The Temple of the Muses

A richly imagined literary historical novel set in Georgian London, based on a true story.

Volume 2 of the Chiswell Street Chronicles

London, 1780. As the city smoulders in the aftermath of the Gordon Riots, booksellers James and Dorcas Lackington refuse to answer despair with charity. Instead, they place their faith in something far more radical: books.

Convinced that reading offers the surest escape from poverty, the Lackingtons launch a daring experiment—pricing books so cheaply that even apprentices and servant girls can afford them. It is a bold challenge to the rigid social order of Georgian England, and one that places them squarely in danger.

Dorcas knows that life alongside James and his unshakable optimism will never be smooth. But she is no mere helpmeet. She is his compass, his conscience, and often the sharper mind. In a modest corner of Moorfields, their bookshop ignites a quiet revolution as ordinary people encounter philosophy, politics, liberty, reason, and love for the first time.

Not everyone welcomes this awakening. The Junto, a powerful circle of men who believe books are dangerous in the hands of the poor, move swiftly to crush the Lackingtons' venture. As threats and intimidation escalate, Dorcas realises that survival will not come from retreat—but from becoming too large to silence.

Her answer is audacious: to build a cathedral to literature, not for kings or scholars, but for every woman and man who has ever been told that knowledge is not theirs to claim—The Temple of the Muses.

A richly imagined work of historical fiction, this novel explores literacy, class, courage, and one of the forgotten women who helped shape modern Britain.

Perfect for readers of
Hilary Mantel • Tracy Chevalier • Rose Tremain • Jessie Burton • Maggie O'Farrell