Lianne Dillsworth has been longlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award

Huge congratulations to Lianne Dillsworth who has been longlisted for a #HWA Crown Award with her debut novel, THEATRE OF MARVELS!

Celebrating the best in recent historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction, the 2023 HWA Crown Awards have 36 longlisted books across three categories: debut, non-fiction and their overall ‘Gold’ award for best historical fiction.

About Theatre of Marvels:

Behind the spectacle there are always secrets.

Unruly crowds descend on Crillick's Variety Theatre. A black, British actress, Zillah, is headlining tonight. An orphan from the slums of St Giles, her rise to stardom is her ticket out - to be gawped and gazed at is a price she's willing to pay.

Rising up the echelons of society is everything Zillah has ever dreamed of. But when a new stage act disappears, Zillah is haunted by a feeling that something is amiss. Is the woman in danger?

Her pursuit of the truth takes her into the underbelly of the city - from gas-lit streets to the sumptuous parlours of Mayfair - as she seeks the help of notorious criminals from her past and finds herself torn between two powerful admirers.

Caught in a labyrinth of dangerous truths, will Zillah face ruin - or will she be the maker of her fate?

A deliciously immersive tale, Theatre of Marvels whisks you on an unforgettable journey across Victorian London in this bold exploration of race, class and gothic spectacle.