreams.” —Kirkus Reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780812996708

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 November 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Dial Press Inc.,U.S.

Illustration: 1 MAP; 1 PHOTO

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 203.0mm

Weight: 261g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Rachel Joyce is the author of The Music Shop, the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, as well as the digital short story A Faraway Smell of Lemon and a story collection, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Her books have been translated into thirty-six languages and two are in development for film. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Joyce was named the Specsavers National Book Awards "New Writer of the Year" in December 2012 and shortlisted for the "UK Author of the Year" 2014. Joyce has also written more than thirty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4, including all the Brontë novels. She moved to writing after a long career as an actor, performing leading roles for the RSC, the National Theatre, and Cheek by Jowl. She lives with her family in Gloucestershire.

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