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The Dig

Now a BAFTA-nominated motion picture starring Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan and Lily James
By John Preston
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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
The Dig by John Preston is a historical fiction novel that delves into the extraordinary events surrounding the 1939 Sutton Hoo excavation. It follows Edith Pretty, a landowner, and Basil Brown, an archaeologist, as they uncover a significant Anglo-Saxon burial ship in Suffolk. The novel explores themes of discovery, war, and human connection, set against the backdrop of a pivotal archaeological find.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy stories that weave historical events with personal narratives. Set against the backdrop of a transformative archaeological discovery in 1939 Suffolk, it explores human relationships, ambitions, and the lingering impact of history on individual lives. With its richly developed characters and atmospheric setting, it offers a compelling glimpse into a pivotal moment before the onset of World War II.

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Originally published: United Kingdom: Viking, 2007.

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 brilliantly realised account of the most famous archaeological dig in British history, now a major motion picture starring Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan, and Lily James.

In the long, hot summer of 1939, Britain is preparing for war. But on a riverside farm in Suffolk, there is excitement of another kind. Mrs Pretty, the widowed farmer, has had her hunch proved correct that the strange mounds on her land hold buried treasure. As the dig proceeds against a background of mounting national anxiety, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary find...

John Preston's recreation of the Sutton Hoo dig—the greatest Anglo-Saxon discovery ever in Britain—brilliantly and comically dramatizes three months of intense activity when locals fought outsiders, professionals thwarted amateurs, and love and rivalry flourished in equal measure.

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?

John Preston's The Dig has received praise for its originality, engrossing storytelling, and delicate evocation of a bygone era. Critics highlight its tender and intriguing narrative, infused with dry humour and a rich, human drama. The novel is lauded for its beautifully crafted prose, with some reviewers noting its ability to linger in the reader's heart and mind.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241989630

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 January 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Edition: Media tie-in

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 175g

Pages: 240

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction John Preston Penguin Books

About the Author

John Preston is a former Arts Editor of the Evening Standard and the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years he was the Sunday Telegraph's television critic and one of its chief feature writers. His novel, The Dig, based on the 1939 archaeological excavation at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, has been filmed starring Ralph Fiennes, Carey Mulligan and Lily James. His first nonfiction book, A Very English Scandal, was published to great acclaim in 2016 and turned into BAFTA-winning BBC drama series. His latest book Fall- The Mystery of Robert Maxwell was published to great acclaim in February 2021. It has been shortlisted for both the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Costa Biography Prize and is being adapted for television by Working Title productions.

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