Act of Oblivion: The Sunday Times Bestseller

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Act of Oblivion is a fine novel about a divided nation, about invisible wounds that heal slower than visible ones . . . it feels like an important book for our particular historical moment, one that shows the power of forgiveness and the intolerable burden of long-held grudges Observer He took a while to reply. By the time he spoke the men had gone inside. He said quietly, “They killed the King.”

Act of Oblivion: The Thrilling new novel from the no. 1 Act of Oblivion: The Thrilling new novel from the no. 1

It is easy to forget that Act of Oblivion is a fictional work based on actual events, which is a testament to Robert Harris’ writing. The book provides not only significant amounts of European history, but also thrilling suspense over Nayler’s pursuit of his final two targets . . . . Learning European history was never this much fun in school!" — Bookreporter Harris is a master of historical fiction, a compelling author who brings to life the recent and ancient past Justin Warshaw, TLS He took a while to reply. By the time he spoke the men had gone inside. He said quietly, 'They killed the King.' Robert Harris is] writing fiction, but he treats the few available facts and the more plausible theories with respect, and skillfully extrapolates from them. . . . Harris underpins [ Act of Oblivion] with substantial research and writes inunobtrusively effective prose. . . . This is Harrisat his best, which is very good indeed." — The Guardian Harris spins an exciting tale which I hopewill leave you hungry for more." — Inside History Magazine

Pacy and tense, and the pungently evoked past offers up some shrewd present-day parallels Mail on Sunday In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is charged with bringing the traitors to justice and he will stop at nothing to find them. A substantial bounty hangs over their heads for their capture—dead or alive. . . . Robert Harris is, simply put, masterful.”— Karin Slaughter, New York Timesand international bestselling author He has taken a truly extraordinary factual tale and turned it into a fun fictional version, with pace throughout, and a crowd-pleasing finale The Oldie A riotously enjoyableand thoroughly modern manhunt. . . . Act of Oblivionisa book rich in the illuminating details that bring the past to life. . . . There’sa delicious sense of being in the hands of a master, of watching as the pieces of the narrative puzzle fall into place. Act of Oblivionis a fine novel." — The Observer

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - Penguin Books Australia Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris - Penguin Books Australia

I admire Robert [Harris] boundlessly forhis originality as well as superb narrative skill.”— Max Hastings, author of Inferno But now, ten years after Charles’ beheading, the royalists have returned to power. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, the fifty-nine men who signed the king’s death warrant and participated in his execution have been found guilty in absentia of high treason. Some of the Roundheads, including Oliver Cromwell, are already dead. Others have been captured, hung, drawn, and quartered. A few are imprisoned for life. But two have escaped to America by boat. Veteran actor Tim McInnerny delivers a masterly narration of Harris’s novel. He truly inhabits the characters, his voice and manner finely tuned to the personality and convictions of each: Goffe, a fanatical, millenarian Puritan; Whalley, more practical and ultimately disillusioned; Nayler, smoothly menacing, but prey to depression . . . this production is perfect." — Washington Post Harris delivers a gripping, well-paced tale rich in color, suspense and adventure.”— Minneapolis Star TribuneThe book excels in its stunning recreation of the landscape of America... Harris proves himself to be masterful at this and it gives the book a vibrant memorability New Statesman The joy is in the vivid re-creation of 17th Century England and America and in the sly parallels with today that Harris teases out Mail on Sunday