Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room Season One books are finally revealed

The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room has officially revealed its Season One picks today, sharing four significant titles for readers to enjoy. 

• The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room has shared the four titles for its first season.
• Over the next eight weeks, the Reading Room will be featuring each book for a fortnight. 
• In other Royal News, the Queen's shocking celebrity connections have been revealed. 

In December, Duchess Camilla’s new project, an online Reading Room, was announced. It is hoped that the new venture will encourage book fans to discover new reads and provide discussion points on the Reading Room's pick of the best books. 

Whilst excited book lovers and royal fans alike have had to wait several weeks for the Season One book choices to be shared, the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room has now unveiled its four picks.

What are The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room books?

Posting to The Reading Room official Instagram account today, the Duchess of Cornwall’s Season One books have finally been revealed. 

The post, which featured the four chosen books, each set against its own stunning backdrop, declared: ‘Season One of The Reading Room has launched! We're thrilled to announce the four books Her Royal Highness has chosen for this season.’

The caption went on to reveal that the books the Duchess of Cornwall has chosen are four hugely significant reads. 

The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel

Released back in March last year, this highly anticipated final installment in the Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020. This brilliant novel charts the final years and eventual downfall of the man who was once one of King Henry VIII’s closest councillors, Thomas Cromwell. 

For whilst blacksmith’s son Thomas Cromwell has risen to wield great power, his master King Henry VIII is known for turning on those closest to him. 

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Rumors of the ‘Marsh Girl’ have haunted the quiet North Carolina town, Barkley Cove, for years. And so when Chase Andrews is found dead in 1969, it’s perhaps no surprise that the locals immediately suspect the so-called Marsh Girl, Kya Clark. Kya has survived alone for years in the marsh and she is not at all what people say. When two young men from the town find themselves intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya begins to open herself up to a new life. Then the unthinkable happens. The compelling characters and plotline of this heartbreaking novel are breathtaking. 

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Restless by William Boyd

Set in 1939, beautiful Russian emigree Eva Delectorskaya is recruited for the British Secret Service when war breaks out by Lucas Romer, a mysterious Englishman. With his help, she soon learns to become the perfect spy and to trust no one - including those she loves. Now since the war, Eva’s life has changed completely as she has become a typically English wife and mother. But once a spy, always a spy. Eva has one last mission and she can’t complete it alone. This is a spellbinding historical read.  

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The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak

This intricate story is set in a city full of intrigue and romance - 16th century Instanbul. A stowaway arrives bearing an astonishing gift for the Sultan. Completely alone except for Chota, a rare white elephant destined for the palace menagerie, young Jahan soon rises to the highest ranks of the court. But to get there he must contend with deceitful courtiers, false friends and even Princess Mihrimah. One day, Jahan catches the eye of royal architect Sinan and his fortunes are forever changed. This is a novel full of wonder and adventure. 

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How can you get involved with the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room?

Some readers might well have already enjoyed these insightful novels, whilst others will be looking to try something new. 

Underneath the titles that HRH the Duchess of Cornwall shared in the Instagram post, the caption continued: ‘Over the next eight weeks we'll be featuring each book for a fortnight, hearing from the authors, and providing thoughts for discussion. We hope you'll join the conversation’. 

So whether you’re a fan of these books, looking to learn that little bit more about the authors who wrote them or just hoping to chat with fellow readers, it seems that the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room will have it all. 

How many will you read?