George Hagen Livres

Meet the Laments—a quirky, globetrotting family in George Hagen’s debut novel. Howard, an engineer with dreams of irrigating the Sahara, lives by the motto “Laments move!” His spirited wife, Julia, navigates her husband’s wanderlust while grappling with her own ambitions. They are joined by Will, a boy given to them after a maternity ward mishap, who grows up in a family constantly on the move. As they travel from continent to continent, questions arise about where they truly belong. In Bahrain, Howard works for an oil company while young Will makes his first friend, only to be uprooted again due to Julia’s complicated friendship with the alluring Trixie Howitzer. In Northern Rhodesia, Will experiences the chaos of colonial life, falling for a vain gardener’s daughter, until their lives are disrupted by their neighbor, Major Buck Quinn, who opposes black self-rule. Seeking a more civilized existence, the Laments set sail for England, where Will faces the harsh realities of school and a society obsessed with the Blitz. Just as he adapts to British culture, the family relocates to New Jersey, where they encounter both crises and opportunities. The Laments, undeniably eccentric yet relatable, embody the universal experience of family life—growing up, moving on, and the inevitable laments that accompany love and loss. Through their journey, Hagen captures the humor and tragedy of familial bonds.

De l'Afrique du Sud aux Etats-Unis, en passant par la Rhodésie et l'Angleterre, des années cinquante aux années soixante-dix. Les Lament forment une famille globe-trotteuse. Le père, Howard, est ingénieur et rêve de trouver un système d'irrigation pour le Sahara. Julia, son épouse, s'attache à trouver l'équilibre entre la bougeotte de son mari et ses propres aspirations. Premier roman.

As a boy, Tom Bedlam grows up fatherless and poor in South London in the 1860s. But everything changes when Tom's wastrel of a father turns up; he discovers the existence of an older brother who disappeared at birth; and he is sent to boarding school. There he makes a Faustian pact that will haunt his adult life, as he strives to create the family he dreamed of in childhood and be the man his father was not. Ranging from London to South Africa, from the Boer War to the final months of the First World War, Tom Bedlam captures the spirit of the times as it portrays a beguiling hero wrestling with his loyalties, affections and conscience - until he realises that the simple bonds of family can prevail against human folly and the march of progress. Dramatic, whimsical and shot through with lively humour, this is a novel as entertaining as it is affecting.

Continuing the adventures of Gabriel Finley, this middle grade fantasy weaves an emotionally rich narrative filled with intrigue and magic. With comparisons to beloved series like Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, it promises a captivating journey that explores themes of friendship, bravery, and the quest for knowledge. Readers can expect a blend of adventure and heartfelt moments as Gabriel navigates new challenges alongside his raven companion.