The Ministry of Time

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley transports readers to a future where the boundaries of time are fluid, and history is anything but static. This riveting novel delves into the life of a disillusioned civil servant who stumbles upon a lucrative yet mysterious job within a new government ministry that is tasked with gathering 'expats' from across history to explore the limits of time travel.

In this enticing narrative, our protagonist's new role involves acting as a 'bridge' for Commander Graham Gore, a historical figure plucked from the infamous and ill-fated Arctic expedition led by Sir John Franklin in 1845. Resurrected into a bewildering future filled with modern marvels such as washing machines, streaming music services, and the revelatory concept of a post-Empire Britain, Gore must navigate these bewildering advancements while grappling with his own temporally displaced existence.

It isn't long before Commander Gore, armed with an unyielding spirit of exploration and an insatiable smoking habit, begins to acclimate to his new surroundings. Throughout a languid, heat-drenched summer, the initially awkward dynamic between Gore and his bridge transforms into an earnest friendship, and eventually, something deeper.

However, as the true nature and objectives of the enigmatic ministry become increasingly visible, both Gore and his bridge are compelled to re-evaluate their past decisions and contemplate their aspirations for the future. The novel poses profound questions: Can love transcend the constraints of entrenched societal structures and personal histories? Moreover, when history is quite literally residing in your home, how does one subvert the formidable narrative of the past?

A 2024 literary highlight in the Sunday Times, BBC, Grazia, Dazed, Sunday Express, GQ, i-D, Stylist, Bookseller, and Literary Friction

'Outrageously brilliant' ELEANOR CATTON

'Make room on your bookshelves for a new classic' MAX PORTER

'Thought-provoking and horribly clever' ALICE WINN

'Funny, moving, original, intelligent, beautifully written' NATHAN FILER

'Electric, charming, whimsical and strange' EMILY HENRY

'Within the first couple of pages I was gripped' KATE MOSSE

A BOY MEETS A GIRL. THE PAST MEETS THE FUTURE. A FINGER MEETS A TRIGGER. THE BEGINNING MEETS THE END. ENGLAND IS FOREVER. ENGLAND MUST FALL.

The Ministry of Time promises a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is poignant, challenging readers to confront the limitations of time, the power of human connection, and the ever-persistent question of whether we can alter the course of our own fate. Marked by brilliant prose and richly developed characters, Bradley's novel is a masterstroke in speculative fiction, ensuring its place as a modern classic.