#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A NETFLIX FILM • A remarkable tale of the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name. “Treat yourself to this book, please—I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love “I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that … there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
“A jewel . . . Poignant and keenly observed, Guernsey is a small masterpiece about love, war, and the immeasurable sustenance to be found in good books and good friends.”—People
“A book-lover’s delight, an implicit and sometimes explicit paean to all things literary.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“A sparkling epistolary novel radiating wit, lightly worn erudition and written with great assurance and aplomb.”—The Sunday Times (London)
“Cooked perfectly à point: subtle and elegant in flavour, yet emotionally satisfying to the finish.”—The Times (London)
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I was so surprised by this book. Even though I lived during the WWII period, I didn’t know about the German occupation of these small islands belonging to Britain. A wonderful story too,
Good blend of colorful characters and reality of the time
A unique writing style and wonderful character development.
I can’t wait to see the movie version!!! The book was wonderful.
One of my all-time favorite books! And it’s an epistolary novel!
Original writing style effectively tells a story from different points of view
I was in Guernsey just a few weeks after the movie with the same title was released! I bought the book last summer knowing I was traveling to Guernsey in May. I read it in March, right before I knew about the movie. It was enchanting! I just loved the style— exchange of letters among several characters! My short time in Guernsey was so much more …
I am a sucker for novels written in the form of letters like this one .
Written as a series of letters between Juliet and the literary society of Guernsey, this quickly drew me into lives of characters I wished I could meet. Reading their stories of life during the German Occupation, both good and bad, brought out the emotions. Some were funny, some were more serious but all bonded them together. I was surprised how …
A human view of the war.
I didn’t love this book, but I’m not in the majority. Having read many historical fiction novels, this one goes in the bottom half of my list.
My absolute favorite of all!!
Add poignant.
Great WW2 mix of history and great story.
Delightful!!
Entertaining WWII storytelling
A fun book to read.
I thought this book was so well-done – written through the use of letters between people. Clever, witty, interesting and informative since it is based on the use of the English channels during WWII. A delightful read. Everyone I have recommended this book to has loved it!
I loved this book – 2nd time to read it. The story line is delightful; the island characters quaint. The 2nd read-through I paid attention to the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WWII, something I’d not known about before. The historical info is brief and keeps to the narrative character of the rest of the book. If you want a …
Wish there were many more books as well-written and good as this one!