
Watching Over Her
The prize-winning million-copy-bestselling historical romance that has captivated readers
Jean-Baptiste Andrea(Author)
Atlantic Books (Publisher)
Published on 7. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
544 pages
978-1-80546-275-0 (ISBN)
Description
OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD! Discover the story that has captivated readers around the world...
__________________________________
'Enjoyable and gripping' GUARDIAN
'One of the best historical novels you are likely to read' Christine Dwyer Hickey
'A sprawling fresco and star-crossed love story' NEW YORK TIMES
'An inventive epic' ELLE
'Timeless' DAILY MAIL
__________________________________
In an Italian monastery, an infamous sculptor lies on his death bed.
During Mimo's final hours, he reveals his life story: his impoverished childhood, his unlikely rise to fame and most importantly, his meeting with Viola, the daughter of a powerful aristocratic family.
Mimo and Viola are instantly drawn to one another. Together, they traverse the unrest of the twentieth century. While Mimo becomes a celebrated artist, Viola fights to claim her education and independence.
Over the decades, they will lose and find each other, but never will they give up on the love they share.
_________________________
Readers love Watching Over Her
'Beautifully written'
'Something truly special'
'Reading this book is pure joy'
'An authentic masterpiece'
'Easy read, poignant'
__________________________________
'Enjoyable and gripping' GUARDIAN
'One of the best historical novels you are likely to read' Christine Dwyer Hickey
'A sprawling fresco and star-crossed love story' NEW YORK TIMES
'An inventive epic' ELLE
'Timeless' DAILY MAIL
__________________________________
In an Italian monastery, an infamous sculptor lies on his death bed.
During Mimo's final hours, he reveals his life story: his impoverished childhood, his unlikely rise to fame and most importantly, his meeting with Viola, the daughter of a powerful aristocratic family.
Mimo and Viola are instantly drawn to one another. Together, they traverse the unrest of the twentieth century. While Mimo becomes a celebrated artist, Viola fights to claim her education and independence.
Over the decades, they will lose and find each other, but never will they give up on the love they share.
_________________________
Readers love Watching Over Her
'Beautifully written'
'Something truly special'
'Reading this book is pure joy'
'An authentic masterpiece'
'Easy read, poignant'
Reviews / Votes
Enjoyable and gripping. Even in translation - and this is a fluid example of the craft - its poetry and its nuance, its passion and philosophical depth, its grasp of moral ambiguity, its clever interweaving of history and fiction, and its superlative characterisation rise quickly to the surface. A song of love to a city of contradictions * Guardian * The smash-hit historical epic. Timeless * Daily Mail * A sprawling fresco and star-crossed love story * New York Times * An inventive epic * Elle * All the savagery and beauty of Italian life between the wars is found in this utterly compelling tale of art, love, sacrifice and vengeance. One of the best historical novels you are likely to read * Christine Dwyer Hickey, author of OUR LONDON LIVES * It's high-quality popular literature... and that is what the Goncourt is about * Philippe Claudel, Prix Goncourt 2023 juror * Extremely refreshing... like a hyacinth emerging in the undergrowth * Dider Decoin, Prix Goncourt 2023 jury president * A marvel * Publishers Weekly *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
366 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80546-275-0 (9781805462750)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Jean-Baptiste Andrea
Watching Over Her
The prize-winning international bestselling historical romance that has captivated readers
E-Book
08/2025
Atlantic Books
€8.49
Available for download
Persons
Jean-Baptiste Andrea is a writer, screenwriter and director. In 2023, Watching Over Her was published to great critical and commercial success, having been awarded the Prix Goncourt, the most prestigious French literary award, and selling over 700,000 copies. He is also the author of Ma Reine (2017), A Hundred Million Years and a Day (2019) and Devils and Saints (2021).