Why read The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock?

Book cover of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

Book description

A GUARDIAN, THE TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH AND EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION.

'A cracking historical novel' The Times
'Pure storytelling pleasure' Metro

One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Siobhan Talbott

Author

I have included a work of fiction in this list both because it is an extraordinary example of period fiction and because it highlights the potential richness of many of the stories we tell as historians. Several of the books I’ve highlighted in this list, as well as my own work, draw on the records of specific people – often merchants, but also consumers and manufacturers – to explore issues surrounding business history. Imogen Hermes Gowar’s Jonah Hancock exemplifies the risk and uncertainty navigated by early-modern merchants as well as the potential cost of their ambition and expertly navigates the…

From Siobhan's list on The best books on early-modern business history.