HarperNorth acquires ‘dazzling’ debut alternative history reimagining the gunpower plot by Elle Machray

HarperNorth has acquired a “dazzling” alternative history reimagining the gunpowder plot by Elle Machray, a recent graduate of the HarperCollins Author and Design Academy. 

Daisy Watt, commissioning editor, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Remember, Remember and a second novel from Rachel Neely of Mushens Entertainment, in an exclusive pre-empt on a three-chapter partial manuscript. HarperNorth will publish it as a lead title in hardback, e-book and audiobook in February 2024.  

Set in 18th-century London, Remember, Remember follows Delphine, a young woman who has escaped slavery and found a haven in Soho’s most one-of-a-kind brothel. When Delphine’s brother, Vincent, is threatened with deportation to the colonies, she risks her carefully curated freedom to save him. But then a horrifying chain of events forces Delphine to reckon with the true face of justice. Despite all obstacles – including her unresolved romantic past with her master’s daughter, Pearl – Delphine must find the courage for a rebellion far bigger than any she’s attempted before: one that will strike at the heart of the British Empire… 

Watt said: “Fantastically plotty, intricately woven and bursting with compassion, Remember, Remember turns history fearlessly on its head. At its heart is a prescient anti-racist message, and a call-to-arms for the remembrance of our society’s injustices against Black people. I was completely absorbed by Delphine’s world, and followed her at pace through the underbelly of Georgian London to find out if she would pull off her impossible plot – right to the astonishing final chapter. Elle is a dynamite talent and all of us at HarperNorth are beyond thrilled to be working with her to launch and grow her writing career.” 

Machray added: “Remember, Remember was born from the grief I felt after the death of George Floyd. It’s unflinching in its portrayal of colonial Britain and the realities of 18th-century queer life. Though oppression weighs heavily throughout the novel, this is also a story of hope. My dream for Remember, Remember is that it inspires readers to turn their fear into courage. I’ve been blown away by the passion that Daisy and the HarperNorth team have for Delphine and Vincent’s story and am immensely thankful to my agent, Rachel, for being a kind and steadying influence during this whirlwind of a journey.” 

Rose Sandy, founder and leader of the HarperCollins Author and Design Academy, said she was “thrilled” to see Machray’s deal. “Elle is one of nearly 190 writers who have gone through the Academy’s programme. She is a remarkable writer, and her début novel Remember, Remember will delight fans of alternative history, providing a thrilling and poignant exploration of modern dilemmas set in a different time and place,” she said.