
Peacock
James Hynes(Author)
Picador (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 25. June 2026
Book
Hardback
448 pages
978-1-0350-6343-7 (ISBN)
Description
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Sparrow comes another spellbinding historical epic set in the last days of a dying Roman empire . . .
Sparrow has flown from the confines of the Roman brothel where he was raised. Now older and smarter, and having learned the arts of deception and enticement from the women who raised him, he vies to become a player in the internal politics at Arcadia, the home of his new master, a man who is himself playing with political fire. Sparrow soon realizes that the key to survival in this turbulent place is information, and he must gather it at any cost.
As the dangers mount for Sparrow, he is forced to choose where his loyalties lie and which of these powerful Romans is most likely to ensure his survival.
Epic and intimate, spectacularly vivid, Peacock is the story of a boy becoming a man as an empire falters in the face of the rise of Christianity. On his journey this boy will learn what it is to be in love, and what it is to be hated, but he is also perfecting his own manipulative powers . . .
Readers love Peacock:
***** 'So vivid that you feel you are there experiencing Sparrow's life with him'
***** 'A five star read for me: fantastic writing, immaculately researched'
***** 'Impeccable, the book reads almost like a thriller'
***** 'A perfect piece of historical fiction'
***** 'Anyone who likes a good, fast-paced historical adventure will enjoy it'
Praise for James Hynes and Sparrow:
'Unforgettable' - Daily Mail
'Utterly engrossing' - Emma Donoghue
'Masterful in its portrayal of love, sex and friendship' - The Observer
Sparrow has flown from the confines of the Roman brothel where he was raised. Now older and smarter, and having learned the arts of deception and enticement from the women who raised him, he vies to become a player in the internal politics at Arcadia, the home of his new master, a man who is himself playing with political fire. Sparrow soon realizes that the key to survival in this turbulent place is information, and he must gather it at any cost.
As the dangers mount for Sparrow, he is forced to choose where his loyalties lie and which of these powerful Romans is most likely to ensure his survival.
Epic and intimate, spectacularly vivid, Peacock is the story of a boy becoming a man as an empire falters in the face of the rise of Christianity. On his journey this boy will learn what it is to be in love, and what it is to be hated, but he is also perfecting his own manipulative powers . . .
Readers love Peacock:
***** 'So vivid that you feel you are there experiencing Sparrow's life with him'
***** 'A five star read for me: fantastic writing, immaculately researched'
***** 'Impeccable, the book reads almost like a thriller'
***** 'A perfect piece of historical fiction'
***** 'Anyone who likes a good, fast-paced historical adventure will enjoy it'
Praise for James Hynes and Sparrow:
'Unforgettable' - Daily Mail
'Utterly engrossing' - Emma Donoghue
'Masterful in its portrayal of love, sex and friendship' - The Observer
Reviews / Votes
Utterly engrossing, vivid, and honest, this coming of age story reaches across millennia to grab us by the throat -- Emma Donoghue, author of <i>Room</i> A bleak and brutal story, vividly told by Hynes, who has created a truly unforgettable character in the resilient Sparrow -- <i>Daily Mail</i> on <i>Sparrow</i> A stunning work of historical imagination . . . Masterful in its portrayal of love, sex and friendship -- <i>The Observer</i> on <i>Sparrow</i> Sparrow feels like an entirely authentic portrait . . . James Hynes renders this hidden world so powerfully and vividly -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>Sparrow</i>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Dimensions
Height: 247 mm
Width: 165 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
674 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-6343-7 (9781035063437)
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
Person
James Hynes is the author of several books, including Peacock, Sparrow, Next, Kings of Infinite Space, The Lecturer's Tale, Publish and Perish, and The Wild Colonial Boy.