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Christobel Kent

June 2026

  • The Tuscan hills in Villa Coco.

    Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer review – fun in the Tuscan sun

    The Pulitzer-winning author of Less has crafted a breezy confection of fish-out-of-water wit, insecurity and self-discovery set in an Italian paradise

February 2026

  • a woman looks out to see

    Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett review – a seductive drama of art and rivalry

    Tensions simmer when a struggling artist joins her wealthy friends for a hen week on an exotic Greek island

January 2026

  • Patrick Charnley.

    Book of the day
    This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley review – an astonishing debut of recovery

    Drawing on his own near-death experience, the author finds a powerful intensity in this tale of a young man’s convalescence in a Cornish village

August 2025

  • The Sacra di San Michele, near Turin.

    Book of the day
    Watching Over Her by Jean-Baptiste Andrea review – a love song to Italy

    A sculptor and his unlikely soulmate navigate the political turmoil of the 20th century in a prize-winning blockbuster

July 2025

  • Rebecca Wait

    Book of the day
    Havoc by Rebecca Wait review – a Saint Trinian’s tragicomedy

    A mysterious illness sweeps through an isolated girls’ boarding school, in a work brimming with horror, humour and hysteria

March 2025

  • Ben Okri.

    Madame Sosostris & the Festival for the Broken-Hearted by Ben Okri review – a slender fable

    The magical healing power of a masked costume ball hangs in the balance in this whimsical tale of transformation

January 2025

  • Still lifes in The Artist.

    Book of the day
    The Artist by Lucy Steeds review – mystery and romance in Provence

    An aspiring English journalist enters the life of a fabled painter in this seductive debut of art, love and family secrets

July 2024

  • Marina Kemp.

    Book of the day
    The Unwilding by Marina Kemp review – dark family secrets

    A young female writer is drawn into the family of a revered novelist and patriarch, in this powerfully compelling dissection of the creative process

April 2024

  • A storm brews in The Sleepwalkers

    Book of the day
    The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas review – fiendishly gripping

    Dark sexual secrets and lies drive an ingenious and wickedly funny tale of meltdown on a Greek honeymoon

June 2023

  • Tuscany dawn

    The Three Graces by Amanda Craig review – a fearless comedy of errors

    The tale of three British expat women in Tuscany takes an unsparing look at the indignities and injustices of old age

April 2023

  • Brownstone townhouses on the corner of Pineapple Street, Brooklyn Heights.

    Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson review – smart debut about wealthy New Yorkers

    Minutely observed and packed with one-liners, this tale of the 1% insists on giving the super-rich a chance

October 2022

  • A remote thatched cottage in County Mayo, Ireland

    Book of the day
    Where I End by Sophie White review – intense mother-daughter horror

    A grim secret lies at the heart of this brilliantly visceral novel set in a hostile and isolated community

April 2021

  • An isolated stone cottage among fields in North Yorkshire

    Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller – fierce, angry energy

    Middle-aged twins who lived in rural isolation until their mother’s death rail against ‘civilisation’ in Fuller’s skilful tale

March 2021

  • Godrevy Lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall.

    The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex review – a superb debut

    Three lighthouse keepers disappear in a whodunnit, horror novel, ghost story and fantastically gripping psychological investigation rolled into one

January 2021

  • Ashley Audrain - photo credit Alex Moskalyk 3

    The Push by Ashley Audrain review – the dark side of motherhood

    This blockbusting debut turbo-charges the fears and insecurities of almost every mother

August 2020

  • Florence’s historical centre, with a view of the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore (right) and its town hall, the Palazzo Vecchio (left).

    Top 10s
    Top 10 books about Florence

  • San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy. View along winding farm track to the distant medieval hilltop town.<br>E9R1C0 San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy. View along winding farm track to the distant medieval hilltop town.

    I Give It to You by Valerie Martin review – an Italian summer

October 2019

  • 'Doctor Zhivago' film

    The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott review – an impressive debut

    The fascinating tale of how the CIA plotted to smuggle Doctor Zhivago back into Russia drives an enjoyable debut

May 2019

  • Refugees and migrants arrive at the port of Elefsina, west of Athens<br>epa05224203 Refugees and migrants disembark from Eleftherios Venizelos ferry after their arrival from the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, to the port of Elefsina, west of Athens, Greece 21 March 2016. The ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ ferry with 1,433 refugees and migrants aboard arrived at Elefsina port on 21 March 2016. According to Greek Coast Guard, a total of 1,344 refugees and migrants have been rescued since 18 March 2016 in 26 different incidents in the sea region of Lesvos, Chios and Samos. EPA/YANNIS KOLESIDIS

    Lost Property by Laura Beatty review – a European odyssey

    A novelist escapes Brexit Britain for a luminous, time-travelling journey through the culture and history of Europe

January 2019

  • Diana Athill in 1979.

    double quotation markA miracle in action: Diana Athill's editorial genius

    Christobel Kent
    Joining André Deutsch in the late 80s, I saw a great editor at the top of her game, tirelessly working to bring good writing to perfection
About 40 results for Christobel Kent
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