Bournville: From the bestselling author of Middle England

A wickedly funny, clever,but also tender and lyrical novel about Britain and Britishness and what we have become RACHEL JOYCE In Bournville,a placid suburb of Birmingham,sits a famous chocolate factory. For eleven-year-old Mary and her family in 1945,it s the center of the world. The reason their streets smell faintly of chocolate,the place where most of their friends and neighbours have worked for decades.
A novel about Britain and Britishness, set in Bournville, Birmingham, and spanning seventy-five years of social change. It follows the life of Mary, a family, and their chocolate factory, exploring themes of family, community, and the changing times.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

In the tranquil suburb of Bournville, nestled amidst Birmingham, stands a renowned chocolate factory that holds a special place in the hearts of its residents, especially for eleven-year-old Mary and her family in 1945. For them, it is the epicenter of their world, where the sweet scent of chocolate permeates the streets, and generations of their friends and neighbors have found employment within its walls. Throughout her life, Mary witnesses pivotal moments in British history, from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to the World Cup final, royal weddings, and royal funerals. She raises a family, cherishes her grandchildren, and even greats-grandchildren. However, as time passes, modernity encroaches upon Bournville, transforming parts of the chocolate factory into a bustling theme park. The once-peaceful enclave is now surrounded by the bustling city, a stark contrast to the tranquil surroundings it once knew. As we journey through seventy-five years of societal transformation, from the iconic James Bond to the beloved Princess Diana, and from the nostalgia of wartime to the advent of the World Wide Web, a profound question arises: Will these changing times bring Mary's family, and indeed, her country, closer together, or will they leave them more adrift and divided than ever before?

This captivating novel is a poignant tribute to an often overlooked place, as well as a deeply moving story of how a nation discovered the virtue of tolerance. Sathnam Sanghera, the bestselling author of Empireland, praises it as a beautiful and often humorous celebration of Bournville. He also notes that it is a hugely impressive state-of-the-nation tale, capturing the essence of a country evolving and adapting to the ever-changing tides of history. The Observer describes it as a "hugely impressive state-of-the-nation tale," while The Times likens it to a "warming, rich, and comforting mug of hot chocolate."

Weight: 258g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241517406