Sean Lusk – författare

From the bestselling author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley, discover the illuminating historical novel about the extraordinary life of pioneering writer, poet and feminist, Mary Wortley Montagu. ‘Witty, insightful and moving’ Sunday Times'This book is a triumph - vivid, exquisite, enthralling and revealing' Kate Griffin, author of Fyneshade'Lusk conjures prose of a spell-binding elegance and charm - as charismatic as the woman who he brings so vividly into life upon the page' Essie Fox, author of The Fascination---'I shall be a thousand different Marys and, in such manner, shall find the one I wish to be...'Lady Mary Wortley Montagu longs for adventure, freedom and love, believing that only by truly living can she ever escape the stalking crow of Death...An aristocratic woman in 18th century England is expected to act in certain ways. But Mary has never let society's expectations stifle her: she writes celebrated poetry and articles advocating for equality, as well as endless, often scandalous, letters to her many powerful friends.However, Mary wants more from the world. Using her charm and connections, she engineers a job offer for her husband as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Travelling to Constantinople, Mary finally discovers the autonomous life she dreams of. And when she observes Turkish women 'engrafting' children against smallpox, she resolves to bring the miracle cure back to England.Despite this, Mary's reputation becomes increasingly tainted. Her inability to abide by the rules, her outspoken opinions on women's rights, and her search for love and desire at all costs gains her powerful enemies. While Mary tries to ensure her name will live on by arranging the publication of her diaries after her death, her own daughter works against her, afraid of what they might contain...An illuminating and beautiful novel, A Woman of Opinion gives a voice to the tragically unremembered yet extraordinary life of pioneering poet and feminist, Mary Wortley Montagu.---Praise for The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley:'One of the best books I've read this year . . . completely unforgettable' Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry'Inventive, fantastical . . . memorable' The Times'So powerful . . . like the love child of Charles Dickens and Isabel Allende' Ruth Jones, Sunday Times bestselling author of Love Untold‘Beautifully written, ingeniously crafted . . . absolutely enthralling’ Sunday Express

Strategy is vital to effective and efficient public service delivery as well as successful governance and leadership. This new text provides a concise yet systematic overview of the achievements, downfalls and complexities of public strategy in today's globalized and often market-driven world. It describes the place of strategy in civic societies whose citizens are more interconnected and vocal than ever. It shows that successful strategic planning goes well beyond problem-solving to developing adaptable plans that can evolve as requirements and circumstances change. And it explains why muddling through simply won't work. Emphasizing the importance of applying a variety of techniques to the process of strategy-creation, Rethinking Public Strategy reassesses the key factors that can deliver significant improvements in public services and build public value. It looks at why public strategy is distinctive, as well as the principles it has in common with the corporate domain.This text includes numerous case studies from around the globe – from South Africa to Singapore, the USA to Germany, and from China to the Czech Republic – that ground the exposition in real experience. Based on state-of-the-art research by two expert practitioners in the field, it offers an essential guide to the art of strategy in the contemporary public sector, and encourages readers to evaluate critically the various approaches to strategy.

Strategy is vital to effective and efficient public service delivery as well as successful governance and leadership. This new text provides a concise yet systematic overview of the achievements, downfalls and complexities of public strategy in today's globalized and often market-driven world. It describes the place of strategy in civic societies whose citizens are more interconnected and vocal than ever. It shows that successful strategic planning goes well beyond problem-solving to developing adaptable plans that can evolve as requirements and circumstances change. And it explains why muddling through simply won't work. Emphasizing the importance of applying a variety of techniques to the process of strategy-creation, Rethinking Public Strategy reassesses the key factors that can deliver significant improvements in public services and build public value. It looks at why public strategy is distinctive, as well as the principles it has in common with the corporate domain.This text includes numerous case studies from around the globe – from South Africa to Singapore, the USA to Germany, and from China to the Czech Republic – that ground the exposition in real experience. Based on state-of-the-art research by two expert practitioners in the field, it offers an essential guide to the art of strategy in the contemporary public sector, and encourages readers to evaluate critically the various approaches to strategy.

Strategy is vital to effective and efficient public service delivery as well as successful governance and leadership. This new text provides a concise yet systematic overview of the achievements, downfalls and complexities of public strategy in today''s globalized and often market-driven world. It describes the place of strategy in civic societies whose citizens are more interconnected and vocal than ever. It shows that successful strategic planning goes well beyond problem-solving to developing adaptable plans that can evolve as requirements and circumstances change. And it explains why muddling through simply won''t work. Emphasizing the importance of applying a variety of techniques to the process of strategy-creation, Rethinking Public Strategy reassesses the key factors that can deliver significant improvements in public services and build public value. It looks at why public strategy is distinctive, as well as the principles it has in common with the corporate domain.This text includes numerous case studies from around the globe from South Africa to Singapore, the USA to Germany, and from China to the Czech Republic that ground the exposition in real experience. Based on state-of-the-art research by two expert practitioners in the field, it offers an essential guide to the art of strategy in the contemporary public sector, and encourages readers to evaluate critically the various approaches to strategy.

Strategy is vital to effective and efficient public service delivery as well as successful governance and leadership. This new text provides a concise yet systematic overview of the achievements, downfalls and complexities of public strategy in today''s globalized and often market-driven world. It describes the place of strategy in civic societies whose citizens are more interconnected and vocal than ever. It shows that successful strategic planning goes well beyond problem-solving to developing adaptable plans that can evolve as requirements and circumstances change. And it explains why muddling through simply won''t work. Emphasizing the importance of applying a variety of techniques to the process of strategy-creation, Rethinking Public Strategy reassesses the key factors that can deliver significant improvements in public services and build public value. It looks at why public strategy is distinctive, as well as the principles it has in common with the corporate domain.This text includes numerous case studies from around the globe – from South Africa to Singapore, the USA to Germany, and from China to the Czech Republic – that ground the exposition in real experience. Based on state-of-the-art research by two expert practitioners in the field, it offers an essential guide to the art of strategy in the contemporary public sector, and encourages readers to evaluate critically the various approaches to strategy.

WINNER OF THE 2025 SALTIRE SCOTTISH FICTION OF THE YEAR from the bestselling author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley'A triumph - vivid, exquisite, enthralling' Kate Griffin, author of Fyneshade'Lusk conjures prose of a spell-binding elegance and charm' Essie Fox, author of The Fascination‘Witty, insightful and moving’ Sunday Times---'I shall be a thousand different Marys and, in such manner, shall find the one I wish to be...'Mary longs for adventure, freedom and love. When her powerful father schemes to marry her off to a foolish aristocrat, she has to find a man who will offer her the independence she craves Never one to fear a scandal, she elopes with Edward Wortley Montagu.Mary uses her charm and connections to live a life less ordinary – befriending poets, playwrights, and politicians. Securing a position for her husband as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, she travels east, where she discovers a medical miracle.But this new adventure will come at a cost, for Mary’s inability to abide by the rules and her outspoken opinions have gained her powerful enemies…‘Skilfully weaves together themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness…you won’t forget Mary after reading this’ Glamour‘Exploring not only a fascinating period in world history but also the life of a strong-minded woman who refused to be silenced by society’s expectations’ Culturefly‘Sean Lusk has made the voice of Mary Wortley Montagu ring clear and defiant through the centuries’ Shona MacLean---Readers say:'A five star read and one of my favourite books of the year''This book will take you on a journey with Lady Montagu, a clever, witty, humorous woman...A wonderful emotional story told with charm and warmth.''Exquisite...rich in language, character and setting.''Fearless, witty, and inspiring...both highly entertaining and incredibly educational.''Superb...if you are a lover of historical fiction then this is a must read... one of my top reads of the year.''Truly exceptional, a book to savour – I loved it!'

A BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick and Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month, for fans of PANDORA, THE ESSEX SERPENT and THE NIGHT CIRCUS.Longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2023 and the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2023.'I just fell in love with it within the first two sentences . . .' - Ruth Jones'One of the best books I've read this year . . . completely unforgettable' - Bonnie Garmus------Zachary Cloudesley is gifted in a remarkable way. But not all gifts are a blessing...Leadenhall Street, London, 1754.Raised amongst the cogs and springs of his father's workshop, Zachary Cloudesley has grown up surrounded by strange and enchanting clockwork automata. He is a happy child, beloved by his father Abel and the workmen who help bring his father's creations to life.He is also the bearer of an extraordinary gift; at the touch of a hand, Zachary can see into the hearts and minds of the people he meets.But then a near-fatal accident will take Zachary away from the workshop and his family. His father will have to make a journey that he will never return from. And, years later, only Zachary can find out what happened.A beautifully crafted historical mystery of love and hope, and the adventure of finding your place in the world.READ SEAN LUSK'S EXCITING NEW NOVEL, A WOMAN OF OPINION, OUT NOW!------'Packed with intrigue, vividly drawn characters and heartstopping emotion, this beautifully written, ingeniously crafted debut is absolutely enthralling' - Sunday Express'Really transports you to a different time and place' - Sara Cox, Radio Times'A dashing, magical debut . . . intricately plotted, and peopled with intriguing characters' - Daily MailWhat readers are saying:'an excellent historical, magical realist novel''beautifully written''full of love and humour''original and rich in historical detail''my best book of 2022''totally engrossing . . . unforgettable'

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND WINNER OF THE SALTIRE FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARWhat if the only choice you have is no choice at all…Humberto Barbetti is unwilling secretary to the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Mercurial, capricious and ruthless to the core, Trujillo has ordered Barbetti to cover up a massacre. But Barbetti harbours a dangerous secret— he is hiding three children orphaned by the regime.Meanwhile in Europe, two Jewish brothers fleeing Nazi persecution arrive in Paris. Chaim, a talented magician, sets out to make his mark among the nightclubs and cabarets of the capital. The other, Sol, is drawn to the Parisian underworld of politics and resistance.As Hitler’s forces continue to advance, it seems the brothers will have no choice but to flee again. But when Sol falls under the spell of a beautiful, rich and high-connected American journalist, she offers them another way out – a way out that could change not only their own lives, but history itself.What if the only choice you have is to survive…

A BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick and Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month, for fans of PANDORA, THE ESSEX SERPENT and THE NIGHT CIRCUS.Longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2023 and the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2023.'I just fell in love with it within the first two sentences . . .' - Ruth Jones'One of the best books I've read this year . . . completely unforgettable' - Bonnie Garmus------Zachary Cloudesley is gifted in a remarkable way. But not all gifts are a blessing...Leadenhall Street, London, 1754.Raised amongst the cogs and springs of his father's workshop, Zachary Cloudesley has grown up surrounded by strange and enchanting clockwork automata. He is a happy child, beloved by his father Abel and the workmen who help bring his father's creations to life.He is also the bearer of an extraordinary gift; at the touch of a hand, Zachary can see into the hearts and minds of the people he meets.But then a near-fatal accident will take Zachary away from the workshop and his family. His father will have to make a journey that he will never return from. And, years later, only Zachary can find out what happened.A beautifully crafted historical mystery of love and hope, and the adventure of finding your place in the world.READ SEAN LUSK'S EXCITING NEW NOVEL, A WOMAN OF OPINION, OUT NOW!------'Packed with intrigue, vividly drawn characters and heartstopping emotion, this beautifully written, ingeniously crafted debut is absolutely enthralling' - Sunday Express'Really transports you to a different time and place' - Sara Cox, Radio Times'A dashing, magical debut . . . intricately plotted, and peopled with intriguing characters' - Daily MailWhat readers are saying:'an excellent historical, magical realist novel''beautifully written''full of love and humour''original and rich in historical detail''my best book of 2022''totally engrossing . . . unforgettable'

WINNER OF THE 2025 SALTIRE SCOTTISH FICTION OF THE YEAR from the bestselling author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley'A triumph - vivid, exquisite, enthralling' Kate Griffin, author of Fyneshade'Lusk conjures prose of a spell-binding elegance and charm' Essie Fox, author of The Fascination‘Witty, insightful and moving’ Sunday Times---'I shall be a thousand different Marys and, in such manner, shall find the one I wish to be...'Mary longs for adventure, freedom and love. When her powerful father schemes to marry her off to a foolish aristocrat, she has to find a man who will offer her the independence she craves Never one to fear a scandal, she elopes with Edward Wortley Montagu.Mary uses her charm and connections to live a life less ordinary – befriending poets, playwrights, and politicians. Securing a position for her husband as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, she travels east, where she discovers a medical miracle.But this new adventure will come at a cost, for Mary’s inability to abide by the rules and her outspoken opinions have gained her powerful enemies…‘Skilfully weaves together themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness…you won’t forget Mary after reading this’ Glamour‘Exploring not only a fascinating period in world history but also the life of a strong-minded woman who refused to be silenced by society’s expectations’ Culturefly‘Sean Lusk has made the voice of Mary Wortley Montagu ring clear and defiant through the centuries’ Shona MacLean---Readers say:'A five star read and one of my favourite books of the year''This book will take you on a journey with Lady Montagu, a clever, witty, humorous woman...A wonderful emotional story told with charm and warmth.''Exquisite...rich in language, character and setting.''Fearless, witty, and inspiring...both highly entertaining and incredibly educational.''Superb...if you are a lover of historical fiction then this is a must read... one of my top reads of the year.''Truly exceptional, a book to savour – I loved it!'