Charlie Lovett is a former antiquarian bookseller, an avid book collector, and a member of The Grolier Club, the oldest and largest club for bibliophiles in North America. He is the author of
The Bookman's Tale,
First Impressions, and
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge. In 2015, Lovett curated
Alice Live!, a major exhibition of Lewis Carroll and Alice memorabilia at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, as well as wrote a new introduction for Penguin Classics' 150th anniversary edition of
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and
Through the Looking-Glass. He and his wife split their time between Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Kingham, Oxfordshire, in England.
From the Hardcover edition.
"The one book every bibliophile needs to read. . . . mysterious, hilarious, and heartwarming . . . A fun, literary adventure in the spirit of
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or
The Da Vinci Code,
The Lost Book of the Grail is a wildly entertaining story bibliophiles everywhere will love."
--Bustle "Book lovers will relish author Lovett's attention to loving detail. . . .
The Lost Book of the Grail is . . . ever so readable."
--St. Louis Post Dispatch "There's a Dan Brown/
The Da Vinci Code vibe to this history mystery."
--Fort Worth Star-Telegram "[
The Lost Book of the Grail] offers mystery, a tad of fantasy, a smattering of religious history and romance. . . . Lovett tells a good story, his dialogue is witty and his characters are engaging. . . . So make yourself a cup of proper English tea, open
The Lost Book of the Grail and escape your busy life for an afternoon."
--The News & Observer (Raleigh & Charlotte) "Delightful . . . English history comes alive. . . . Lovett does a wonderful job of imparting a lot of information about history, religion, books and life in a story that's both highly entertaining and thought-provoking."
--The News & Record (Greensboro) "[Lovett's] best work yet . . . This bibliomystery immediately enchants those with a weakness for old books and church bells. . . .
The Lost Book of the Grail is truly a page-turner for bibliophiles."
--Fine Books & Collections Magazine "A lovely story, almost fairytale-like in its presentation. . . . If author Lovett's other novels are as entertaining as this one, they are to be recommended, sight unseen. As it stands,
The Lost Book of the Grail may send readers on their own searches for more Charlie Lovett novels."
--New York Journal of Books "The reader is entertained along several parallel lines. One learns a good deal of actual English history, especially religious history, and a good deal of mythology and Arthurian legend. One watches a mystery being solved, always fun, and enjoys the pleasing love story of two nice young people who should be together and, finally, are."
--Don Noble, The Tuscaloosa News "Diffident Arthur Prescott [is an] endearing hero. . . . [A] thoroughly enjoyable novel . . . The light tone . . . blends well with the clever academic sleuthing."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "In his latest literary mystery, Lovett supplements his trademark meld of books, romance, and adventure with an element of (fairly English) humor and some nods in the direction of P.G. Wodehouse. . . . There's lots of research too . . . but it's underpinned by a pleasing treasure hunt mixed with the romantic involvement of two genially mismatched figures. A solidly built, innocently bookish diversion with a distinct Masterpiece Theater flavor."
--Kirkus "Former antiquarian bookseller Lovett here does what he did so well in his debut . . . he uses a contemporary setting to vivify and contextualize ancient writings."
--Library Journal
"Charlie Lovett's diverting
The Lost Book of the Grail is a mystery, a history, a pleasure--and a treasure. Find yourself within its pages, and you find yourself remembering the virtues of books and book-making."
--Gregory Maguire,
New York Times bestselling author of
Wicked and
After Alice "Charlie Lovett knows his English history and nowhere it is more evident than in his latest charming, compelling novel. A literary mystery with fantastic historical detail and a modern love story--what more can you ask for in one book?"
--Melanie Benjamin,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Swans of Fifth Avenue "
The Lost Book of the Grail is for every book addict. Full of suspense, delightful twists and turns, this is a tale about friendship, love, and the purpose of life."
--Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of
The Little Paris Bookshop "A vivid, engaging tale that takes the reader along on a delightful search through the ancient libraries of a crumbling cathedral in search of a precious book hidden away for hundreds of years. Settle back and enjoy: this is both a love story and a detective story filled with wonderful historic detail."
--Kate Alcott,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Dressmaker "The Lost Book of the Grail is a book lover's book. Ambitious in scope, the cheerful bounce of Lovett's prose skillfully guides the reader through history's twists."
--Erika Swyler, author of
The Book of Speculation"A fast-paced adventure into the world of ancient manuscripts. I enjoyed it immensely."
--John Grisham "The one book every bibliophile needs to read. . . . mysterious, hilarious, and heartwarming . . . A fun, literary adventure in the spirit of
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or
The Da Vinci Code,
The Lost Book of the Grail is a wildly entertaining story bibliophiles everywhere will love."
--Bustle "Book lovers will relish author Lovett's attention to loving detail. . . .
The Lost Book of the Grail is . . . ever so readable."
--St. Louis Post Dispatch "There's a Dan Brown/
The Da Vinci Code vibe to this history mystery."
--Fort Worth Star-Telegram "[
The Lost Book of the Grail] offers mystery, a tad of fantasy, a smattering of religious history and romance. . . . Lovett tells a good story, his dialogue is witty and his characters are engaging. . . . So make yourself a cup of proper English tea, open
The Lost Book of the Grail and escape your busy life for an afternoon."
--The News & Observer (Raleigh & Charlotte) "Delightful . . . English history comes alive. . . . Lovett does a wonderful job of imparting a lot of information about history, religion, books and life in a story that's both highly entertaining and thought-provoking."
--The News & Record (Greensboro) "[Lovett's] best work yet . . . This bibliomystery immediately enchants those with a weakness for old books and church bells. . . .
The Lost Book of the Grail is truly a page-turner for bibliophiles."
--Fine Books & Collections Magazine "A lovely story, almost fairytale-like in its presentation. . . . If author Lovett's other novels are as entertaining as this one, they are to be recommended, sight unseen. As it stands,
The Lost Book of the Grail may send readers on their own searches for more Charlie Lovett novels."
--New York Journal of Books "The reader is entertained along several parallel lines. One learns a good deal of actual English history, especially religious history, and a good deal of mythology and Arthurian legend. One watches a mystery being solved, always fun, and enjoys the pleasing love story of two nice young people who should be together and, finally, are."
--Don Noble, The Tuscaloosa News "Diffident Arthur Prescott [is an] endearing hero. . . . [A] thoroughly enjoyable novel . . . The light tone . . . blends well with the clever academic sleuthing."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "In his latest literary mystery, Lovett supplements his trademark meld of books, romance, and adventure with an element of (fairly English) humor and some nods in the direction of P.G. Wodehouse. . . . There's lots of research too . . . but it's underpinned by a pleasing treasure hunt mixed with the romantic involvement of two genially mismatched figures. A solidly built, innocently bookish diversion with a distinct Masterpiece Theater flavor."
--Kirkus "Former antiquarian bookseller Lovett here does what he did so well in his debut . . . he uses a contemporary setting to vivify and contextualize ancient writings."
--Library Journal
"Charlie Lovett's diverting
The Lost Book of the Grail is a mystery, a history, a pleasure--and a treasure. Find yourself within its pages, and you find yourself remembering the virtues of books and book-making."
--Gregory Maguire,
New York Times bestselling author of
Wicked and
After Alice "Charlie Lovett knows his English history and nowhere it is more evident than in his latest charming, compelling novel. A literary mystery with fantastic historical detail and a modern love story--what more can you ask for in one book?"
--Melanie Benjamin,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Swans of Fifth Avenue "
The Lost Book of the Grail is for every book addict. Full of suspense, delightful twists and turns, this is a tale about friendship, love, and the purpose of life."
--Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of
The Little Paris Bookshop "A vivid, engaging tale that takes the reader along on a delightful search through the ancient libraries of a crumbling cathedral in search of a precious book hidden away for hundreds of years. Settle back and enjoy: this is both a love story and a detective story filled with wonderful historic detail."
--Kate Alcott,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Dressmaker "The Lost Book of the Grail is a book lover's book. Ambitious in scope, the cheerful bounce of Lovett's prose skillfully guides the reader through history's twists."
--Erika Swyler, author of
The Book of Speculation